David Levit, Ph.D., instructor

The ideas of the founding figures of object relations theories live on within current relational perspectives, as well as within contemporary Freudian and self psychology theory and practice.  This seminar will utilize extensive clinical material to illustrate and bring to life the fundamental contributions of three seminal object relations theorists: Klein, Fairbairn, and Winnicott.  Clinical material will include process notes from psychotherapy and analytic sessions, with emphasis on the therapeutic relationship as a central medium for emotional and psychological growth and healing.  Four models of therapeutic action will be discussed, including the therapist as interpreter, nurturer, co-actor and container.

Upon completion of the program the student will be able to:

• Explain ways in which contemporary psychodynamic/psychoanalytic perspectives on therapy build upon contributions from early object relations theories
• Discuss object relations theories in order to deepen his/her understanding of clients and of the therapeutic relationship
• Use object relations theories in order to enrich his/her process of making clinical choices

Program Code: ORT6 
6 CE Credits
Location: at MSPP, Newton

David Levit, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Diplomate in Psychoanalysis and Clinical Psychology.  He is in private practice in Amherst, MA.  Dr. Levit holds several faculty positions: Faculty, Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis (MIP); Faculty and Co-Chair, MIP Postgraduate Fellowship-West; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical School; Adjunct Associate Professor, Doctoral Program, Smith College School for Social Work.   He co-authored, with Dr. Steven Cooper, a chapter entitled “Old and New Objects in Fairbairnian and American Relational Theory,” in Relational Psychoanalysis, Volume II, published by the Analytic Press.  This chapter was based on a paper published previously in Psychoanalytic Dialogues.