You’re invited to attend a summer book club and study group of Nancy McWilliams’ Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process. The book is a classic in our field and an indispensable reference manual. We will meet for eight sessions over the course of the summer to learn about, discuss, and clinically apply McWilliams’ taxonomy of personality types. This offering is ideal for beginning therapists who’d like to know how to distinguish between various types of patients, and as a result, which interventions work best with whom; as well as more seasoned clinicians who’d like to brush up on their knowledge and connect with colleagues for case discussions. We will learn about narcissistic, masochistic, depressive, hysterical, and many other kinds of personality structures. We will focus on understanding the defenses which underlie each structure. Each session will focus on a specific chapter(s) of the book. We will have both a didactic/discussion component and a clinical application component. You’re encouraged to bring applicable cases for discussion. I facilitated this group two years ago and it was a popular offering. We had a thoughtful and cohesive cohort of participants who learned together. Participants will be limited to 12 to facilitate an intimate and collegial discussion environment. My intention is to create a fun and stimulating learning and discussion environment.
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis
Syllabus
Reading
- Chapters: 5–6 (Assessment Methods and Defense Processes)
- Differentiate between primary and secondary defensive processes in various personality structures.
- Demonstrate one new application of defensive assessment concepts in clinical work with patients.
Reading
- Chapters: 7, 10 (Personality Patterns and Adaptive Functions)
- Describe two different personality organization patterns and their adaptive functions.
- Describe how individuals with different personality structures adapt differently to environmental demands.
Reading
- Chapter 8 (Specific Personality Structures and Clinical Manifestations)
- Explain one specific personality structure in detail, including its etiology and characteristic defenses.
- Define the clinical presentation and therapeutic challenges of a particular personality type.
Reading
- Chapter 9 (Additional Personality Configurations)
- Define distinguishing characteristics of two related but distinct personality disorders.
- Describe the clinical differences in presentation and treatment needs between overlapping diagnostic categories.
Reading
- Chapter 11 (Severe Personality Disturbances and Psychosis)
- Describe the diagnostic features of personality organizations at the psychotic level of functioning.
- Describe how severity dimensions impact treatment planning and therapeutic approach.
Reading
- Chapter 12 (Trauma-Related and Dissociative Phenomena)
- Describe the impact of trauma on personality organization and defensive structure.
- Describe dissociative processes and their role in post-traumatic personality adaptation.
Reading
- Chapter 13 (Cultural and Gender Perspectives on Personality Diagnosis)
- Describe how gender and cultural context influence personality expression and diagnostic impressions.
- Identify potential biases in psychoanalytic diagnosis related to culture and gender.
Reading
- Chapters: 14–15 (Integration, Case Studies, and Practical Application)
- Describe how to synthesize diagnostic understanding across McWilliams' taxonomy in case formulation.
- Identify appropriate clinical applications and treatment modifications based on personality diagnosis.
Meet the Facilitator
Katrina Taylor, LMFT
Katrina Taylor, LMFT, is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice in Austin, Texas. She earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from St. Edward’s University and completed six years of psychoanalytic training through the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston. She previously served on the board of Austin Psychoanalytic, including as president. With passion for psychoanalysis and its transformative potential for individuals and families, Ms. Taylor brings both clinical expertise and teaching experience to this offering.
References
McWilliams, N. (2011). Psychoanalytic diagnosis: Understanding personality structure in the clinical process (2nd ed.)
McWilliams, N. & Lependorf, S. (1990) Narcissistic Pathology of Everyday Life:—The Denial of Remorse and Gratitude. Contemporary Psychoanalysis 26:430-451
McWilliams, N. (2006) Some Thoughts About Schizoid Dynamics. Psychoanalytic Review 93:1-24
Disclosures
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
CE Eligibility
This program, when attended in its entirety, is eligible for 1.5 continuing education credits per session. Austin Psychoanalytic will provide certificates of attendance to participants who attend the program in full. Austin Psychoanalytic’s continuing education programs are sponsored through Division 39’s APA-approved continuing education program. It is the responsibility of each licensee to verify that a given program meets the continuing education requirements for their specific license. Participants outside of Texas should consult their own licensing boards regarding CE eligibility.
Accessibility, Non-discrimination, and Privacy
Division 39 is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all continuing education activities and conducts its programs in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Reasonable accommodations will be made whenever possible for participants with accessibility needs. Questions, concerns, requests for accommodations, or complaints may be directed to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Participants are also asked to respect the privacy and confidentiality of others throughout the program.
Financial Disclosure
There is no commercial support for this program. Neither Division 39, Austin Psychoanalytic, nor the presenter has any financial relationships or conflicts of interest that could reasonably be construed as influencing the program content.
Cancellations and Refunds
Registrants may cancel or transfer their registration to another person up to 7 days before the event from their confirmation email, by logging into their member account if applicable, or by contacting info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. No cancellations, transfers, or refunds will be permitted within 7 days of the event start time.
Grievances
Austin Psychoanalytic conducts its educational programs in accordance with the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association. Participants with a concern regarding a speaker or a Continuing Education program are asked to submit a written account of the matter to info@austinpsychoanalytic.org. Where a complaint is substantiated, Austin Psychoanalytic will determine an appropriate remedy, which may include placement in a comparable program at no additional cost, a credit toward a future program, or a partial or full refund.