Post Master’s Program - The Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work

HomePost Master’s Program

Bryn Mawr College

Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research

and

Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW)

Clinical Certificate Program: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (virtual)

MISSION
Many graduate programs no longer offer courses or training in psychodynamic approaches. This course aims to fill that gap, by offering all levels of clinicians a chance to explore several complementary psychodynamic theories which emphasize the clinical relationship as central to the work. Understanding and sensitively handling the vicissitudes of the therapeutic relationship are hallmarks of effective treatment, regardless of what other clinical orientations or techniques are being employed. The course will meet weekly from 6:30-9:00 pm (day of week TBD) for a total of 15 sessions. Each session will begin with a one-hour presentation of a clinical topic by a faculty member who is a senior PSCSW member. The academic portion will be followed by small group clinical supervision.

Object relations, contemporary psychoanalytic, relational, and intersubjectivity theories, among others, are used to formulate strategies for assessment and intervention. The course aims to deepen and expand participants’ understanding of key theoretical concepts, such as: holding environment, containment, affect regulation, transference/countertransference, projective identification, enactment and self-disclosure. These concepts will be applied to work in nontraditional settings and with diverse populations.

The program is designed for all levels of clinicians and is relevant to practitioners working in a variety of agency settings as well as those in private practice. Focus is primarily on clinical interventions with individual adult clients. Practitioners working with children and teens will find the course relevant. The program’s faculty and supervisors include senior members of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW), a professional organization which promotes and advances the specialization of clinical practice within the social work profession

CEUs/Supervision: The course fulfills 22.5 social work continuing education credits (CEUs) and 15 hours of group supervision for those pursuing their LCSW licensure; or 37.5 CEUs for those who are not seeking supervision credit. The course fulfills 3 hours in ethics credit.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Participants in this certificate program: 1) explore the therapeutic process from several complementary psychodynamic frameworks including Object Relations, Psychoanalytic, Intersubjectivity, and Relational Theories; 2) use these and other theories to formulate strategies for assessment and intervention; and 3) discuss how to meaningfully integrate psychodynamic theory and techniques into one’s own practice.

Supervision Groups: Each week, one student will present a case to the group for discussion and input. Participants will be expected to prepare a written case presentation, including process material, to be submitted to their group supervisor the week before their presentation. The groups will be facilitated to create a safe space to present and explore case material from the perspectives discussed in the course. Group composition will stay intact throughout the course, with instructors rotating at the half so students get the benefit of different styles and perspectives.

Scholarships: Several need-based scholarships may be available. Information on applying for those will be sent out in emails to the PSCSW forum.

QUESTIONS

Bryn Mawr College GSSWSR: Peggy Robinson, Director, 610-520-2614, probinson@brynmawr.edu
PA Society for Clinical Social Work: Leda Sportolari, LCSW, 610-668-1865, lsportolari@gmail.com

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