In this profound and intriguing training, we will explore how Object-Relations are formed and impacted by the Healthy Narcissism and the Ego's regulation of drive satisfaction; “jointness-separateness" as a normal pattern of object relations developed from birth. How do separate individuals, so different from each other, join together in intimacy? How does the baby recognize his objects, sense or say, “this is Mamma, and this is Dad” and how do object relations develop between them? "Jointness- separateness" reflects a dynamic process representing an encounter between two partners. It is a simultaneous experience which regulates perpetually the safeguarding of separateness (Healthy Narcissism) and concomitantly the attraction to each other (Jointness). It is a perpetual psychic adjustment (between the partners and within them) of the mutual drive investment of both in each other, or together, in a joint object cathexis meaningful to both. We will explore how and why shaming, anxieties and trauma, from birth onward, are so harmful to object relations. We will discuss how object relations may come to deviate from the normal path and how to differentiate between the two. This conceptualization of object relations development will be applied to the clinical setting to produce insight and self-awareness for the client.

Part 1: The Development of Jointness-Separateness
Part 2: Healthy Vs. Pathological Object Relations
Part 3: Clinical Application; Q & A