The Work of the Negative: An Introduction to Andre Green

Course Description: This five-week course will explore the negative and specifically “the work of the negative” as conceptualized by the French psychoanalyst, Andre Green. We have all had patients who refuse to live, grow, change or engage. The negative can lead to creativity and expansiveness or to a quest for non existence and destructiveness. The foundation of the work of the negative involves the effects of absence, non presence, the loss of the object and lack and is based on the capacity of the psyche to respond to this absence through the act of representation. Understanding the negative and the work of the negative can help us free our patients from the psychic prisons that trap them (and us) in the treatment.

We will explore and study several of Green’s papers as well as some elaborations of his work by other authors.    

Learning Objectives: At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate between positive and negative narcissism.
2. Define what is meant by the work of the negative and identify defenses involved.
3. Describe the clinical utility of the idea of failure of representation
4. Identify forms of transference where the unrepresentable predominates and ways of working

Registration Fee: $250
Professional Level Member Rate: $225
Students/Residents: $125 (call for discount code) 

REGISTER HERE

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

 The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR ALL LEARNERS: None of the planners and presenters of this CME program have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.