Certificate Programs
The Object Relations Institute or Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis is a non-profit NY State Chartered Educational
Institute, which was founded in 1991. Our training programs include a few programs for matriculated students who
are enrolled in psychoanalytic & psychotherapeutic tracks, while there are various introductory courses offered for
new mental health practitioners and interested public, and also courses for experienced clinicians of any school of
psychoanalytic thought who wish to enhance their practice by application of the Object Relations theory.The Object Relations Institute offers certificate programs in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis with
a special curriculum featuring the teaching of the British and American Object Relations theorists and their clinical
applications. The curriculum stresses preoedipal stage psychopathology contributing to character disorders, and
modifications and elaborations in Freudian theory and technique made by object relations theorists. Object relations
theorists have contributed to deepening our understanding of psychical structures and offer us techniques for
dealing with clients who were thought to be unreachable.This unique curriculum conducted in small group and class settings provides the candidate with the whole experiential
dimension of learning related to the processing of "objective countertransference" feelings, associations, and visceral
experiences. These issues are seen as the key to understanding the split off and dissociated aspects of the
psychotherapy or psychoanalytic patient, as the clinician sits in the room with him or her. This experiential study
takes place in supervision groups, which highlight the group process as a medium for the learning personal development
process. In-depth communication between candidates in each class is encouraged in relation to their internal processing
of their clinical work.
One Year Object Relations Evening Program: Introduction to the Object Relations Theory & Clinical Technique
Two Year Object Relations Evening Program: Advance Studies in Object Relations Theory & Clinical Technique - NEW!!!
One Year Object Relations Day Program for Practicing Clinicians & for New Graduates of the Training Institutes
Four Year Certificate Training Program in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis
For all APPLICATIONS - click HERE
Our Object Relations Institute has a unique combination of theoretical, clinical, and experiential courses, which is enhanced by the individual supervision process in which each candidate shares with his/her supervisor the detailed process of his own clinical work. This training is made all the more vivid and organic for each candidate by the individual psychotherapy and/or psychoanalysis of each candidate. Those in treatment with a training analyst from the Institute benefit the most from experiencing first hand the nature of the Object Relations treatment.
The theoretical part of the program ( classes on Object Relations Clinical Theory and Technique) has been established with a consideration for the roots and development of Object Relations thinking as an outgrowth and extension of traditional psychoanalysis. Introductory, beginning, and advanced classes are offered in the learning of each of the major Object Relations theorists, as well as further courses in related theorists extending the work of these original theorists, and the clinical use and case application of each theorist's theory is focused on in class. Candidates are exposed to the clinical cases of senior faculty, and are encouraged to engage in dialogues concerning the internal process of each Instructor herself/himself, when in connection with their own patients. The internal processing of the teacher with his/her own patients is then looked at in light of readings that are discussed in class on Object Relations teaching and theory. Candidates are encouraged to then join in by presenting their own cases in light of readings and course topics. The actual clinical application of all theoretical ideas is the primary focus throughout.
Complementary to the classes related to the Object Relations clinical theory and technique, we offer the Group Supervision class, throughout the four years of training. Group Supervision works in interaction with the theory classes. In this class, candidates tune in to their own internal process as it occurs in conjunction with the internal process of their patients; and they learn to understand their own experience while in the room with the patient, as a critical focus for both engaging with the patient and for understanding the patient. The faculty member who conducts the group facilitates this process. Candidates also are free to express feelings towards each other in these groups, and the nature of these feeling experiences can be related back to their feeling experiences with their patients.
Also, as a trusting atmosphere is established candidates find this environment one safe enough for them to share concerns they may have about the Institute and their participation within it or concerns about difficulties they may be having in any area of their Institute’s training. This focus is then more fully explored in conjunction with individual advisors.
One Year
Object Relations Evening Program: Introduction to the Object
Relations Theory & Clinical Technique
(Download Application Here)
This Program consists of three 10-week trimesters of the theoretical
part which is accompanied by a complementary
“Analyst as Instrument”
group supervision component (with Harriet Wald, LCSW).
Trimester 1:
Introduction to the Object Relations Technique of Psychotherapy
(October 6 - December 15, 2011).
Instructor: Dr. Susan Kavaler-Adler
This course will introduce students to critical psychic structure issues
related to character disorder pathology and
the related developmental issues. Clinical technique will be addressed
through both readings in British Object Relations
Theory and American Object Relations theory, as well as in “in vivo”
role playing demonstrations. Trough the role playing,
the students will have an opportunity to “get inside the skin of their
patients,” or experience their patients from the inside
out, while the Instructor will play the role of the psychoanalytic
object relations psychotherapist-analyst. Various
character resistances will be discussed in relation to Donald W.
Winnicott’s contributions to this topic, as well as to
some representatives of American school of Object Relations, such Althea
Horner, James Masterson, Thomas Ogden,
Jeffrey Seinfeld, and Susan Kavaler-Adler.
Course Calendar: October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15, 2011.
e syllabus on a new web page HERE
Trimester 2:
Sigmund Freud as an Object Relations
Theorist (March 15 - May 24,
2012).
Instructor: Dr. Rafael Javier
This course offers a careful critical examination of major original
works of Freud from its very beginning of his publication
on hysteria to his later works on the extent to which the work of
psychoanalysis is greatly limited by the strength of
the instincts in terms of its capacity to produce permanent cure. The
emphasis of this course is on the careful
delineation of how Freud’s concepts of the “object” is present in his
major works, and how his thinking contributed
extensively to current theoretical positions on object relations. In
this context, we examine his work on symptom
formation, narcissism, sexuality, masochism, to name a few. Students
are expected to read these original works,
which are also supplemented with other relevant writings from current
thinkers.
Course Calendar: January 5, 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1, and 8, 2012.
For the Course Syllabus, click here
Trimester 3:
Sandor Ferenczi and Michael Balint:
The Use of Therapeutic Regression in Psychoanalysis
(January 5 - March 8, 2012).
Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Lewis
Regression, in the classical psychoanalytic vernacular, usually refers to a powerful defensive operation whereby, should an individual find themselves overwhelmed by anxiety in a current developmental state of affairs, they may be transported backwards to an earlier developmental stage either ear-marked due to fixation (that is, having not been gratified or conversely having been overly gratified at that step and hence retaining a libidinal residue there) or due to this early stage providing a safe retreat to a place and time when things were better. In either case, Freud noted these phenomena in his clinical practice, and tended to see regression as therapeutically undesirable and a process which signified a treatment failure which needed to be ceased and reversed…if not prohibited.
On the other hand both Sandor Ferenczi and his protege Michael Balint saw regression as therapeutically useful (provided it wasn’t malignant) and actually a non-optional component of a complete analysis for the most serious pathological presentations. If the patient is not allowed to regress to the point of the “trauma” or alternately, to the “basic fault”, how will the necessary reparative processes be instituted and the growth process restarted such to elicit and encourage a “new beginning”?
This course via readings, a ten class didactic explanation of critical topics, and finally actual clinical material from both instructor and students, will make comprehensible and useful the powerful treatment modality of therapeutic regression. Sandor Ferenczi’s techniques will also be studied, including the “active technique,” the “humanistic method,” “relaxation therapy” and “mutual analysis.” In addition, the place of regression in modern clinical technique will be explored.
Course Calendar: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2012.
For the Course Syllabus, click here
Two Year
Object Relations Evening Program: Advance Studies in Object
Relations Theory & Clinical Technique -
NEW!!!
(Download Application Here)
- application is same as for One Year Programs
Each year of this program consists of three 10-week trimesters of the theoretical
part which is accompanied by a complementary
“Analyst as Instrument”
group supervision component (with Harriet Wald, LCSW).
1st Trimester, Course Calendar: October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15.
2nd trimester, Course Calendar: January 5, 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1, and 8.
3rd Trimester, Course Calendar: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17, and 24.
First year classes (same as
in One-Year Evening Training Program):
For the full description of the first-year classes, refer to the text above.
Second year classes:
Trimester 1:
Introduction to Melanie Klein, Her Writing and Work (October 6 -
December 15, 2011).
Instructor:
Charles Bonerbo, LCSW
This course serves as an introduction to the major psychoanalytic concepts of Melanie Klein. The class will examine the history and subsequent development of core clinical concepts of Kleinian theories and explore their relevance and applications to treatment.
Depressive and Paranoid-Schizoid Positions, “Phantasy”, “Manic Defenses,” Envy and Gratitude, and Projective Identification will be studied and discussed.
Clinical examples will be offered. Candidates are also requested to provide their own clinical examples.
Full syllabus is available HERE for download OR CLICK HERE to be forwarded to the web page dedicated to this course
For more information, contact ORI Administrator at 646-522-1056.
Course Calendar: October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15.
Trimester 2:
Donald Winnicott and
His Contribution to Object Relations Clinical Thinking (January
5 - March 8, 2012).
Instructor: Dr. Ruth
Danon
This is a ten week introduction to the theory, practice, and significance of the work of the British Object Relations theorist and practitioner, D. W. Winnicott. We will first place Winnicott in context and then move through some of his major concepts. In each class we will do close reading of significant papers and discuss application to actual practice.
We will be working mainly with primary material, though other texts may appear along the way or in the course packet. Through Pediatrics to Psychoanalysis is required. I will provide a course packet that includes the articles we will use from other texts. If you’re really interested, you should get the wonderful collection of Winnicott's letters, called The Spontaneous Gesture. I will use excerpts from the book during the class. These, too, will be in the course packet. Supplementary material by Ogden, Kavaler-Adler, and others will be included in the course packet and referred to during the course.
Course Calendar: January 5, 12, 19, 26; February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 1, and 8, 2012.
For course outline, click HERE
Trimester 3:
Contributions of Ronald Fairbairn to the Object Relations Theory
(March 15 - May 24, 2012).
Instructor: Susan
Kavaler-Adler, PhD. ABPP, NPsyA, D.Litt
Ronald Fairbairn was the first psychoanalytic theorist to explicitly proclaim that from the beginning of our lives, we strive to connect with another human being, and that this striving is primal and fundamental for being a human. In contrast to any thinking about narcissism as a primary rather than a secondary phenomenon, Fairbairn was the first of the British object relations theorists to declare that the need for connection is the most basic human need, and that all psychopathology stems from early attachments to “bad” objects (primary caregivers); “bad” in terms of disruptions of and failing to support developmental growth of the human psyche. Addiction to those “bad” objects, who abandon, abusively intrude, or attack, or those who detach from the child’s most fundamental emotional needs, becomes the cause of internal and external world repetitions of failed parenting. Loyalty to the sabotaging internal object, derived from the primal caregivers, results in perpetual self sabotage, unless successful object relations psychotherapy intervenes.
Only the contact and connection with another human being in psychological treatment can heal the early trauma and its addictions, which repeat that trauma throughout life. By understanding that the full pathological characters are compulsively "swallowed whole" by innocent children, who are by their very nature hungering for relationships and identifications with their parents, Fairbairn was particularly able to pin point the core causation of any character disorders that stem from trauma in the first three years of life.
He also was then able to understand that children will inevitably blame themselves for the problems of their parents, as they are totally dependent on parents, while full but dissociated parts of the parents oppose and attack their most powerful emotional and psychological needs. No child can survive with consciousness that the early mother, and the later parents (who they are bound to by absolute dependence) are inadequate, incapable, or even seriously dangerous to their well-being. Instead, children will turn the blame against themselves to protect the image of the parents, and to create the illusion that they are safe, when the truth would devastate them to the point of psychic self-annihilation.
Fairbairn understood this, and spoke of the moral defense in the language of the church, as he had once studied to become a minister. He wrote in his famous 1952 “Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality” that “…it is better to be a sinner in a world ruled by God than to live in a world ruled by the Devil.”
Here, Fairbairn conveyed to the world that a helpless child must idealize a parent, no matter how pathological that parent is, in order to preserve a fragile sanctity based on a belief that the world is safe enough. The child would rather be "bad," and make up reasons to attribute badness to herself or himself, than to have to face the intolerable truth that the parent is bad in the sense of being actually dangerous or seriously inadequate. This kind of thinking overlaps with Ferenczi’s view of trauma in children, and with Michael Balint’s view of “the basic fault,” and with many others, including D. W. Winnicott, who looked at trauma disrupting early human development.
Fairbairn also overlaps with Melanie Klein in seeing that each person carries inside an internal world of fantasy object relations, however for Fairbairn the internal object relationships are vividly created through the internalization of the actual maladies in the child’s parents, and in how the parent ignores, abandons, or abuses this child in reality. The internalization of malignant or poor attachments then plays a major role in determining the personality of the growing child. As Freud said in Mourning and Melancholia (1917), “the shadow of the object [i.e., a parent] fell upon the ego” of the growing child.
Fairbairn saw an infant as a person who has wholeness within itself in the beginning, with human motivation having both energy and structure, his “libidinal ego.” It is only due to the weakness and failures of all parenting, and particularly of parenting by parents with character pathology, that a whole being with energy and structure gets split up and divided apart, with one ("bad") part attacking or inhibiting the healthy strivings towards connection with others in the external world.
Course Calendar: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10, 17, and 24.
One Year Object Relations Day Program for Practicing Clinicians &
for New Graduates
of the Training Institutes
(Download Application Here)
Curriculum consists of five 7-week semesters (total 35 weeks) of
theoretical part which is accompanied by the “Analyst
as Instrument”
group supervision component.
Students of this program will benefit from experiential learning of
how to process “objective countertransference,” and
of concepts of
the “transitional space” & “transitional object,” “holding
environment,” “psychic container,” and
“projective identification.”
For more information about this program, please contact our
Institute’s
Founder & Executive Director,
Susan Kavaler-Adler, PhD, ABPP, NCPsyA at 212-674-5425 and/ or
DrKavalerAdler@gmail.com
Four Year Certificate Training Program in Psychotherapy &
Psychoanalysis
(Download Application Here)
This program was re-structured in 2010-2011 academic year, to
accommodate the applicants who wish to obtain the
full-certificate
psychoanalytic training at their own pace.
This Program’s unique curriculum features the supervision groups
where the group process is used as a learning medium.
The
experiential dimension of psychoanalytic learning is introduced
here, and it includes processing of “objective
countertransference”
feelings, associations, and visceral experiences.
First and second year of this program includes two mandatory classes (one dedicated clinical theory, and another one - to group supervision process) within three 10-week trimesters. In year three and four, there are additional courses which are required to complete if the candidate wishes to graduate within 4-year period. (Please note that these are just some requirements for graduation. Other include individual supervision of 35hrs/ year minimum - until the control case is presented to and approved by the Training Committee; 2- or 3-times per week training analysis with an approved analyst; and completion/ presentation of a control case.) Elective courses are offered at all levels of training. Additional individual supervision (on a sliding scale fee) is available, as per candidate's request.
First year classes of the Full Psychoanalytic Training Program (see above; same courses as in One-Year Program):
Second year classes of the Full Psychoanalytic Training Program (see above; same as in Two-Year Program):
Some of the featured courses of the four-year program:
One Year Clinical Mentorship Program for Psychotherapists &
Psychoanalysts
(Download Application Here)
For more information about One Year Intro, One Year Supervisory, &
Four Year Certificate Program:
please contact our Chair of Admissions, Audrey Ashendorf, LCSW
@212-684-2097 and/ or ashendorf@earthlink.net.
FEES:
Registration fee (for each program) is $65.
Fee for each mandatory 10-week class (Clinical Theory and Group Supervision) is $450.
Fee for each 10-week trimester (2 classes) is $900.
Fee for each full year (three trimesters) is $2,700.
Fee (sliding scale) for individual supervision (mandatory for all candidates in Full Psychoanalytic Training Program) is $65/ hr (minimum 35 hrs per academic year is required, until graduation).
Fee for training analysis sessions is flexible and a subject of an agreement between an analyst and a candidate.
Useful information related to getting financial assistance for your education from your employer:
Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (Training Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization.
Our EIN # 13-3697333. We are chartered by NYS Department of Education to provide post-graduate training in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
Intro to the Object Relations Thinking and
Clinical Technique
- with Dr. Kavaler-Adler (part 1).
Projective Identification:
Object Relations View (part 2 of the mini-video series)
Time as an Object - Object Relations view (part 3
of mini-video series)
Self Sabotage - Object Relations view
(part 4 of mini-video series)
Fear of Success - Object
Relations View (part 5 of mini-video series)
Mourning, Developmental
vs. Pathological (part 6)
Bad Objects and Loyalty to Bad Objects - Object Relations View (part 7)
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Please note - NEW
- Mail correspondence to: ORI
Administrator, 75-15 187 Street, Fresh Meadows, NY, 11366-1725
New: Tel: 646.522.0387 Fax:
718.785.3270 Email:
admin@ORINYC.org
Inquiries about psychotherapy
and psychoanalysis training:
DrKavalerAdler@gmail.com
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It does not
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Object Relations Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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