Course 104

Instructors

Philip Herschenfeld, M.D.
Carlos Almeida, M.D.

December 16, 2024 – April 21, 2025
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:25 pm
No Class: 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 2/17, 4/14

Course Description

Utilizing primarily clinical material, this course will focus on those aspects of listening to the patient, thinking about what has been said and the rationale for responding. Understanding the unique aspects of our own mind as well as the patient’s will be discussed in detail. The centrality of understanding transference and countertransference in their manifold manifestations as well as other aspects of the dyad will be emphasized. These classes will also provide an opportunity to discuss issues such as the development of a practice, consultation with colleagues and whatever else the instructors and students feel is relevant. Occasional readings will be assigned to further what has been discussed in class, and/or highlight key analytic concepts.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. delineate the multiple ways of listening to clinical material through discussion of their clinical cases, recognizing that many of their reactions are not unique, but shared.
2. differentiate between the practicalities of practice and the differentiation of countertransference from the expected response to clinical material.
3. outline the dangers of reductionism through overemphasis on clinical theory.

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).