Course Title:  Child Psychotherapy:  A Relational and Developmental Perspective (12 CE credits)

Instructor:  Diane Selinger, PhD
Meeting dates (2021):  October 30; November 6, 13, 20; December 4, 11
Meeting time:  Saturdays, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CST), via Zoom                                                

Course Description:

This clinically-based course will provide an integrative approach to psychoanalytically-informed child therapy. Participants will explore the key processes of affect regulation and sensory integration, as well as the foundational aspects of language development. These topics will be integrated with discussions of the therapist’s internal experience and the meanings of the child’s play.

This course will help participants work clinically with multiple foci:  regulation, engagement, reciprocal interaction, as well as conceptualizing and facilitating representational and symbolic play.  Two key issues will be discussed throughout the course, namely 1) How play facilitates communication and growth; and 2) How to form relationships with parents and include them in treatment.

Many clinical examples will be provided for participants’ consideration; and class members are welcome to share their own clinical material as well.  Selected relevant readings will also be considered.

Biographical Information:

Diane Selinger, PhD is Faculty at the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis (CCP).  She is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice who works with children, adolescents, and adults. She completed her psychoanalytic training at the National Training Program of the National Institute of the Psychotherapies.

Dr. Selinger is a mental health consultant at Beth Osten and Associates, a multidisciplinary pediatric clinic, and at Soaring Eagle Academy, a DIR® (Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based) school for children with neurodevelopment disorders, and was instrumental in integrating a mental health component into both programs. She is faculty at Profectum Academy and was faculty at its DIR Institute predecessor. Diane’s teaching, presentations, webcasts, and publications have related to therapy with children and their parents.  They have spanned diverse topics, including autism and gender.