Seminar 1
APS Home Page

2002-2003 Schedule
 

Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society
 

presents
 

Valerie G. Giberman,
MSW, LCSW
 

WORKING WITH PERPETRATORS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/
WORKING WITH VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
 

Saturday, September 14, 2002
9:15 AM - 12:45 PM
 

Medical Conference Room #1
Fort Sanders Medical Center
19th Street and Clinch Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37919
 

Welcoming Mental Health
Professionals of All Disciplines
 

SCHEDULE
9:15 AM Registration
9:30 AM Psychoanalytic Self Psychology
 
  1. Vicarious introspection
  2. The selfobject concept: mirroring, idealizing and twinship transferences
10:15 AM Working with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence
 
  1. Understanding and treating these individuals within the self psychological model
  2. The case of Mr. L: Detailed clinical material illustrating this process with a particular individual
11:00 AM Break
11:15 AM Working with Victims of Domestic Violence
 
  1. Understanding and treating these individuals within the self psychological model
  2. The case of Ms. O: Detailed case material illustrating this process with a particular individual
12:00 PM Special Topics
 
  1. Dealing with strong countertransferences
  2. Ethical dilemmas: e.g. confidentiality vs. duty to warn/report
  3. Questions, discussion and wrap-up
12:45 PM Conclusions and Evaluations
 

SEMINAR GOALS
Upon completion of the workshop, participants should be able to:
bulletDevelop or refine a basic understanding of psychoanalytic self psychology as a clinical theory, emphasizing the use of empathic listening and the analysis of the selfobject transference.
bulletConceptualize the psychodynamics of both the domestic batterer and the domestic target of partner violence in self-selfobject terms.
bulletDevelop the ability to use these conceptualizations in the interest of working effectively with individuals caught up in violent interactions, in a non-judgmental and interpretive mode.
 

SEMINAR OBJECTIVES
Perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as victims of domestic abuse, can generate a complexity of legal, ethical and highly charged countertransference problems for the clinician, who may believe she has less to offer working psychoanalytically with this person than she does with many other consultees.  This seminar will explore and illustrate how a specific theoretical and clinical model, psychoanalytic self psychology, can provide the framework necessary to work effectively and productively with either of these individuals.

The cornerstone of self psychological theory, the selfobject experience, provides a psychodynamic understanding of why someone might feel the need to maintain violent control over a mate, for fear of psychic disintegration, and equally provides an understanding of why someone might feel unable to leave a lethally dangerous partner, for fear of his/her own psychic disintegration.  Working empathically within this theoretical framework allows the clinician to facilitate the working through of selfobject transferences, making these desperate domestic interactions unnecessary.
 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Valerie G. Giberman, MSW, LCSW, is a psychoanalytic practitioner, supervisor and seminar instructor, newly relocated in the Asheville, NC area.  She is the former Director of Psychoanalytic Studies, Michigan Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology (MSPP), a chapter of Division 39, as well as the former Vice President and Program Chair of MSPP.  On many occasions she has presented papers and participated in workshops and symposia in Michigan, and she now welcomes this opportunity to share some of her theoretical and clinical thinking with the Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society.

Ms. Giberman has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Detroit-Mercy Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program and at the Wayne State University School of Social Work.  She currently serves as Adjunct Instructor at the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
 

PARTICIPANTS
This seminar is open to all APS members and interested mental health professionals who are not members.  It is not limited to individuals practicing in a predominately psychoanalytic mode.
 

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing education credits (3.0 credit hours) will be offered by the Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society.  Upon completion of workshop evaluation form, a certificate will be provided.  This serves as documentation of attendance for all participants.  Psychologists will have their participation registered through Division 39.  Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists.  Division 39 maintains responsibility for the program.