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The shadow of loss in our life

Loss is an inevitable experience in human life and sometimes the after-effects of significant losses can touch much deeper layers of our psyche than those described by our favorite psychological theories.
We, as therapists, do our best to help clients work through their losses, but how many of those clients can actually process the loss?
In this seminar we will cover:

Different types of loss ( anticipated, traumatic, diffuse) and their respective effects.

Which clients have the capacity to work through their loss

The conditions that either facilitate either hinder the process of mourning.

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When does therapy end?
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When does therapy end?

At what point is a client ready to leave therapy? This important question puzzles not only beginners but also experienced clinicians and its appropriate resolution determines to a large extent the ultimate success of therapy.
In this seminar we will discuss:
Early indications for a client’s premature flight from therapy
Appropriate management of issues surfacing at the end phase of therapy ( what if the client gets worse? What if the client claims that she is ultimately disappointed with therapy? Are we going to slowly wean the client or continue having regular sessions till the last minute? Are we going to schedule regular follow-ups?)
Presentation of clinical cases where therapy gets into a rut or ends prematurely.
Advantages and disadvantages of short term vs long-term therapy.

Sophocles, the Minotaur and Mrs. Klein: The archaic kernel of Oedipus complex
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Sophocles, the Minotaur and Mrs. Klein: The archaic kernel of Oedipus complex

In this workshop we will investigate the archaic Oedipus complex according to Klein’s theory focusing on  the composite parental figure and Meltzer’s claustrum concept.

Then we will discuss the myth of the Minotaur as described by Grotstein and will search  our own infantile deamons through experiential activities .

Our personal myth II: The ‘good’, the ’bad’ and the ‘ugly’ in our personal myth
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Our personal myth II: The ‘good’, the ’bad’ and the ‘ugly’ in our personal myth

In our life we often encounter difficulties and disappointments. Our goals and desires get blocked by the circumstances of our life or by our own passivity and procrastination. Despite our weariness, we keep watching endless repetitions of  “ the same old movie”.

Who is the dragon we need  to confront? Who is the evil witch who keeps us enslaved? What stops us from realizing our desires? In this workshop we will use the wisdom of folktales and psychoanalytic theories to trace the basic motifs in our life.

Chiron’s constellation: Loss and grief in our life
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Chiron’s constellation: Loss and grief in our life

Loss is an integral part of human life, however, several people cannot get over an intimate loss. In this workshop we will analyze the experience of loss

  • As a relational trauma
  • As a narcissistic wound
  • As an existential issue

Such an analysis reveals that not everyone is able to process their loss and be in touch with their feelings, therefore realistic goals and individually tailored interventions are a necessity.

We will also reflect on whether we can “cure” or “ get over” our past wounds; this is the existential dimension of loss, poignantly depicted in the myth of Chiron.

Family unconscious: Archetypes, family secrets and a child’s ‘destiny’
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Family unconscious: Archetypes, family secrets and a child’s ‘destiny’

In this workshop we will investigate the legacy of the family to its offspring. Not only talents but also traumas, secrets and unresolved conflicts passed down from one generation to the next.

These unresolved issues play a significant role in the formation of current family relations and the « destiny» of each individual family member.

Specifically we will examine:

  •   The archetypes emerging from the father and mother imagos
  •   The archetype of the black sheep and the scapegoat
  •   Incestuous themes in the family
  •   Motifs regarding jealousy, envy and death wishes aimed at the child
  •   Ways to deal with unresolved issues in our own family

Several clinical vignettes will  be presented and you can bring your own cases for discussion.