Altered States of Body and Mind
This 30-week course reflects on both classical and contemporary psychoanalytic theory to create a foundational, conceptual awareness of substance abuse, eating disorders and process addictions. We explore the neurobiology of addiction, affect dysregulation, anxious attachment strategies, psychotic defenses, personality disorders, social and cultural constructs, and the relational and sexual trauma that often underlie the symptoms of addiction and eating problems.
Due to the overwhelming demand for this course, we have reached our capacity for registration and are unable to accept new registrations at this time. If you would like to be among the first to be notified when we next offer this course, please send your request to the LAISPS office. Registrations post-marked or received online on or by August 25th, 2023 will be honored.
Psychoanalytic theory posits that substance abuse, eating disorders and other addictive behaviors are ways of coping with intensely distressing states of body and mind. The person is searching for a way to protect and “restore the self,” or to be immune to narcissistic injury, abandonment, rage and, in some cases, the terror of “coming apart.”
This 30-week course reflects on both classical and contemporary psychoanalytic theory to create a foundational, conceptual awareness of substance abuse, eating disorders and process addictions. We explore the neurobiology of addiction, affect dysregulation, anxious attachment strategies, psychotic defenses, personality disorders, social and cultural constructs, and the relational and sexual trauma that often underlie the symptoms of addiction and eating problems.
As the course progresses, students encounter their own clinical work differently. They learn to interpret their clients’ self-protective/destructive behaviors, narrate their clients’ unspoken suffering, and feel into their clients’ distress in ways that capture what the eating disorder or substance abuse is trying to communicate.
This course is designed for both the beginner and the experienced clinician. Sharing of clinical material will be encouraged with careful consideration paid to confidentiality. Tuition includes your reading materials.
Requirements
A minimum of a B.A. is required.
Pre-licensed individuals must provide either a transcript OR a copy of your diploma with their registration.
Licensed individuals must provide their license number.
Participants must complete an online evaluation within two weeks of completing each five or ten week class within this CE/CME activity in order to receive continuing education credit.
Psychologists can earn a maximum of 90 CE credits for this program. For psychologists to receive credit for any given session, all classes of the session must be attended. Partial credit may not be awarded, based on APA guidelines