ChA. 12: Theoretical and Technical Aspects of Adolescent Analysis
Instructors
Section 1: Alexander Kalogerakis, M.D. and Pamela Meersand, Ph.D.
Section 2: TBD
September 24 – November 12, 2026 (Section I)
TBD (Section II)
8:35 – 10:00 pm
Zoom link, Passcode: 213470
Course Description
This course is given in partnership with the child analysis programs of Columbia and PANY. It is designed to familiarize the candidate with the basic technique of adolescent analysis. It will cover analysis of the young as well as the older teenager. The indications for analysis as well as the role of parents will also be considered.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- assess the suitability for analytic treatment of adolescent patients.
- apply analytic techniques for treatment with adolescents.
- apply the techniques of parent work with adolescents.
Evaluation Method
Each student’s participation in class discussion and his or her demonstration of understanding of the course objectives and reading material is assessed in a written evaluation by the instructor(s).
Continuing Education
Psychologists
New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY – 0073.
New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education programs for psychologists. New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. DISCLOSURE: None of the planners and presenters of this CE program has any relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Social Workers
New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW – 0317.
Schedule of Classes & Course Readings
These articles are protected under relevant copyright regulations. They are available in the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute Electronic Reserve for your convenience, and for your personal use.
READINGS ARE CONFIRMED FOR BOTH SECTIONS.
Section I
with Alexander Kalogerakis, M.D. and Pamela Meersand, Ph.D.
I. Working with Adolescents
CLASS 1: September 24, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Blos, P. (1968). Character Formation in Adolescence. Psychoanal. St. Child, 23:245-263.
Normandin, L., Ensink, K. and Kernberg, O.F. (2015). Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Borderline Adolescents: A Neurobiologically Informed Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. J. Infant Child Adolesc. Psychother., 14(1):98-110.
Supplemental Readings:
Sugarman, A. (2022). Ralph Greenson’s Child Analytic Understanding and Technique: A Heuristic Examination. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 75:233-254.
Neely, C. (2020). The Developmental Object and Therapeutic Action. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 73:109-118.
Eagle M. N. (2023). Interpreting Interpretation. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 71(6), 1175–1210. https://doi.org/10.1177/00030651241238325
II. Assessment
CLASS 2: October 1, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Fraiberg, S. (1955). Some Considerations in the Introduction to Therapy in Puberty. Psychoanal. St. Child, 10:264-286.
Edgcumbe, R. (1993). Developmental Disturbances in Adolescence and their Implications for Transference and Technique. Bul. Anna Freud Centre, 16(2):107-120.
III. Therapeutic Alliance
CLASS 3: October 8, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Burton, J.K., Gilmore, K. (2010). “This Strange Disease”: Adolescent Transference and the Analyst’s Sexual Orientation. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 58:715-734.
Evans, R. (1976). Development of the Treatment Alliance in the Analysis of an Adolescent Boy. Psychoanal. St. Child, 31:193-224.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
IV. Working with Parents I
CLASS 4: October 15, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Bell, A.I. (1961). The role of parents. In S. Lorand and H. Schneer (Eds.), Adolescents, (pp. 273-281). New York: Paul B. Hoeber, Inc.
Novick, J. Novick, K.K. (2008). Expanding the Domain Privacy, Secrecy, and Confidentiality. Ann. Psychoanal., 36:145-160.
V. Technique During the Early Phases of Adolescence
CLASS 5: October 22, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Blos, P. (1958). Preadolescent Drive Organization. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 6:47-56.
VI. Technique During Later Phases of Adolescence
CLASS 6: October 29, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Chused, J.F. (1992). Interpretations and Their Consequences in Adolescents. Psychoanal. Inq., 12(2):275-295.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
Sugarman, A. (1992). A Structural Perspective on Analytic Activity. Psychoanal. Psychol., 9(4):433-446.
VII. Transference During Early, Mid and Late Adolescence
CLASS 7: November 5, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Chused, J.F. (1990). Neutrality in the Analysis of Action-Prone Adolescents. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 38:679-704.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
Novick, J. (1982). Varieties of Transference in the Analysis of an Adolescent. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 63:139-148.
VIII. Emerging Adulthood and Identity
CLASS 8: November 12, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Eichler, R.J. (2011). The university as a (potentially) facilitating environment. Contemporary Psychoanalysis 47: 289‐316.
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
Chused, J.F. (1987). Idealization of the Analyst by the Young Adult. J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assn., 35:839-859.
Advanced Child Seminar Presentation #1: Thursday, Nov 12th
Section II
with Susan Sherkow, M.D.
IX. Acting Out
CLASS 9: December 3, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Laufer, M. The Analysis of an Adolescent at Risk with Comments on the Relation between Psychopathology and Technique. In M. Harley (Ed.), The Analyst and the Adolescent at Work. Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1974
X. Introduction to trauma, resiliency and special vulnerabilities in adolescents to trauma given their developmental phase
CLASS 10: December 10 , 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Psychoanalytic Terms and Concepts, edited by E. L. Auchincloss and E. Samberg entry on Trauma, pages 271-274
Kalogerakis, A. (2017). Women and migration: children on the move. In V. Pender (Ed.), The Status of Women: Violence, Identity and Activism (pp. 91-125). London: Karnac.
Balas, A. (2019). Challenges of Treatment with Traumatized Individuals. In B. Huppertz (Ed.), Approaches to Psychic Trauma: Theory and Practice (pp. 253-264). London: Rowman & Littlefield.
XI. Continuing the above with discussion of some specific challenges to technique with traumatized adolescents
CLASS 11: December 17, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Dexter, J. (2002). Adolescent Case Presentation. J. Clin. Psychoanal., 11(4):532-551.
Kim, S. & Strathearn, L. (2017). Trauma, Mothering, and Intergenerational Transmission: A Synthesis of Behavioral and Oxytocin Research. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 70:200-223.
XII. Character Development in Adolescence
CLASS 12: January 7, 2027
REQUIRED READINGS
Stilman, N. Character Development in Adolescence. (unpublished paper)
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
Blos, P. (1972). The Epigenesis of the Adult Neurosis. Psychoanal. St. Child, 27:106-135.
XIII. Working with Parents II
CLASS 13: January 14, 2027
REQUIRED READINGS
Schimel, J.L. (1974). Two Alliances in the Treatment of Adolescents: Toward a Working Alliance with Parents and a Therapeutic Alliance with the Adolescent. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 2: 243 – 253.
Novick, K.K., Novick, J. (2013). Concurrent Work with Parents of Adolescent Patients. Psychoanal. St. Child, 67:103-145.
XIV. Technique Today
CLASS 14: January 21, 2027
REQUIRED READINGS
Eissler, K.R. (1958). Notes on Problems of Technique in the Psychoanalytic Treatment of Adolescents—With Some Remarks on Perversions. Psychoanal. St. Child, 13:223-254.
Stambler, M. J. (2017). 100 Years of Adolescence and its Prehistory From Cave to Computer. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child, 70:22-39.
XV. A Neurobiological Perspective
CLASS 15: January 28, 2027
REQUIRED READINGS
Powers, A. & Casey, B. J. (2015). The Adolescent Brain and the Emergence and Peak of Psychopathology. Journal of Infant, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, 14:3-15.
Taber-Thomas, B. C. & Pérez-Edgar, K. (2015). Emerging Adulthood Brain Development. In Jeffrey Jensen Arnett (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Emerging Adulthood. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199795574.013.15
XVI. Gender
CLASS 16: February 11, 2027
REQUIRED READINGS
Lemma, A. (2018). Trans-itory identities: some psychoanalytic reflections on transgender identities. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 99:1089-1106.
Advanced Child Seminar Presentation #2: February 18, 2027