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
Reading
- Hinshelwood, R. D., & Fortuna, T. (2018). Melanie Klein: The basics (pp. 1–34). Routledge.
Learning Objective
- Describe the cultural-historical context that shaped Melanie Klein's work and evaluate how her ideas reshaped psychoanalytic theory and practice.
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 Objective
- Explain concepts such as unconscious phantasy, the paranoid schizoid position, and splitting phenomenon and identify them in the clinical setting.
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 Objective
- Describe internal objects and defenses in the depressive position and articulate Klein’s reformulation of the Oedipal Complex.
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 Objective
- Apply Kleinian theory to transference, countertransference, and how instances of projective identification manifest in the therapeutic relationship.
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.
References
Dauphin, B. (2023). Precursors of the affective neuroscience project in the writings of Melanie Klein. Neuropsychoanalysis, 25(2), 203–216.
Kernberg, O. F. (2022). Some implications of new developments in neurobiology for psychoanalytic object relations theory. Neuropsychoanalysis, 24(1), 3–12.
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, 995726.
Disclosures
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 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. Austin Psychoanalytic’s continuing education programs are sponsored through Division 39’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
Division 39 is 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 Division 39, Austin Psychoanalytic, nor the presenter has any financial relationships or conflicts of interest that could reasonably be construed as influencing the program content.
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.
