SW 584 Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Social Work
Psychodynamic theory offers rich and complex ways of understanding human behavior and interaction. It is useful in many clinical settings in brief encounters as well as long-term work. It can be an aid in building strong relationships with clients and a means of understanding and managing one's own reactions to different clients. This course, will explore ways of using psychodynamic theory to inform work with individual adults within the matrix of social work values and interest in context, diversity and social justice. This course will offer a review of recent developments and trends in psychodynamic theory including key concepts in treatment such as transference, countertransference, enactment, working through and affect. We will look at psychodynamic approaches to trauma, crises and desperate situations and the unique aspects of dynamic work with people stressed by poverty. One outcome of this course is to be able to construct a psychodynamic formulation. The class will employ a seminar format with lectures and class discussion of readings. Students' cases will be used to show the application of these ideas and students will be expected to present their clinical work. The major assignment will involve in-depth research into a clinical concept (of the student's choosing) and a discussion of the application of this concept to one or more of the student's cases.
Prerequisite
SW-421B or Advanced Standing