Course Description

This course builds upon the psychoanalytic perspectives addressed in 101, and elaborates the transition from Object Relations to Self Psychology, and the development of relational psychoanalysis. Specific topics will include psychoanalytic models of self, the developmental scaffolding of anxiety states and their relationship to character structure, and the relationship between object relations and attachment. This course will include readings by Guntrip, Kohut, Ogden, Bion, and Grotstein.

Learning Objectives

Describe the theoretical transition from classical object relations to self psychology and relational psychoanalysis, and explain how evolving models of self, other, and relationship alter psychoanalytic understanding of pathology and change.
Analyze the developmental scaffolding of anxiety states and formulate how early relational experience contributes to character structure, symptom formation, and patterns of affect regulation across different levels of personality organization.
Differentiate among object relations, self psychological, and relational perspectives on attachment and internalization, enabling clinicians to refine clinical formulations of dependency, autonomy, shame, and self-cohesion.
Apply intermediate-level psychoanalytic concepts—including contributions from Harry Guntrip, Heinz Kohut, Thomas Ogden, Wilfred Bion, and James Grotstein—to select therapeutic stance, interpretive focus, and relational timing in work with complex clinical presentations.

The Aion Institute is approved by the California Psychological Association to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The Aion Institute (AIO279) maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

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AION 201 Intermediate Theories and Technique in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy