APPALACHIAN PSYCHOANALYTIC SOCIETY
A Local Chapter of the Division of Psychoanalysis of the American Psychological Association
www.aps-tn.org
presents a
2014 SPRING CONFERENCE
with
Nancy McWilliams, PhD
on
Individuality and its Therapeutic Implications:
Why Personality Differences Matter
6 APA – Approved C.E. Credits available **
Saturday, April 5, 2014 - 8:30am to 4:30pm
UT Conference Center Building
600 Henley Street Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 974-0250
SCHEDULE:
8:30am Registration and Breakfast
8:50am Welcome and introduction
9:00am Personality and its relationship to
psychotherapy (i.e., temperament, clinical
patterns, defensive strategies, attachment
style, cognitions, and patterns).
10:30am Break with refreshments
10:45am Personality as themes versus personality as
traits (organizing developmental issues,
dimensional vs. categorical. Psychodynamic
Diagnostic Manual & Findings).
12:15pm Lunch served at conference
1:15pm Video of Dr. McWilliams working with a
patient: Exploration of personality and therapy
outcome.
3:00pm Break with refreshments
3:15pm “Psychotic level” of personality organization:
current controversies, empirical findings, and
clinical implications.
4:30pm Complete evaluations and adjourn
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify ten ways in which personality has been
conceptualized in the clinical tradition.
2. Conceptualize the differences between, and the
respective clinical implications of, trait-based versus
theme-based ways of describing individual differences.
3. Apply to their clinical work some relevant ways to
conceptualize personality organization and disorder.
4. Apply the contributions of research on affect and
attachment to the understanding and treatment of
psychological problems rooted in personality.
5. Describe the controversy about conceptualizing
psychosis categorically versus dimensionally and why
this matters for treatment.
6. Apply personality variables to the conceptualization
of therapeutic progress.
7. Evaluate the role of personality in both therapist and
the patient as it is evident in a video of work with a
client.
8. Apply the material covered to current controversies
about the DSM and other psychiatric taxonomies.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This intermediate-level program will cover the various ways in which personality and individual differences have been
conceptualized, with an overall emphasis on increasing psychotherapeutic effectiveness. Because personality and
relationship variables have been demonstrated to have more influence on therapy outcome than type of treatment,
clinicians must consider the clinical importance of understanding something about each client’s personality, whether
normal or “disordered.” This program, oriented toward therapists in a wide range of long- and short-term treatment
settings, will explore aspects of personality as the concept has evolved from both clinical experience and recent
research, emphasizing the practical and therapeutic value of understanding clients’ individuality in depth.
Dr. McWilliams will also discuss some of the limitations of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), particularly with
respect to Axis II disorders, and will discuss the efforts of the Psychoanalytic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) (and plannedfor PDM-2) to address these.
PRESENTER: Nancy McWilliams obtained her doctoral degree from Rutgers University in 1976 and received
certification as a psychoanalyst in 1978. She has been in the independent practice of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy
and supervision in Flemington, New Jersey since 1979. Dr. McWilliams is also a visiting Full Professor at Rutgers
University in the Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology. She has authored 3 books and over 35
articles. She has presented around the world on the topic of personality disorders and psychotherapy.
A former president of the Division of Psychoanalysis (2007-2008), she remains active on the Editorial Board of
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. In addition to her many clinical roles, Dr. McWilliams is a member of Three Blonde
Chicks, a professional singing group.
REGISTRATION FEES by March 28th:
APS Professional and Scholar Members: $115.00
Non-member Professionals : $150.00
APS Student & ECP Members: $35.00
Non-member Student: $50.00
AFTER March 28th and at the door:
APS Professional and Scholar Members: $140.00
Non-member Professionals: $175.00
APS Student & ECP Members: $55.00
Non-member Student: $70.00
Register online to be entered to win a free book signed by Dr. McWilliams
**Please see www.aps-tn.org for complete conference details (including Hotel Discount),
registration & continuing education information.
Division 39 is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
Division 39 maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Contact: APS President Michael Sanders, PhD, at drmichaelsanders@bellsouth.net or 865-673-8888.