AION 999 Course Evaluation

Course Description

This workshop is designed to deepen clinical insight and sharpen conceptualization skills. Participants will bring forward de-identified clinical cases to present to the group, fostering collaborative exploration and practicing peer consultation. Guided by the instructor, the seminar emphasizes integrative thinking—linking psychodynamic, relational, and developmental perspectives with practical therapeutic strategies.  Through open discussion and structured case analysis, attendees will learn to identify key themes, refine diagnostic impressions, and formulate treatment approaches that honor both the complexity of the psyche and the lived experiences of clients. The seminar aims to cultivate both clinical rigor and creative, reflective thinking, providing participants with a space for professional growth and mutual learning.  Course will be capped to 5 participants.  This seminar is a required component for all of the certificate programs: each certificate requires 8 hours of Grand Rounds, which means taking this workshop 4 times.

Curricular Notes

Integration through case conceptualization

AION 999 functions as the experiential container in which all prior learning is tested against real clinical material. Emphasis is placed on formulation, relational process, and tolerance of ambiguity rather than simply accumulation of techniques. Consultation becomes the site where theory meets the ethical pressure of practice. This seminar transforms knowledge into clinical wisdom through dialogue, reflection, and shared encounter with complexity.

Open Evaluation
1. Present de-identified clinical cases using clear psychodynamic formulations that integrate developmental history, personality organization, defensive style, and relational patterns.
2. Analyze clinical material collaboratively to identify central psychodynamic themes, including transference–countertransference dynamics, affective states, and unconscious relational patterns influencing treatment.
3. Differentiate among alternative psychodynamic formulations and interventions, strengthening the ability to refine diagnostic impressions and treatment strategies through peer consultation and instructor guidance.
4. Apply integrative psychodynamic reasoning to ongoing clinical work by modifying therapeutic stance, interpretive timing, and relational engagement in response to complex or stalled treatment processes.