Bennett Seminar Series
4 – Histrionic and Borderline Personalities: Psychodynamic Conceptualization and
Psychotherapy
Date: Friday July 12th, 1pm-4pm
Location: Online
Cost: $85
Seminar Description
Psychotherapy with histrionic/borderline personalities often involves contending with powerful forces which can threaten to overwhelm the therapeutic frame. These sensitive, emotionally talented patients are exquisitely attachment oriented but may seem unable to tolerate the ruptures, misunderstandings, minor failures and disappointments, which inevitably come with any intimate relationship…including psychotherapeutic ones. This seminar will explore ways of understanding and navigating the deep-seated fear of abandonment and its dark twin, fear of engulfment, from a broadly psychodynamic perspective. Due to theoretical considerations, the DSM borderline personality will also be addressed in this seminar.
This seminar will explore theoretical, diagnostic, and treatment issues surrounding the histrionic personality organization, and both the histrionic and borderline personality disorder (HPD and BPD). The discussion will examine the essential features of the histrionic personality organization at several levels: archetypal, object relations, self-psychology, and behavioral, cultural, and gender-based considerations. We will compare and contrast psychodynamic methodologies of assessing histrionic character pathology with the DSM nosological approach, and review practical considerations for approaching histrionic personalities in psychotherapeutic and general interpersonal contexts.
Learning Objectives
- Identify characteristic defensive styles and interpersonal behavior cues of histrionic personalities
- Identify and critique popular and culture-based lay perspectives on the histrionic personality organization which lead to misunderstanding and ineffective approaches to the presentation
- Develop strategies which contribute to an effective therapeutic stance in psychotherapy with histrionic personalities
Instructor:
Dr. Matthew Bennett, Chair of the Counseling Psychology Department at Pacifica Graduate Institute, teaches classes in theories of psychotherapy and psychological assessment. Matthew is a licensed psychologist, lecturer, and administrator with experience in public sector mental health and substance abuse treatment. He has broad experience in program development. He was formerly founder and first Director of Training for the Ventura County Behavioral Health Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and Chair-Elect of the Psychology Department at Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, California. His research interests include personality disorders, comparative personality theory, and internet applications for mental health. Dr. Bennett is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer (“Poland III, 1991-1993”).
Mathew Bennett’s book on the topic of these lectures is set to release on Sept. 17th. Orders can be made here.
Date of all seminars: 5/10, 5/24, 6/7, 7/12, 8/9
