Crisis Hotlines

2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE OBJECT RELATIONS INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS

SPONSORED BY THE OFFICE OF POSTGRADUATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
OF ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY, PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Closet Narcissism in Cinema and Clinical Practice: Object Relations and Jungian Perspectives

Date: Saturday March 20, 2021, 10am — 4:30pm EST
Location: This conference will be offered live via VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION only, due to recommendations of CDC and local government, in re: to COVID-19.
Virtual participation will be available via gotomeeting platform, with minimal technical requirements

Keynote Speaker: Susan Kavaler-Adler, PhD, ABPP, D.Litt., NCPsyA

Discussants: Kenneth Porter, M.D.

Moderator: Eva Papiasvili, PhD, ABPP

To Register for this conference, please complete the Registration form
Continuing Education Information:
7 CEs for NYS Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists and Psychologists — approved by Amedco
7 APA CEs for Licensed Psychologists and other licensed professionals, nationally (excl. NYS) — approved by St. John’s University, Postgraduate Professional Development Programs
7.0 PDU (for educators, legal professionals, psychoanalytic candidates in training) — approved by the CE Committee of the Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION:

The psychoanalytic literature on closet narcissism stems back to some journal articles of Annie Reich in the 1940s and 1950s. However, the term closet narcissism was later formulated by James F. Masterson in his work on the character disorders, particularly spelled out in his books The Emerging Self and The Personality Disorders. The phenomenon of closet narcissism is behind a certain kind of co-dependent addiction, which results from arrests in primal maternal bonding and attunement as development through separation-individuation flounders, just as it does in the other major character disorders, such as grandiose narcissism, borderline personality, and schizoid personality. The closet narcissist only exists in relation to a grandiose narcissist, merging with the grandiose image, which offers a certain kind of false self pathology (related to D. W. Winnicott’s false self).
In his film “Blue Jasmine,” Woody Allen gives an emotionally authentic and complexly layered portrayal of the closet narcissist.  We see the rage underlying the facade of the closet narcissist, a socialite Jasmine, played brilliantly by Cate Blanchett, who fell on hard times and forced to move in with her working class sister. Ultimately, the devastated state of despair triumphs, when there is no longer an available man with an idealized or a grandiose image that would substitute for the undeveloped woman’s identity. Woody Allen captured the social dynamics keenly, as he captured the psychological dynamics.
This keen drama crystallizes the phenomena that we can encounter in the clinical setting.  Understandably, closet narcissists enter the psychotherapist’s treatment room much more frequently than do grandiose narcissists. Closet narcissists can be men or women, but due to social and patriarchal dynamics, we see more female closet narcissists in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis than male ones.

This conference will include the discussion of the psychological film drama offered by Woody Allen, as well as both a long term and a short term cases, to demonstrate the clinical phenomenology of the closet narcissist. The psychodynamics will be understood in object relations developmental terms, but there will also be discussion of Jungian perspectives from the work of Marion Woodman and Linda Schierse Leonard. Beyond the developmental and internal world issues of object relations theory and the Jungian theory, there will be some illustration of the transference dynamics, their evolution and resolution.

In his discussion, Dr. Kenneth Porter will briefly summarize the main points of her paper on female closet narcissism, which can be considered a major contribution to psychological and psychoanalytic thinking. He will expand on an issue of the mirror image syndrome of male closet narcissism, which is often present in a relationship with a female closet narcissism. Dr. Porter will offer a brief summary of the themes of male closet narcissism too, as these relate to Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s theory of pathological mourning as the basis of the deepest psychopathology. Dr. Porter will also offer an example from his own personal experience with Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s work as being extremely helpful in self-understanding and healing.

DEDICATIONS:

This conference is dedicated to Melanie Klein, a mother of British object relations approach to psychoanalysis. 

On March 30th, we celebrate Melanie Klein’s (1982–1960) birthday by reflecting on her profound words: “God has put something noble and good into every heart his hand has created. So while living on earth we must always remember to learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow because time will only show what has mattered throughout our journey.”

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

9:30am – 10:00 am – Same Day REGISTRATION & GOTOMEETING Assistance
10:00am – 10:15am – Introduction of conference topic by the conference moderator, Dr. Eva Papiasvili
10:15am – 11:50am – Keynote speaker’s morning paper presentation:
“The Closet Narcissist Personality: In Woody Allen’s ‘Blue Jasmine,’ Jungian and Object Relations Theory” (with 5 min bathroom break)
11:50am – 12:20pm – Q & A
12:20pm – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm – Paper presentation by Dr. Susan Kavaler-Adler: “Lady Sojourning in Sweden During the Pandemic: Short-term Therapeutic Work with a Closet Narcissist”
2:05 pm – 3:05pm – Discussion of both paper presentations by Dr. Kenneth Porter
3:15pm – 4:30pm – Drs. Kavaler-Adler, Porter and Papiasvili – Panel Q & A. This section will include the Role Play of a session with a Closet Narcissist patient.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

For Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s papers: At the end of this educational activity, its participants will be able to:

  • Describe and apply the phenomenon of closet narcissism;
  • Compare the grandiose narcissist and the closet narcissist;
  • Analyze the closet narcissist dynamics in the Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” character;
  • Describe the idealizing transference of the long term clinical case of a closet narcissist;
  • Describe the disillusionment of the short term case closet narcissist and apply this phenomenon to any of one’s current clinical case;
  • Describe one Jungian perspective that can be applied to the undeveloped “feminine” self in the woman closet narcissist.

For Dr. Porter’s discussion paper: At the end of this educational activity, its participants will be able to:

  • Analyze the basic themes of male closet narcissism;
  • Discuss the basic themes of Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s work on pathological mourning as the basis for human psychopathology;
  • Elucidate a personal example of the way in which Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s work was helpful in one’s own self-understanding.

SHORT BIO’s

Susan Kavaler-Adler, Ph.D., ABPP, D.Litt., NCPsyA is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, who has been in practice in Manhattan for 45 years. She is a Fellow of the American Board and Academy of Psychoanalysis, and is the Founder and Executive Director of the Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.  She is a Training Analyst, Senior Supervisor and active faculty member at the Object Relations Institute, a New York State chartered psychoanalytic training institute.  Dr. Kavaler-Adler is also a prolific author, having published six books, and over 70 articles in the field of object relations psychoanalytic theory.  She has received 16 awards for her writing.  Dr. Kavaler-Adler is also on the editorial board of the International Journal of Controversial Conversations (IJCC).  Five of her six published books related to clinical object relations theories are The Klein-Winnicott Dialectic: Transformative New Metapsychology and Interactive Clinical Theory (Karnac, 2014); The Anatomy of Regret: From Death Instinct to Reparation and Symbolization in Vivid Case Studies (Karnac, 2013); Mourning, Spirituality and Psychic Change: A New Object Relations View of Psychoanalysis (Routledge, 2003; Gradiva® Award from NAAP, 2004); The Creative Mystique: From Red Shoes Frenzy to Love and Creativity (Routledge, 1996; ORI Academic Press 2014; Gradiva® Award nomination); The Compulsion to Create: Women Writers and Their Demon Lovers (Routledge, 1993; ORI Academic Press, 2013). In addition, Dr. Kavaler-Adler has an honorary doctorate in literature, and conducts ongoing groups in her practice, such as a monthly writing group, a monthly online experiential supervision group, and a monthly “Mourning, Therapy, and Support Group” with guided visualization. More information can be found at https://kavaleradler.com/.

Kenneth Porter, M.D. has been a spiritual psychiatrist and psychoanalyst for fifty years in New York City. He is an ordained teacher in the spiritual school of the Diamond Approach, based on the work of A.H. Almaas, which is a synthesis of Eastern mysticism and western psychoanalysis. He has also been a teacher of Buddhist Insight Meditation, Past-President of the Association for Spiritual Psychotherapy, Co-Founder of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Training Program, and a long-term student of the Kundalini Science Master Chandrasekharan and Saraswati. Dr. Porter is the author of the 2020 book, Apollo’s Lyre: The Art of Spiritual Psychotherapy (Wisdom House Books), where he shares thirty years of experience with meditation, spiritual practice, and the art and science of psychotherapy. More information can be found at https://www.kennethportermd.com/.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

This program is sponsored by St. John’s University Office of Postgraduate Professional Development Programs. St. John’s University is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. St. John’s University maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Certificates for CEs for NYS Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, and Marriage & Family Therapists (7 hrs) are approved by Amedco.
New York Board for Social Workers (NY SW) Amedco SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0115. 7.0 hours.

New York Board for Mental Health Counselors (NY MHC) Amedco is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0061. 7.0 hours.

New York Board for Marriage & Family Therapists (NY MFT) Amedco is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0032. 7.0 hours.

New York Board for Psychology (NY PSY) Amedco 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-0031. 7.0 hours.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY:

Please note that 7.0 CE hours for this event includes 1.75 hours of required viewing of the movie “Blue Jasmine.”

For the purposes of Continuing Education requirements — the participants can claim only the hours they were involved in educational activity or/and its prerequisites.

There is no commercial support for CE program, sponsor, instructor, content of instruction, as well as no benefit for endorsement of products or any other conflict of interest.

The material presented at this conference, as it applies to the understanding of individuals with described symptomatology and psychic phenomena, is for educational purposes only, is not designed to diagnose or treat the described conditions.

CE evaluations and certificates from Amedco will be available after April 18th, 2021, the date of the second Annual event at ORI (2021 ANNUAL TRAUMA WORKSHOP AT THE OBJECT RELATIONS INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS). Each of the ANNUAL events has its own registration process.

Certificates for post-graduate training in psychoanalysis and/or psychoanalytic psychotherapy (7.0 hrs) are approved by ORI CE Committee, and will be available, as per request.

To receive CE certificates for the actual hours attended – please request them at the time of registration or any time prior to beginning of the conference. CE certificate fee: $25 (in addition to the registration fees). No fees charged for PD (Professional Development) certificates from ORI.

REGISTRATION AND FEES:

Early Bird registration (before February 22, 2021)
$50 regular/ $35 grad students & candidates/ $15 undergrad students. If CEs are requested — there is an additional fee of $25 (can be paid on the day of the conference or in advance)

Regular registration (February 22 — March 19, 2021)
$60 regular/ $45 grad students & candidates/ $20 undergrad students. If CEs are requested — there is an additional fee of $25 (can be paid on the day of the conference or in advance)

Registration ‘at the door’ (March 20, 2021)
$70 regular/ $55 grad students & candidates/ $25 undergrad students. If CEs are requested — there is an additional fee of $25 (can be paid on the day of the conference or in advance)

To receive CE certificates for the actual hours attended — please request them at the time of registration or any time prior to beginning of the conference. CE certificate fee (in addition to the registration fees): $25. No fees charged for PD (Professional Development) certificates from ORI.

SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS are available for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for retired or disabled practitioners, need-based or/and those who live outside of USA.

You can request scholarship using this form

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Refund in full is offered for cancellations made before March 20th, 2021. No refunds for cancellations made on or after March 20th, 2021 (but credit can be applied for any of the educational events offered at ORI in 2021 or further on).

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