The Problem of the Unconscious in Clinical Practice: Accessing, Assessing, Interpreting and Treating by Ronald Teague, Ph.D., ABPP

The Problem of the Unconscious in Clinical Practice:  Accessing, Assessing, Interpreting and Treating

Presented by Ronald Teague, Ph.D., ABPP

An essential difference between psychodynamic psychotherapy and other types of psychotherapy is that psychodynamic theory asserts the existence of an Unconscious mind that is active in the daily life of people.  One of the problems with this assumption is that by its very nature the conscious mind can only indirectly observe the workings of the Unconscious Mind.  C.G. Jung said “the problem with the Unconscious is that it is really unconscious”.  Different psychodynamic theoreticians have developed often radically different ideas about how the Unconscious mind works.  These differences can be exasperating for the clinician who wants to access the Unconscious mind to help suffering mental health patients.  The understandable confusion which faces the mental health professional when facing Unconscious problems can lead to frustrated treatment approaches and variable clinical outcomes.    

This course will cover how the Unconscious can only be indirectly observed by the conscious mind.  Different Psychodynamic theoreticians have developed often radially different ideas about how the Unconscious mind works leading to exasperation and confusion for the clinician.  This workshop will examine the development of the major ideas about the Unconscious mind as well as the range of methods that are in current use to access and treat problems which the patients are unaware.   

Prerequisites: This educational offering will be taught at a post-graduate level.  Minimum requirements include enrollment in a masters or doctoral degree program in psychology, social work, counseling, or other related field.

Educational Goals:  To examine the the theoretical development of the ideas regarding how the Unconscious operates in general, and more specifically, how it functions in psychopathology.  The course will also focus on examining clinical methods for accessing and treating the unconscious functioning in mentally ill patients.

1. describe early human experience of the unconscious in preliterate cultures.
2. describe the experience of the UC in traditional peoples and cultures
3. describe the experience of the UC in everyday life
4. explain how the religious use of the UC for healing occurs via Fr. Glassner’s work
5. explain how Mesmer and Hypnosis are related to the UC
6. describe further developments in Hypnosis and conceptual problems in understanding the UC
7. describe how the Nancy and Salpetrie Schools of Hypnosis are related to the UC
8. describe how Charcot, Flournoy and Janet, and Freud and Jung helped develop the “modern” approach to the UC
9. explain how empirical and phenomenological methods for accessing the UC occur
10. demonstrate ways to deal with the contaminating effect of a patient’s pathological UC
11. utilize different culture-free ways of accessing and evaluating the UC in the clinical setting
12. demonstrate recognition and ability to free themselves of the UC contamination and engage in psychotherapist self-care 

About the Presenter: 

Ronald Teague, Ph.D., ABPP has been in professional practice for over 40 years.  During that time he has directed substance abuse centers in Central California, been the Chief of Psychological Services in both in-patient and outpatient hospital departments and has a private practice in clinical psychology and psychoanalysis. He is skilled and experienced in treating a wide range of emotional and mental disorders.  Additionally he has supervised and trained psychologists and other mental health professionals in his capacity as Founding Graduate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University.  Currently, he has expanded his practice to include International Psychology, consulting weekly with psychologists and psychiatrists in China, England, Germany, Korea, Spain and Ethiopia. He is the author of numerous publications and a distinguished invited lecturer.  Dr. Teague’s credentials include: PhD, California School of Professional Psychology-San Francisco, 1973, California License Psy004586, certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in the areas of Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalysis in Psychology, Fellow-American Academy of Clinical Psychology and American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Registrant - National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology.

*Please note the change in venue* 

Continuing Education: 12 hours credit provided by the Sullivan Center for Children, an authorized provider of continuing education credit through the American Psychological Association (APA). Continuing education credit is approved for Psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs.

The Sullivan Center for Children is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Sullivan Center for Children maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

For questions, comments, or concerns regarding Sullivan Center for Children CE program content, material, registration, or any related manners, please contact our Continuing Education Program Director Lisa Ganiron, Psy.D., at (559) 271-1186 ext 132 or email elisabethganiron@sc4c.com    

 *Important Notice: Those who attend the workshop and complete the evaluation form will receive ( 12 ) hours of continuing education credit. Please note that APA CE rules require that we only give credit to those who attend the entire workshop. Those arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time, or leaving before the workshop is completed, on either of the two days, will not receive CE credits. No partial credit will be awarded.