The Irish Forum for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Exploring the Psychodynamics of Addiction:
Internal Objects, the Automaton Self & Destructive Behaviours
Seminar with Alistair D. Sweet
Saturday 4th October 2014
The proliferation of addictive behaviours and some of their underlying psychodynamics that we find
presented by our clients, both in private practice and in statutory and voluntary/community settings,
will inform this one-day seminar. As addiction affects so many lives, this seminar is of practical clinical
relevance for a broad range of professionals working in the fields of mental health, addiction and the
justice system, including psychotherapists, counsellors, clinical and counselling psychologists,
psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social and probation workers and other allied health and social care
professionals. As Head of Clinical Services and Senior Psychotherapist in Addiction Northern Ireland,
Alistair Sweet offers unique insights from his extensive experience of working with hard-to-reach
patients. The seminar offers an opportunity to hear how he understands and works with the defence
mechanisms deployed by addictive individuals. In particular he shows how in advanced cases of drug
and alcohol dependence, there is a retreat to a sealed-over personality type, the Automaton Self. The
day features the presentation of two papers, drawing out these issues and will be illustrated by case
material derived from both shorter and longer-term work. There will be ample opportunity for
discussion.
Venue: The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1
Time: 9.30a.m-4.00p.m.
Cost (incl lunch, teas, coffees): € 120 ICP/IFPP Members: €100
CPD points
Students: €60
Further information, contact: Ann Daly, tel. 01-2722105 amdpsy@gmail.com
SEMINAR:
Exploring the Psychodynamics of Addiction:
Internal Objects, the Automaton Self and Destructive Behaviours
Venue: The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Date: Saturday 4th October, 2014 Time: 9.30-a.m-4.00p.m.
Cost (including teas, coffees & lunch):
€ 120 ICP/IFPP Members: €100
Students: €60
Programme:
9.30
Registration.
10.00
Welcoming remarks: Ann Murphy, Chair IFPP.
10.10
Opening paper: Alistair Sweet : ‘Internal Objects and self destructive behaviours’ A
clinical case highlighting dissociation, splitting and the role of the primitive super-ego
in the addictions.
Chair: Michelo DelMonte
Brief Q & A
11.25
Tea/Coffee Break
11.45
Discussion chaired by Michelo DelMonte
12.30
Lunch
1.30
Second paper by Alistair Sweet: ‘The Automaton Self: defensive organization,
psychodynamics and treatment approaches’
Chair: John Foden
Brief Q & A
2.45.
Tea/ Coffee Break
3.00
Discussion with Panellists Brendan Murphy and John O’Connor
Chair: John Foden
3.50
Concluding remarks: Ann Murphy, Chair IFPP.
4.00
Finish
Biographical details of Speakers:
Alistair D. Sweet MA, (PsyA) MSSc, Dip. Couns (PsyD), MBACP is Head of Clinical Services and
Senior Psychotherapist in Addiction Northern Ireland and Director of Meriden Psychotherapy, Belfast.
He is also an Honorary Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, School
of Psychology, Queen’s University, Belfast. With many years’ experience of training and teaching
psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers and allied healthcare professionals, both nationally and
internationally, areas of expertise include: working with hard to reach patients, the addictions,
suicidality and self-harm and the complex psychodynamics of the therapist/patient relationship.
Alistair’s research work has appeared internationally in a range of peer reviewed journals including
The British Journal of Psychotherapy, The International Forum of Psychoanalysis and The American
Journal of Psychotherapy. In addition Alistair is an Editorial Consultant for the American Journal of
Psychotherapy, New York and for Psychodynamic Practice, London. He is also a member of the
submissions review panel of the British Journal of Psychotherapy. In 2006 Alistair received the annual
Butler Trust Award for his outstanding contribution to psychotherapy provision within the field of
criminal justice. For further information on Meriden Psychotherapy please visit:
http://www.meridenpsychotherapy.co.uk/
Brendan Murphy MA is an accredited addiction counsellor, supervisor and trainer. He has worked
for the past 24 years in drug and alcohol prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services in Scotland
and Ireland. With an initial qualification in addiction studies, he has undertaken post-graduate training
in health promotion and psychotherapy.
Brendan also worked for the Gaelic Athletic Association for 5 years designing and developing Ireland’s
largest drug and alcohol prevention programme that resulted in a network of 900 Alcohol and
Substance Abuse Prevention Officers being appointed across the 32 counties.
Brendan currently works with the Health Services Executive in the HSE West Drugs Service as the
Regional Training Officer and as a therapist in the Mayo Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Treatment
Programme. In addition to his clinical work in counselling and supervision, Brendan regularly
provides a range of training courses in Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy,
Relapse Prevention, Community Reinforcement Approach, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
and Clinical Supervision.
Dr. John O’Connor is Course Director of the MSc programme in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at
Trinity College, Dublin. He is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology and Course Director of the
MPhil in Psychoanalytic Studies, also at TCD. In addition, John works as a psychoanalytic
psychotherapist in private practice in Dublin.
Biographical details of Chairs:
Dr. Michelo DelMonte is a constructivist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist and a member of the
IFPP. For 30 years while working in Dublin, Michelo conducted individual, couple, family and group
psychotherapy in the Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Units of St. James’s Hospital, St. Patrick's
University Hospital and St. Edmundsbury Hospital (where he was Principal Psychologist). He is
currently in private practice and lectures in psychology and psychotherapy in TCD. Michelo has
published about 80 articles on psychotherapy, meditation, mindfulness and evolution. He has been an
invited speaker at more than two dozen international conferences and was co-founder of “The
Transnational Network for Physical, Psychological and Spiritual Well-Being”.
Mr. John Foden is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and a member of the IFPP, living and working in
Galway. John has worked in Health Services Executive (HSE) for many years and is currently acting
Director of the National Counselling Service in HSE West. He has a particular interest in the area of
childhood trauma, particularly child sexual abuse and has worked with survivors and perpetrators of
abuse. John has an interest in working with borderline personality disorder, and the provision and
development of resources for these patients within the health services.
REGISTRATION
Please complete the registration form overleaf and send with your payment. Cheques, postal
orders or bank drafts should be made payable to ‘The Irish Forum for Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy’ and posted to Ann Daly, IFPP Addiction Seminar, 73 Quinn’s Road, Shankill, Co.
Dublin. Payment of the registration fee secures a place at the conference. Include your name
and email address as receipt of payment will be confirmed by email. Please note early
registration is advised.
TEA AND LUNCH BREAKS
Teas, coffees and lunch will be provided.
ORGANISER
This event is organised by the Irish Forum for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy:
http://www.ifpp.ie
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The IFPP acknowledges the invaluable work, support and assistance provided by the previous
and current Education Sub-committees of the IFPP in the organisation of this clinical seminar.
We also wish to thank the staff of Friends of the Rotunda for their assistance and guidance in
venue and catering provision.
VENUE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The entrance to the Pillar Room is through the main Rotunda Hospital entrance on Parnell
Square West. Parnell Square is situated at the northern end of O’Connell Street.
Many Dublin Bus routes converge on O’Connell Street and Parnell Square. Luas Red Line
nearest stop is Abbey Street and nearest DART station is Connolly, (both walking distance)
www.dublinbus.ie www.luas.ie
Mainline Rail Stations and Busaras: Heuston is linked by Luas Red Line. Connolly and
Busaras are within walking distance or short taxi journey. www.irishrail.ie
www.buseireann.ie
Nearest Dublin Bikes stations: Parnell Square North, Parnell Street and Cathal Brugha Street..
www.dublinbikes.ie
PARKING
There is no parking available at the venue but adequate parking is available in a number of car
parks within easy walking distance. The Ilac Centre car park and Clery’s car park are two
options.
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BOOKING FORM
An Exploration of the Psychodynamics of Addiction:
Internal Objects, the Automaton Self and Destructive Behaviours
Venue: The Pillar Room, Rotunda Hospital, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Date: Saturday, 4th October 2014 Time: 9.30a.m-4.00p.m.
Please complete this form and return it to:
Ann Daly, Irish Forum for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 73 Quinn’s Road, Shankill, Co. Dublin
Tel. (01) 272 2105; Email: amdpsy@gmail.com
The appropriate fee must complete this form. Thank you.
Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Telephone: ______________________________________________________________________
Email: ____________________________________________________________________________
Organisation or Private Practice: ______________________________________________
Profession: _______________________________________________________________________
Professional Membership (if applicable):_______________________________________________
I enclose a cheque/postal order/bank draft for € _______________ to be made payable to ‘IFPP’
for:
(please tick one below)
Full or Associate Member of IFPP and/or ICP: €100 _____
Non-Member of IFPP and/or ICP: €120 ____
Student/Trainee:
€60_____
Lunch options(please tick one): Vegetarian_______________
Non-vegetarian__________
Bookings will not be accepted without payment.
Relevant articles by Alistair D. Sweet will be emailed to participants following registration.