Announcing the APM Spring 2023 Seminar
Problem Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

April 12, 19, 26, May, 3, 10, 17, 2023
7:30 - 9 PM ET on Zoom

Problem Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is a treatment approach that focuses on problems/symptoms and their associated dynamics. These dynamics are explored with the patient as they emerge in symptoms, conflicts, fantasies, relationships, the transference, and in the process of working through. These dynamics are further addressed in the transference as they emerge in the context of termination. Psychoanalytic therapists, well trained in these underlying clinical and theoretical concepts, may still struggle to tailor their rich dynamic understanding to focal problems, particularly in shorter term treatments.  Moreover, there is a tremendous need for accessible treatments in short-term and public health settings, where psychoanalysts practice and train other clinicians.  This six-class course aims to hone their skills by describing varying forms of problem-focused psychotherapy for specific syndromes, including panic/anxiety disorders, depression, trauma and behavioral change.

• Panic Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is the first psychodynamic psychotherapy to demonstrate efficacy as a sole intervention for any DSM-IV anxiety disorder. Common intrapsychic conflicts include threats around separation and autonomy, a fear of anger disrupting core attachment relationships, sexual conflicts, and symptoms functioning as a punishment for guilt-inducing fantasies.
• Psychodynamic treatment of depression synthesizes dynamics into core difficulties surrounding narcissistic vulnerability and anger.
• Trauma Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy focuses on PTSD symptoms, elaborating the central dynamic components of mistrust, dissociation, repetition of trauma, and identification with the aggressor.
• Psychodynamic approaches to behavioral change involves developing a formulation for and approaches to specific behavioral issues.

A video re-enactment of a panic focused treatment that also addresses trauma, depression and behavioral problems will be used to demonstrate these principles and techniques, as will case vignettes of treatment of patients with depression and veterans with PTSD.

This Zoom course is taught by award-winning psychoanalyst Fredric Busch, M.D., clinical professor at Weill Cornell Medical Center and faculty at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. Dr. Busch worked with Dr. Barbara Milrod and others in the development of Panic Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and was involved with studies spearheaded by Dr. Milrod that demonstrated the efficacy of this treatment. Dr. Busch has authored and co-authored many books that extend the range of this treatment, including Psychodynamic Treatment of Depression (APA Publishing, 2016), Manual of Panic Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy - eXtended Range (Psychoanalytic Inquiry Book Series, 2011), Trauma Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Step-by-Step Treatment Manual (Oxford University Press, 2021) and Problem-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (APA Publishing, 2021).

Limited spots available - register soon!
 
Classes on Wednesday evenings 7:30 pm - 9:00 ET pm on Zoom
April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 10, 17

Course Fees:
APM Members:  $100
Non-APM Members:  $350

Learning objectives: 
After attending this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe components of the psychodynamic formulation as a framework for Problem Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
    
2. Identify modifications of techniques used in problem focused psychodynamic psychotherapy
    
3. Recognize differences in approaching termination of treatment in Problem Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy compared to usual psychodynamic treatments.

Columbia University Department of Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0168.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and the Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 9 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s)* to disclose with ineligible companies* whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
*Financial relationships are relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.
-Updated July 2021-