4. Marital and Family Therapy Course
Co-Leaders:
Carla M. Leone, PhD
Martin S. Livingston, PhD
Harriet Pappenheim, CSW, BCD
Self Psychology Page | 21th Conference Program
Part I:
Vulnerability, Affective Involvement, and Insight:
Mutative Change and Couples TherapyThursday 7-8 p.m.
Martin S. Livingston, Ph.D.
This paper is an attempt to further what has become an ongoing dialogue within self psychology about the importance of deep affective involvement of both patient and therapist. In that context, the concepts of emotional availability and vulnerability will be highlighted. A brief summary of the essence of a self-psychological approach to couples treatment will be included in a section dealing with the implications of these concepts for treatment. The last two sections will then be the presentation and discussion of a couples session. This session illustrates the facilitation of vulnerable moments along with their role in leading to mutative change. It is a good example of the interaction between insight about intrapsychic organizing principles and interpersonal conflict on the one hand, and intense affective experience within a relationship on the other.One purpose of the paper is to move the dialogue more squarely into an arena we need to enter, the exploration o! f the importance and possible difficulties created within the intersubjective situation when the therapist and patient are both intimately involved and emotionally available.
These concepts, and the case material, continue a trend in self psychology and psychoanalysis that considers psychoanalytic treatment as an interpersonal field in which both parties are intimately (emotionally) involved. It is the creation of new experience, at first within the empathic bond with the therapist, and then within the couple itself, that leads to an enrichment of life experience and to growth. (Updated 9/22/98)
Part II:
Toward A More Optimal Selfobject Milieu:
Family Psychotherapy From the Perspective of Self PsychologyThursday 8-9 p.m.
Carla Leone, PhD
This part of the course will focus on applying the theory of self psychology to the understanding and treatment of families. We will begin by discussing the selfobject dimension of family relationships, as well as the problems and symptoms that result from breakdowns in the family’s ability to function adequately as a self-selfobject milieu. The multiple reasons why such difficulties occur will be examined, followed by a detailed discussion of treatment interventions and approaches designed to help family members become better able to provide attuned selfobject experiences and responses for each other (especially parents for children, but not solely). In particular, the presentation will suggest that such change often requires that individual family members first develop or regain additional self-functions, through the internalization of the selfobject functions initially provided by the empathically attuned and responsive therapist, before they are able to learn better ways of responding to others. The implications of this view for determining which family members should be seen, how often, by who, and in what combinations will also be considered. Case examples will be used to illustrate key points, and questions and concerns commonly raised by clinicians beginning to utilize this approach will be addressed.
Part III:
Working with Couples:
Reflections on Theory and TechniqueFriday 9-10 a.m.
Harriet Pappenheim, CSW, BCD
The author shares her own work with the audience using several clinical vignettes. She illustrates the use of certain self psychological concepts that she finds most helpful while at the same time exploring the application of other theoretical perspectives. Ms. Pappenheim points out that working psychoanalytically with one patient is very different from working with a dyadic constellation and requires different techniques. She advocates a mixed model approach and in this paper, employing clinical case examples, she reflects on the usefulness of attachment theory and object relations theory. Authenticity, spontaneity and an awareness of the intersubjective nature of the work between therapist and couple are stressed. The practicalities of goal setting and its effect on the work will also be considered.
Part IV:
Case Discussion in Small GroupsFriday 10-11:30 a.m.
Carla M. Leone, PhD
Martin S. Livingston, PhD
Harriet Pappenheim, CSW, BCDIn this session of the Marital and Family course the attendees will split up into three small groups. Each small group will meet with one of the instructors to discuss case material in a more intimate format. Attendees may present case material from their own practice or perhaps they may choose to role play a session for discussion by the leader and the group.