404: Technique V: Comparative Psychoanalytic Theory and Technique
Instructors
Jean Roiphe, M.D.
Adam Libow, M.D.
January 14 – April 22, 2026
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:25 pm
No class: 1/28, 4/1
If you are attending class remotely, please click here
Co-requisites
Candidates must have or have had at least two cases in supervised psychoanalysis to be eligible for upper level courses.
Course Description
This course will consider the implications for technique of different theoretical models of psychoanalysis. We will invite analysts who practice using different theoretical models—Ego Psychology, Contemporary Kleinian, Relational Psychoanalysis, and Self Psychology—to address the same clinical material of an ongoing psychoanalysis. Through doing so, we will try to understand the similarities and differences in their approaches to psychoanalytic listening and technique. Candidates are expected to have a basic familiarity with these different theoretical models as a pre-requisite for this course. Third and Fourth Year students combined. Course usually alternates with 301.
Educational Objectives
After attending this course, participants should be able to:
1. formulate the technical implications of varying theoretical schools of psychoanalysis.
2. critically evaluate the ways a theoretical position influences–or fails to influence–a clinician’s technical approach to listening to clinical material and conducting an analysis.
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.
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.
If you are attending class remotely, please click here
READINGS FOR 2026 CLASS ARE CONFIRMED.
I. Some important epistemological and methodological considerations as we as we attempt to compare different theories and their implications for technique
CLASS 1: January 14, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Smith, H.F. (2003). Can we Integrate the Diverse Theories and Practices of Psychoanalysis? JAPA, 51S:127-144
Sandler, J. (1983). Reflections on Some Relations Between Psychoanalytic Concepts and Psychoanalytic Practice. IJP, 64:35-45
II. What is Psychoanalytic Process? And (how) do different theoretical and technical approaches change how it is conceptualized?
CLASS 2: January 21, 2026
REQUIRED READINGS
Abend, S.M. (1990). The Psychoanalytic Process: Motives and Obstacles in the Search for Clarification. Psychoanal. Q., 59:532-549.
Ornstein, P.H. (2004). The Elusive Concept of the Psychoanalytic Process. JAPA 52:15-41.
Rudden, M.G. and Bronstein, A. (2015). Transference, Relationship and the Analyst as Object: Findings from the North American Comparative Clinical Methods Working Party. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 96(3):681-703. [Read pp.702-703]
III. What we will be listening for: considering technical implications of different theories
CLASS 3: February 4, 2026
REQUIRED READING
Kernberg, O.F. (2001). Recent Developments in the Technical Approaches of English-Language Psychoanalytic Schools. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 70:519-547
Cooper, A.M. (1989). Concepts of Therapeutic Effectiveness in Psychoanalysis: A Historical Review. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 9:4-25
IV. Ego Psychology
CLASS 4: February 11, 2026
Discussant: Eric Marcus, M.D.
REQUIRED READINGS FOR EGO PSYCHOLOGY MODEL
Abend, S.M. (2005). Analyzing Intrapsychic Conflict. Psychoanal. Q., 74:5-25
Marcus, E.R. (1999). Modern Ego Psychology. JAPA., 47(3):843-871
V. Ego Psychology Cont.
CLASS 5: February 18, 2026
Discussant: Eric Marcus, M.D.
VI. Contemporary Kleinian
CLASS 6: Saturday, February 28, 2026 9:30 AM – 11 AM on ZOOM (link will be distributed)
Discussant: David Taylor, M.D.
REQUIRED READINGS FOR CONTEMPORARY KLEINIAN MODEL
Joseph, B. (1985). Transference: The Total Situation. IJP, 66:447-454
Spillius, E.B. (1992). Clinical Experiences of Projective Identification. New Lib. of Psycho-Anal., 14:59-73
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
Joseph, B. (2013). Here and Now: My Perspective. Int. J. Psycho-Anal., 94(1):1-5.
Hinshelwood, R. (2018) Intuition from Beginning to End? Bion’s Clinical Approaches. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 34:198-213
VII. Contemporary Kleinian Cont.
CLASS 7: Saturday, March 7, 2026 9:30 AM – 11 AM on ZOOM (link will be distributed)
Discussant: David Taylor, M.D.
VIII. Discussion: Comparing and Contrasting the Two Models
CLASS 8: March 11, 2026
IX. Self Psychology
CLASS 9: March 18, 2026
Discussant: Sharone Ornstein, M.D.
REQUIRED READINGS FOR SELF PSYCHOLOGY MODEL
Ornstein, P.H. and Ornstein, A. (2003). The Function of Theory in Psychoanalysis. Psychoanal. Q., 72:157-182
Halpern, J. and Ornstein, S. (2018). Self-Experience within Intersubjectivity: Two Clinicians’ Use of Self Psychology. In: Introduction to Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Defining Terms and Building Bridges, ed. Marilyn Charles, Ph.D., Routledge, pp. 165-190.
X. Self Psychology Cont.
CLASS 10: March 25, 2026
Discussant: Sharone Ornstein, M.D.
XI. Relational Psychoanalysis
CLASS 11: April 8, 2026
Discussant: Tony Bass, Ph.D.
REQUIRED READINGS
Stern, D. (in press). Interpretation: Voice of the Field. Journal of the American Psychoananalytic Association.
Bromberg, P. M. (2012). Stumbling Along and Hanging In: If This Be Technique, Make the Most of It!. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 32:3-17.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS
Levenson, E. A. (1988). The Pursuit of the Particular—On the Psychoanalytic Inquiry. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 24:1-16.
Tublin, S. (2011). Discipline and Freedom in Relational Technique. Contemp. Psychoanal., 47:519-546
XII. Relational Psychoanalysis Cont.
CLASS 12: April 15, 2026
Discussant: Tony Bass, Ph.D.
XIII: Discussion: Comparing and Contrasting the Four Models
CLASS 13: April 22, 2026
Optional Readings:
Stern, D.B. (2017). Unformulated Experience, Dissociation and Nachtraglichkeit. J Anal Psychol, 62: 501-523
Halpern, J. and Ornstein, S. (2018). Self-Experience within Intersubjectivity: Two Clinicians’ Use of Self Psychology. In: Introduction to Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Defining Terms and Building Bridges, ed. Marilyn Charles, Ph.D., Routledge, pp. 165-190.
Blass, R.B. (2016). The Quest for Truth as the Foundation of Psychoanalytic Practice: a traditional Freudian-Kleinian perspective. The Psychoanalytic Quarterly, Vol 85:2, p. 305-337.