COURSE NAME: Psychoanalytic Theory & Therapy

COURSE NUMBER: PP 8040

COURSE NAME: Psychoanalytic Theory & Therapy

TERM: Spring 2008

INSTRUCTOR:

PHONE:

EMAIL:

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REQUIRED TEXTS:

This Course Requires the Purchase of a Course Packet: YES NO

Argosy University

COURSE SYLLABUS

Psychoanalytic Theory & Therapy

PP 8040

Faculty Information

Faculty Name: Kaveh Zamanian, Ph.D.

Campus:Chicago

Contact Information:312-777-7683

Office Hours:Mondays 8-12

Short Faculty Bio:

Course description and Objective:

The first part of this course will introduce students to the major theoretical tenets of psychoanalytic theory and to its technical and clinical application. Fundamental psychoanalytic concepts as outlined by Sigmund Freud will be discussed in some depth followed by subsequent development of psychoanalytic theory and practice as it pertains to theories of Object Relations, Self-psychology, Relational Psychoanalysis and Lacanian Model. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the unconscious, infantile sexuality, instinctual impulses/drives, psychic tension/conflict, use of language and derivative communication as well as understanding defense structure in lieu of character and emotional development.

The second part of the course will review the basic technical principles underlying psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Using actual case material the focus will be on the nature of therapeutic action and important aspects of patient-therapist interaction. Various aspects of technique, including but not limited to, psychoanalytic listening, importance of therapeutic frame, use of interpretation, analysis of resistance and transference, understanding and use of countertransference reactions, projective identification and therapist disclosure will be examined. Finally, sensitivity to cultural difference will be examined throughout the course in particular as it pertains to countertransference issues of working with matters of diversity.

1. To develop a basic understanding of major psychoanalytic concepts through summarizing and critiquing ideas.
2. To formulate hypotheses about personality, relationships and a range of contextual factors on human behavior utilizing Freudian and Neo-Freudian approaches.
3. To learn about the listening process from a psychoanalytic perspective including how meaning is developed in the therapeutic process.
4. To formulate hypotheses about intra-psychic and interpersonal patterns and their adaptive and maladaptive impacts in significant life and therapeutic relationships.
5. To apply these ideas to the practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
6. To integrate contextual factors related to human diversity into the application of psychoanalytic perspectives.

Course Pre-requisites: None

Required Textbook:

Course Packet and the following books:

Books:

Casement, P. (1991). Learning from the Patient. Guilford Press. (ISBN: 0-89862-157-7.

Freud, S. (1940). An Outline of Psychoanalysis. W. W. Norton & Co., Inc. (ISBN: )-393-00151-2)

McWilliams, N. (2004). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A practitioner’s guide. New York: The Guilford Press. (ISBN: 1-59385-009-3).

Mitchel S.A. & Black M.J. (1995). Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. New York: Basic Books. (ISBN: 0-465-01405-4).

Viorst, J. (1986). Necessary Losses. Free Press. (ISBN: 0684844958).

Course Packet is required.

Course length: 15 Weeks

Credit Value: 3.0

Program Outcomes: The Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University Chicago Campus is an APA accredited program (APA, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-336-5500). This program is designed to educate and train students so that they may eventually be able to function effectively as clinical psychologists. To ensure that students are prepared adequately, the curriculum provides for the meaningful integration of theory, training and practice. The Clinical Psychology program at Argosy University Chicago Campus emphasizes the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential in the formation of professional psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services. Specific objectives of the program include the following:

• Goal 1: Prepare professional psychologists to accurately, effectively, and ethically select, administer, score, interpret, and communicate findings of appropriate assessment methods informed by accepted psychometric standards and sensitive to the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
• Objective 1a: Accurately and ethically administer and score various psychodiagnostic instruments.
• Objective 1b: Accurately interpret and synthesize assessment data in the context of diversity factors, referral questions, and specific objectives of the assessment, and organize and communicate results in writing and orally.
• Objective 1c: Examine psychometric properties of psychological assessment instruments, and use that knowledge to evaluate, select, administer, and interpret psychological tests and measures appropriate for the client, the referral question, and the objectives of the assessment.
• Goal 2: Prepare professional psychologists to select, implement, and evaluate psychological interventions consistent with current ethical, evidence-based, and professional standards, within a theoretical framework, and with sensitivity to the interpersonal processes of the therapeutic relationship and the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
• Objective 2a: Synthesize the foundations of clinical psychology, including psychopathology, human development, diagnosis, diversity, ethics, and various therapeutic models in clinical applications.
• Objective 2b: Select, plan, and implement ethical and evidence-based interventions with sensitivity to the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
• Objective 2c: Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively implement and participate in psychological consultation and supervision.
  Objective 2d: Demonstrate personal development and self-reflective capacity, including growth of interpersonal skills, and therapeutic relationships.

• Goal 3: Prepare professional psychologists to analyze the complexity and multidimensionality of human diversity, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand diverse worldviews and the potential meaning of social, cultural, and individual differences for professional psychological services.
• Goal 4: Prepare professional psychologists to examine the historical context and the current body of knowledge of biological, cognitive, affective, developmental, and social bases of human functioning.
• Goal 5: Prepare professional psychologists to critically evaluate the current and evolving body of scholarly literature in psychology to inform professional practice.

Assignment Table:

Please arrive to the first class having read Friedman, J. (2006). Chinese Freud? A Fable. (course packet) and watched David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and be prepared to discuss

Class Assignments:

By the end of the course, students will have a working understanding of basic psychoanalytic concepts and be able to apply these concepts to clinical material. All assignments will emphasize conceptual skills, critical thinking and writing skills.

Course assignments:

1)Students are expected to read the assigned material prior to class and be ready to contribute comments and questions to the discussion.

2)Writing assignments will be given based on reading and class discussion material. Each writing assignment is due a week from the assigned date and should be limited to 2 double spaced pages in length.

3)Midterm and Final exams will be distributed that will assess the students understanding and command of the material on both theoretical and practical levels.

Final Grades will be weighted in the following manner:

Class Participation10%Midterm30%

Writing Assignments20%Final Exam40%

Please be advised that both Midterm and Final Paper will be due at the beginning of the class date specified. It is important that papers be submitted in a timely manner and therefore no late papers will be accepted (no exceptions allowed). Be sure to save and print your papers as to avoid computer failures and loss of an entire paper. Be advised that computer and other technical problems will not be considered as a legitimate excuse for missing the submission deadline. All papers are to be written in APA format including cover page and appropriate citations and references.

Grading Criteria

Grading requirementsGrading Scale

Library Resources

Argosy University’s core online collection features more than 21,000 full-text journals, 23,000 electronic books and other content covering all academic subject areas including Business & Economics, Career & General Education, Computers, Engineering & Applied Science, Humanities, Science, Medicine & Allied Health, and Social & Behavior Sciences.All electronic resources can be accessed through the library’s website at User IDs and passwords are distributed during orientation, but can also be obtained at the circulation desk, calling 312-777-7653, or by e-mail at .

In addition to online resources, Argosy University’s onsite collections contain a wealth of subject-specific research materials searchable in the Library Online Catalog. Catalog searching is easily limited to individual campus collections.Alternatively, students can search combined collections of all Argosy University Libraries. Students are encouraged to seek research and reference assistance from campus librarians.

Information Literacy: Argosy University’s Information Literacy Tutorial was developed to teach fundamental and transferable research skills, including selecting sources appropriate for academic-level research, searching periodical indexes and search engines, and evaluating and citing information. In the tutorial, students study concepts and practice them through interactions. At the conclusion of each module, they can test their comprehension and receive immediate feedback. Each module takes less than 20 minutes to complete. Please view the tutorial at

Academic Policies

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism: In an effort to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity during the learning process, Argosy University requires that the submission of all course assignments represent the original work produced by that student. All sources must be documented through normal scholarly references/citations and all work must be submitted using the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition (2001). Washington DC: American Psychological Association (APA) format. Please refer to Appendix A in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition for thesis and paper format. Students are encouraged to purchase this manual (required in some courses) and become familiar with its content as well as consult the Argosy University catalog for further information regarding academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

Scholarly writing: The faculty at Argosy University is dedicated to providing a learning environment that supports scholarly and ethical writing, free from academic dishonesty and plagiarism. This includes the proper and appropriate referencing of all sources. You may be asked to submit your course assignments through “Turnitin,” ( an online resource established to help educators develop writing/research skills and detect potential cases of academic dishonesty. Turnitin compares submitted papers to billions of pages of content and provides a comparison report to your instructor. This comparison detects papers that share common information and duplicative language.

Americans with Disabilities Act Policy

It is the policy of Argosy University to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodations, the student must notify the Director of Student Services. Procedures for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodations will be provided to the student upon request.

Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing via a designated form. To receive accommodation in class, it is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her discretion) to the instructor. In an effort to protect student privacy, the Department of Student Services will not discuss the accommodation needs of any student with instructors. Faculty may not make accommodations for individuals who have not been approved in this manner.

The Argosy University Statement Regarding Diversity

Argosy University prepares students to serve populations with diverse social, ethnic, economic, and educational experiences. Both the academic and training curricula are designed to provide an environment in which students can develop the skills and attitudes essential to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

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