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Study Group In person

An Introduction to Melanie Klein

Facilitated by: Morgun Custer, PhD

Melanie Klein (1882-1960) remains one of the most influential figures in psychoanalytic theory and practice. In this study group, we will explore key Kleinian ideas, the influences that shaped her thought, her significant divergences from Freudian metapsychology, and how her theories laid the groundwork for later developments in Object Relations Theory.

As clinicians, we often sense “ghosts” of the patient’s past come alive in the consulting room and in their relationships, and sometimes in troubling ways. We intuitively know that early developmental experiences leave an imprint on a person’s psyche and shape how they understand themselves and relate to others. Kleinian theory provides a rich language and framework to understand these internal processes, and with this insight we can help patients gain mastery over the past and live more fully in the present. Participants will come away from this training with new ways to intervene in an authentic, evocative, and emotionally attuned manner.

In this study group, participants will learn about the following central Kleinian ideas and how to apply them to clinical work: Unconscious Phantasy, the Paranoid-Schizoid Position, the Depressive Position, Transference and Countertransference, Projective Identification, and Envy and Gratitude.

Sessions will include assigned readings, brief lectures, and active engagement with material through discussion and direct application to clinical examples.

Syllabus

Session 1: Sept 24 | Life, Historical Context, and Theoretical Contributions

Session 2: Oct 1 | Unconscious Phantasy, Paranoid-Schizoid Position, Splitting Mechanisms

Reading

Segal, H. (1973). Phantasy. In Introduction to the work of Melanie Klein (pp. 11–23). Basic Books.
Segal, H. (1973). The paranoid-schizoid position. In Introduction to the work of Melanie Klein (pp. 24–38). Basic Books.

Learning Objectives

Describe internal part-objects in the paranoid-schizoid position and the defensive function of splitting.
Identify instances of paranoid/schizoid phenomenon manifesting in the clinical setting.
Describe how paranoid/schizoid phenomenon manifest in contemporary culture.

References

Dennis, E. (2021). The paranoid-schizoid position and envious attacks on the Black other. Psychoanalysis, Self and Context, 17(2), 141–153.

Fuchshuber, J., Gruber, M., Feichtinger, K., Klauser, M., Parth, K., Kapusta, N., Doering, S., & Blüml, V. (2025). Personality organization, childhood adversity, and paranoid thinking: Moderating and mediating pathways. Psychopathology, 58(6), 393–404.

Kelly, D. M. (2025). Black mirroring and the paranoid-schizoid simulacrum: Scrolling as a defense against the depressive position. Psychodynamic Practice, 31(3), 331–354.

Session 3: Oct 8 | The Depressive Position and Oedipal Reformulations

Reading

Segal, H. (1973). The depressive position. In Introduction to the work of Melanie Klein (pp. 67–81). Basic Books.
Britton, R. (1998). Oedipus in the depressive position. In Belief and imagination: Explorations in psychoanalysis (pp. 29–40). Brunner-Routledge.

Learning Objectives

Describe internal objects and defenses in the depressive position.
Evaluate levels of personality organization through interview and clinical assessment.

References

Shahar, G. (2018). The (suicidal-) depressive position: A scientifically informed reformulation. Psychodynamic Psychiatry, 46(2), 265–293.

Shahar, G. (2021). Reformulated object relations theory: A bridge between clinical psychoanalysis, psychotherapy integration, and the understanding and treatment of suicidal depression. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 721746.

Unoka, Z., Csáky-Pallavicini, K., Horváth, Z., Demetrovics, Z., & Maraz, A. (2022). The Inventory of Personality Organization: A valid instrument to detect the severity of personality dysfunction. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 995726.

Session 4: Oct 15 | Transference, Countertransference, and Projective Identification in the Therapeutic Relationship

Reading

Joseph, B. (1985). Transference: The total situation. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 66, 447–454.
Ogden, T. H. (1979). On projective identification. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 60, 357–373.

Learning Objectives

Describe transference and countertransference phenomena as understood in Kleinian theory.
Identify examples of projective identification as it manifests in the therapeutic relationship.

References

Coşan, D. (2021). The function of transference interpretations in Kleinian therapy. International Journal of Psychology and Psychoanalysis, 7(1), Article 055.

Kaiser, E. (2026). Projective identification: The development of a concept and its underlying conception of language. International Journal of Psychoanalysis,107(4), 512–531.

Yilmaz, M., Türkarslan, K. K., Zanini, L., Hasdemir, D., Spitoni, G. F., & Lingiardi, V. (2024). Transference interpretation and psychotherapy outcome: a systematic review of a no-consensus relationship. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 27(1), Article 744.

Meet the Facilitator

Morgun Custer, PhD

Morgun Custer, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in South Austin. He completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, a historically psychodynamic program emphasizing object relations theory and therapy. He completed his internship and postdoctoral training at the Albany Medical Consortium, where he later served as an Assistant Professor at Albany Medical College. There, he conducted psychodynamically oriented psychotherapy and provided clinical supervision to psychology interns, psychiatry residents, and LMHC students. He is passionate about teaching and has taught courses on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Object Relations Theory, and Hypnotherapy.

Disclosures

The Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (SPPP) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SPPP maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE Eligibility

This program, when attended in its entirety, is eligible for 1 continuing education credit per session. Austin Psychoanalytic will provide certificates of attendance to participants who attend the program in full. No partial credit is available. Austin Psychoanalytic’s continuing education programs are sponsored through SPPP’s APA-approved continuing education program. It is the responsibility of each licensee to verify that a given program meets the continuing education requirements for their specific license. Participants outside of Texas should consult their own licensing boards regarding CE eligibility.

Accessibility, Non-discrimination, and Privacy

The Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology and Austin Psychoanalytic are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all continuing education activities and conducts its programs in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Reasonable accommodations will be made whenever possible for participants with accessibility needs. Questions, concerns, requests for accommodations, or complaints may be directed to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Participants are also asked to respect the privacy and confidentiality of others throughout the program.

Financial Disclosure

There is no commercial support for this program. Neither The Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology, Austin Psychoanalytic, nor the presenter has any financial relationships or conflicts of interest that could reasonably be construed as influencing the program content.

AI Disclosure

AI was not used in the planning of this program.

Cancellations and Refunds

Registrants may cancel or transfer their registration to another person up to 7 days before the event from their confirmation email, by logging into their member account if applicable, or by contacting info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. No cancellations, transfers, or refunds will be permitted within 7 days of the event start time.

Grievances

Austin Psychoanalytic conducts its educational programs in accordance with the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association. Participants with a concern regarding a speaker or a Continuing Education program are asked to submit a written account of the matter to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Where a complaint is substantiated, Austin Psychoanalytic will determine an appropriate remedy, which may include placement in a comparable program at no additional cost, a credit toward a future program, or a partial or full refund.