Workshop Description:
Pre-oedipal patients in group therapy challenge the skill, discipline and self-awareness of the group leader. Using a didactic and experiential format, this workshop will address how the pre-oedipal patient affects the group structure and content. We will focus on resistances to progressive emotional communication presented by the pre-oedipal patient.
Participants will be offered a theoretical and technical structure from which to understand the concept of induced feelings—a specific type of countertransference feelings which can be clinically useful when conceptualizing and formulating therapeutic interventions. Workshop material will be presented through participant discussion, experiential demonstration, case material and clinical examples.
Learning Objectives:
This workshop is designed to help you:
1. Compare and contrast Modern and Traditional approaches to working with pre-oedipal patients.
2. List the unique resistances used by pre-oedipal patients in group.
3. Utilize techniques that respect and support defenses in the early stages of group.
4. Observe techniques for working with the narcissistic defense.
5. Explain the concept of induced feelings and its use when working with pre-oedipal patients in group.
6. Describe specific forms of aggression utilized by pre-oedipal group members.
7. Apply modern group techniques to resolve resistances to progressive communication.
8. Analyze common countertransference reactions experienced with pre-oedipal patients in group.