Extension Course: A Psychoanalytic Understanding of Dreams: Why they are, What they tell us and How they help us help our patients

Instructor

Douglas Van der Heide, M.D.

March 28 – April 11, 2019
Thursdays, 8:00 – 9:15 p.m.

Pay Fee $90

3.75 CME/CE credits offered.

Course Description

Freud called his solving the riddle of dreams his greatest achievement. The dream highlights his core discoveries of mind and any metapsychological theory building must account for them. Dreams are unique and quintessentially personal. They offer a genuine view of the dreamer’s soul and their use is of immense value in the creation of a healing space.

Learning to work with dreams requires comfort with metaphorical thinking and a reflective position that embodies what Freud meant by analytic neutrality.  This course is intended to review basic Freudian concepts including the Topographic Model which underlie dream production. The instructor will demonstrate how dreams have been used for historical reconstruction but in contemporary usage, as measures of self-image, characteristic defenses, ego capacity, object relations, and of course, the state of the transference.

This is meant to be seminar style course. The instructor will use some of his own material to demonstrate these aspects of dream life but encourages participants to bring in dreams from their practice so the class can work collaboratively to mine them for clinical data and consider therapeutic approach.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. describe the core postulates of psychoanalytic theory and explain how they derive from and inform about the nature of dreaming. He/she will be able to discuss, debate and intelligibly compare the merits of Freud’s original conceptualization with that of more contemporary thinkers like Klein, Meltzer and Bion.
2. describe five major aspects of mind and self regularly represented in oneiric imagery and use them in their own clinical work.
3. utilize symbol and metaphor to deepen the psychoanalytic process and demonstrate increased efficiency in working with pathogenic unconscious fantasy and memory.

Continuing Education Information

Physicians: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of (3.75) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Psychologists: 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 or 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.

Persons with disabilities: The building is wheelchair accessible and has an elevator. Please notify the registrar in advance if you require accommodations.