Clinical Moments is a monthly series that explores pivotal moments in ongoing analytic treatments. Each session features a case presentation by a different analyst, focusing on a clinical moment that provides clinicans with an opportunity to think psychoanalytically about the material and deepen their understanding through shared insights. Whether you're seeking to refine your clinical skills or broaden your understanding of psychoanalytic work, Clinical Moments provides a rich forum for learning and professional growth.
Join us for an insightful exploration of the delicate balance between connection and misalignment in therapy.
May's Theme: Longing to Be Understood: Attunement, Misattunement, and the Therapeutic Process
In this month’s clinical discussion, we will explore the psychoanalytic concept of attunement—the therapist’s capacity to emotionally connect with and understand the patient’s internal world. Focusing on a case in which the patient’s deep yearning to be perfectly understood stemmed from early experiences of inconsistent caregiving, we will consider how this longing shaped the transference and became a central theme in the treatment. The discussion will also examine the unavoidable misattunements that arise in any therapeutic relationship and how these moments, rather than being failures, can offer rich opportunities for repair, growth, and mutual collaboration.
Clinical Moments is an in-person event only.
When
Where
CEUs
Cost
Educational Objective(s)
- Discuss the impact of early maternal abandonment and narcissistic caregiving on adult relational patterns.
- Identify transference and countertransference dynamics in patients with high sensitivity to misattunement.
- Apply strategies for navigating and repairing therapeutic ruptures in long-term psychoanalytic treatment.
Presenter Information
Scott Boles, Ph.D.
Dr. Scott Boles is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst in private practice who works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples, as well as provides individual and group supervision to mental health professionals. He is a member of the San Diego Psychoanalytic Center, teaches in their Child and Adult Training Programs in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis, and serves as an Adult Training and Supervising Analyst.
Maya Klein, Ph.D.
Dr. Maya Bristow Klein is a Psychologist and Psychoanalyst in private practice, specializing in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for children, adolescents, and adults. She is a faculty member at the Oregon Psychoanalytic Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Oregon Health & Science University, where she supervises and teaches trainees. Dr. Klein is also the founder of Pathformers.com, a video-first platform dedicated to childhood mental health education.
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CREDITS
The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center (SDPC), is proud to offer CE/CME credit to Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists and Social Workers. Continuing Education certificates of attendance will be awarded electronically in exchange for a completed evaluation form.
Please see the CE/CME credits page for more information. For refund policies or cancellations, please visit our policies page. Any other questions, contact the SDPC Continuing Education Manager.
CMA Accreditation Statement: The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center is accredited by the California Medical Association (CMA, provider #4001214) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement: The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center designates this Continuing Education activity for a maximum of 2 hours AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™️. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CAMFT Accreditation: The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center (SDPC) is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) as a continuing education provider, (#050121), to offer Category 1 credit for LMFT’S, LCSW’S, LPCC’S and LEP’S. SDPC as required by the California Board of Behavior Sciences. SDPC maintains responsibility for this course program and all of its content.
Disclosure Statement: The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center CME Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME's identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship*. This activity does not have any known commercial support.
*Financial relationships are relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of the ineligible company.
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The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center is affiliated with the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA), the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), and the organization of Southern California Psychoanalytic Institutes and Societies.
The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.