Description
About the Personality Disorders from a Psychoanalytic Perspective Course
This Personality Disorders from a Psychoanalytic Perspective course may be applied toward our Certificate of Advanced Study in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy if desired and counts as a core course in the program. The course examines personality formation and psychopathology through a range of psychoanalytic perspectives, with attention to descriptive, structural, defensive, and object-relational dimensions of personality organization.
Personality formation involves the development of relatively stable patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, and relating to others. From a psychoanalytic perspective, these patterns may be understood in part as adaptations to internal and external demands. The degree of flexibility or rigidity in these patterns can be important in distinguishing personality traits from more enduring personality pathology.
The course considers personality disorders across the three DSM clusters: Cluster A, including paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personalities; Cluster B, including borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personalities; and Cluster C, including dependent, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive personalities. Passive-aggressive personality is also considered.Â
Instructor
The instructor is Dr. Michael J. Gerson, an experienced psychologist and psychoanalyst in California. He has trained clinicians for over 40 years through his private practice, community counseling centers, and graduate psychology programs. He is a professor emeritus with extensive experience in the therapeutic process and in translating complex concepts into terms that can be applied to clinicians’ own work. A brief video provides opening remarks by Dr. Gerson.Â
CE Credits
This course earns 8 continuing education credits.
The Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Conflicts of Interest or Commercial Support
There is no commercial support or other potential conflict of interest for this program, presentation, or instructor.
Commitment to Diversity and Accessibility
We are committed to respecting diversity in all of its forms, including age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, language, socioeconomic status, religion, and disability. We also strive to make all of our activities accessible to individuals with special needs or disabilities. Please contact us if you ever have any questions or concerns regarding any of our programs.
Sources and Relevance
Our programs and teaching methods are supported by current, empirically-based scientific literature, and are designed to provide continuing education that is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or research, so that psychologists may maintain and expand their ability to serve the public and contribute to the profession.
Target Audience
Our courses are designed for postdoctoral-level psychologists; this course is an intermediate-level course. Mental health professionals, educators, and researchers have a variety of educational backgrounds and needs—if you have any questions about whether this course could benefit you and/or would be appropriate for your level of training, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Course Schedule
This course will be available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you will be able to pace yourself in a manner that is comfortable for you.
Course Format Summary
The Personality Disorders from a Psychoanalytic Perspective course includes online audio presentations accompanied by written transcripts, allowing participants to review the material in either or both formats. An online multiple-choice test and Certificate of Completion follow completion of the course.
Cost and Refund/Cancellation Policy
The cost of the course is $119; there are no additional fees. Your satisfaction is important to us. If you are not satisfied with the course, please let us know. We will gladly offer you a replacement course or a full refund.
