The Silvan S. Tomkins Institute's Colloquium 2000

Conference Schedule

Thursday, 19 October

Solis-Cohen Auditorium, Alumni Hall, Jefferson Medical College

7:00 - 10:00 PM
Basic psychology of affect and script:
The foundations of the Philadelphia System
(Deppe, Grindlinger, Nathanson)
 

Friday, 20 October

The Van Pelt Auditorium of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

8:30 - 8:45
Welcome Jonathan L. Grindlinger, MD

8:45 - 10:00
Donald L. Nathanson, M.D.:
Affect and Script in Human Connection (Part I)
Good studies and good sense suggest that all interpersonal life begins as the interplay of affect and continues as a series of scripts for affect management. Using this logic, we will examine a wide range of situations in which people make brief or long term connections with individuals and within communities.

10:00 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:00
Donald L. Nathanson, M.D.
Affect and Script in Human Connection (Part II)

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:00
Special Exhibit Tour:
Van Gogh Face To Face, The Portraits
This exhibit brings together for the first time the great portraits from all periods of the painter's life. Scheduled to open 22 October, a preview tour is available to those who attend the Colloquium as a gift to the Tomkins Institute from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

1:00 - 2:00
"Facing The Demons"
Award winning Australian documentary film showing how Basch Award recipient Terry O'Connell dealt with a community disorganized by the senseless murder of an adolescent who happened to be working in a fast food shop during a robbery. (This film will also be shown during the Saturday lunch break.)

2:00 - 3:00
The 4th Michael Franz Basch Memorial Award Lecture
Police Sergeant Terry O'Connell:
The Bad Scene as a Doorway to Change
"I have always taken the view that for situations in which tensions and conflicts exist, or where lives have been disrupted as a result of an incident, accident, or crime, and all of these situations result in harm to individuals, families, groups, or communities to the extent that relationships are made problematic, then intelligently conceived processes that allow the interplay of human emotion should be seen as an opportunity for understanding, change, and perhaps lasting improvement."

3:00 - 3:30 Break

3:30 - 5:00
Symposium: Rebuilding and Repairing Our Community
Moderator: O'Connell
Panelists: Abramson, Nathanson, Wachtel
The rising tide of affective dyscontrol that threatens our way of life can be approached by innovative methods based on a secure understanding of affect and script. Sgt. O'Connell moderates a symposium based on the work of three active contributors to this effort.
 

Saturday, 21 October

The Van Pelt Auditorium of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

8:30 - 10:00
Norman Brown, PhD:
It Had to be You: Affect Dynamics in Dating and Romance
The process of dating allows people to learn more about each other while holding them together through their hopes for future connection. Initial attraction is based on complex processes that involve the interplay of various personal and ideological scripts through which relative strangers attempt to form a wide range of relationships.

10:00 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:00
Wesley G. Novak, PhD:
Clinical Maps for the Couples Therapist
Historical review and analysis of systems for intervention with couples, using the broad array of new perspectives to examine cases from the presenter's own practice.

12:00 - 1:30 Lunch

12:00 - 1:30
Study Group Coordinator's meeting. By invitation only

12:30 - 1:30
"Facing The Demons"
Award winning Australian documentary film showing how Basch Award recipient Terry O'Connell dealt with a community disorganized by the senseless murder of an adolescent who happened to be working in a fast food shop during a robbery. (Repeat of the Friday presentation)

1:30 - 3:00
Vernon C. Kelly, Jr., MD:
Optimizing Emotional Connection in Couples: Impediment Removal Therapy
Impediments to empathy disrupt emotional connection and trigger the negative affect that motivates couples to seek therapy. Presented are a review of the scripts involved, detailed explorations of possible impediments to the interaffectivity necessary for a successful relationship, suggestions for techniques that permit the therapist to remove impediments, and ways that couples can take over this process on their own.

3:00 - 3:30 Break

3:30 - 5:00
Gary David, PhD:
Together We are Sound
People have always grouped on the basis of song, from barbershop quartets to hymns in church and chanting in many religions. Even strangers can feel connected when they sing their national anthem. This presentation introduces The Nine Stringed Harp of the Soul as a musical analogue of the affect spotlights.

Evening:
Silvan S. Tomkins Institute Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner at Bistro St. Tropez. (Additional charge)
Open to all Members of the Silvan S. Tomkins Institute, including those who are joining at the time of this Colloquium. Further information about this subscription dinner will be included in your registration packet.
 

Sunday, 22 October

Jefferson Alumni Hall

9:00 - 10:15

Breakout Session: Choose one

Lauren Abramson, PhD:
Changing Scripts as a Community: Understanding Brings Cooperation.
Community conferencing provides people in conflict with a safe place to express all affect and a process that fosters the transformation of negative affect into positive affect. Neighborhoods, communities, and institutions in Baltimore have used this process for various kinds of conflicts. Participants will hear about the challenges and successes, and will have an opportunity to discuss the uses of this process in their own lives and communities.

David R. Cook, EdD:
Testing for Shame
This session will focus on clinical and educational uses of the Internalized Shame Scale. Clinicians who have used the ISS in their practice are encouraged to bring cases to share for discussion and feedback.

Clifford Taylor, MD:
The Chemistry of Connection:
Understanding Biological Factors in Human Attachment and Attraction
This is a presentation about visual, pure gender signals that are factors in attraction between the sexes, the role of reproductive hormones in human sexual arousal and pleasure, the role of olfactory stimuli in human attraction, and the historical role of aphrodisiacs in human sexual relationships.

Ted Wachtel:
Safer Saner Schools
Presented here is an effective approach to "social control" that relies on the free expression of affect. Videotaped examples from both schools for troubled youth and public schools will demonstrate informal and formal "restorative practices" that provide an alternative to the punitive and permissive approaches that typify current responses to misbehavior and wrongdoing in schools and society.

Ralph Jaffe, ACSW, PsyD:
Buddhist Mindfulness Practices As Descripting Tools In Psychotherapy
This workshop will explore a Buddhist perspective on working with clients in psychotherapy. Those who attend will practice basic mindfulness and learn techniques that help promote emotional safety in psychotherapy, help clients to appreciate themselves, and develop intimacy in their relationships with others.

10:15 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:00 Master Classes (First Session)

Some of our best known experts will work in an open, friendly format on your own clinical questions. You may present part of a case. The success of these small classes will be directly proportional to the care with which you choose your material. Master classes are about personal interaction, a chance to interact with people you respect.You'll make choices on a card sent with the registration materials, and the actual assignments will be made known at the meeting.

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch

1:00 - 2:30 Master Classes (Second Session)

Choose from these classes:

Jonathan L. Grindlinger, MD:
Tomkins-Talk Unplugged
There's been so much hot debate on our Listserv about theoretical issues that several SSTI members have requested an opportunity to discuss some of them in person. Training Director Jon Grindlinger will moderate a discussion on any realm of the psychology of affect and script.

Ralph Jaffe, ACSW, PsyD:
A Buddhist Twist To The Philadelphia System: Mini Case Conference
Scripts remain out of our consciousness as a function, in part, of their efficiency and speed of operation. Using case material provided by the audience, this master class will discuss ways of using mindfulness as a means of slowing down and examining scripts in the clinical setting and in our lives.

Vernon C. Kelly, Jr., MD:
Couples Therapy Techniques In The Philadelphia System.
Dr. Kelly's original contribution of a couples therapy based on the psychology of affect and script is an integral part of what has become known as The Philadelphia System. In an interactive class, he will share insights from 30 years of practice.

Marsha Schwartz Klein, MEd:
Dealing With The Obvious
Our systems for dealing with substance abuse have become so overlaid with theory that sometimes we forget the clear links between target behaviors, symptoms, and affect. Often it is the emptiness of failed relationships that predisposes people to drug abuse.

Marilyn Luber, PhD:
Focus On Sensation In EMDR
Good therapy really isn't about technique. By getting patients to focus on their bodily sensations we can teach them to name their affects so treatment can work even better.

Shelley Milestone, PhD:
Cognitive Therapy Is About Affect
The more we know about affect, the better we can pull thoughts from the periphery of consciousness toward central attention and diminished toxicity.

Donald L. Nathanson, MD:
Clues and Hints From The Philadelphia System
Brief discussions of case material provided by the audience may foster increased sophistication in the actual doing of psychotherapy.

Wesley G, Novak, PhD:
Working With "Backed-Up" Tears In Therapy
Relying heavily upon the compasses of shame and distress the presenter will lead a clinical discussion of tactics for intervention with the significant pool of negative affect that underlies and motivates our patients' presentations.

Jeanette Wright, MS, ATR:
After The Excitement Ends: Using Drawing As An Intervention In Dysphoria
Through drawing, working in dyads, and group discussion, participants will have opportunities to see how it looks and feels to magnify the connection between excitement and negative affect.

2:30 - 3:00 Wrap-Up (Nathanson)
Summary of the colloquium, self assessment test, continuing education test, and suggestions for next year.