As part of its ‘Clinical Site’ series,
The SITE for Contemporary Psychoanalysis presents
A Psychoanalytical Approach to working with Couples
Friday 20th March 2020
18:30 – 21:30 GMT
October Gallery 24 Old Gloucester St, Holborn, London WC1N 3AL
Workshop 2 – Why do partners choose each other?
Why are some couples unable to separate despite being deeply unhappy together?
The mechanism of “projective identification”, first coined by Melanie Klein, is at the heart of the couple dynamic. When the partners’ projections complement each other, the couple relationship can act as a psychological container for the two individuals who create it. But when projections cloud the partners’ judgment and understanding of one another, intrusion and control may take over, and arguments escalate.
The concepts of ‘unconscious partner choice’ and ‘couple fit’ will be examined, as well as the use of the therapist’s countertransference to elucidate and help to regulate dysfunctional systems.
The presentation will combine power points, film clips and clinical material, and leave room for large and small discussion groups.
Find out about Workshop 1 here – A Couple’s State of Mind
About Perrine and Martha
Perrine Moran is a couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist. She is a Visiting Clinician and Lecturer at Tavistock Relationships, where she co-leads an “MBT with couples” course and supervision workshop, and teaches on the MA in Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. She also supervises at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. She is a board member of the International Association for Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, and a member of the Editorial Board of Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, and its Arts Editor. She is bilingual, works with individuals and couples in English and in French, and has a private practice. She is an accredited member of the BPC and the BACP.
Martha Doniach is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist trained to work with individuals and couples. She is a full member of the Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling (Fpc-Wpf) and of the graduate body of Tavistock Relationships, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology. She has worked in East London NHS Foundation trust in a tier 2, Specialist Psychotherapy Adult outpatient service where she currently holds the position of Principal Psychotherapist and Honorary Psychotherapy Lead. At Tavistock Relationships she is a visiting lecturer and was previously a visiting clinician and worked as a tutor on the MA in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy. She also teaches and supervises at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. She maintains a private practice in central London. She is an accredited member of BPC and UKCP.
Both workshops can be attended by participants or booked as stand alone.
Tickets cost £45 (Limited number of reduced price tickets available before 31st December 2019). There are only 25 places at the workshop so early booking is advisable.
Tickets available on Eventbrite here