Episodes

  • Reading Fairbairn, Solms, and Fromm | What I Read in August 2024 (Psychodynamic Edition)
    Sep 18 2024

    As a (beginning) psychodynamic practitioner, you know you should read more. But where to start and what is worth your time? Maybe I can help.


    If you're new here: Hi! My name is Alina, I'm a German psychologist and psychoanalyst in training. I dive into psychodynamic books for a living and try to simplify complex theories whenever I can.


    💌 Newsletter: Get my psychodynamic library and updates in your inbox → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

    🤳 Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology


    On this podcast, I sometimes dive into concrete theories and present them in the most concise and clear manner I can muster. Other times, like today, I take you behind the scenes of what I'm reading. Be prepared for an unscripted, chatty episode.


    What I read in August 2024:

    • Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving: https://amzn.to/4esWJ68 (Amazon affiliate link)
    • W. R. D. Fairbairn, Psychoanalytic Studies of the Personality: https://amzn.to/3XQeJkf (Amazon affiliate link)
    • Mark Solms, The Neurobiological Underpinnings of Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00294/full#note21a


    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • My video on the neuropsychology of dreams: https://youtu.be/n048WanjScA
    • My video on different psychodynamic theories (an overview): https://youtu.be/gbmySNY-8Sw
    • My video on Melanie Klein: https://youtu.be/DnT8o1DF0VE
    • Thomas H. Ogden, Fear of Breakdown and the Unlived Life (2014)


    DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.

    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • The Neuropsychology of Dreams | Mark Solms and Neuropsychoanalysis
    Sep 9 2024

    Neuroscience and psychoanalysis seem like an odd pair. But they are not - at least to Mark Solms, the founder of Neuropsychoanalysis. In his book "The Hidden Spring", he summarises his fascinating findings on the neuropsychology of dreams and much more. This episode is NOT sponsored!


    📖 Get the book here → https://amzn.to/3SB7tqg (Amazon affiliate link)

    💌 Newsletter: Get my psychodynamic library and updates in your inbox → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

    🤳 Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology


    If you're new here: Hi! My name is Alina, I'm a German psychologist and psychoanalyst in training. I dive into psychodynamic books for a living and try to simplify complex theories whenever I can.


    DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.

    Show more Show less
    21 mins
  • Psychodynamic Books I Read in July
    Aug 8 2024

    Are you a beginning psychodynamic practitioner looking for books to read? Welcome to your new home on the internet. I'm Alina, a German psychoanalyst in training and I love psychodynamic literature. So let me help you finding your next favourite read.

    In this podcast episode I reflect on four books I read in July:

    • Adam Phillips: Attention-Seeking | Get it here (Amazon Affiliate link)
    • Christopher Bollas: The Shadow of the Object | Get it here (Amazon Affiliate link)
    • Deborah Luepnitz: Schopenhauer's Porcupines | Get it here (Amazon Affiliate link)
    • Mark Solms: The Hidden Spring | Get it here (Amazon Affiliate link)

    If you want to get my database of all the psychodynamic books and articles I read (with ratings + my notes where possible), join my newsletter here to get it: https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

    If you are a (beginner) practitioner and you want to read and discuss books with me and other nerds, join my Patreon book club here: https://www.patreon.com/PsychodynamicPsychology

    Other things mentioned:

    • Adam Phillips's essay "Against Self-Criticism": https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n05/adam-phillips/against-self-criticism
    • Adam Phillips's essay "On Giving Up": https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v44/n01/adam-phillips/on-giving-up
    • The Illusion of Mental Health: https://preview.mailerlite.com/q5s5m2s6c8
    • X post about books: https://x.com/utotranslucence/status/1803159784457379971
    Show more Show less
    41 mins
  • Melanie Klein: The Paranoid-Schizoid and Depressive Position
    Jun 7 2024

    Who's afraid of Melanie Klein? Well, hopefully not you after this episode. We talk about Melanie Klein's ideas surrounding the life and death instinct, the paranoid-schizoid position, and depressive position.

    This is the audio version from the YouTube video, which I recommend watching for helpful graphics here: https://youtu.be/DnT8o1DF0VE

    💌 Melanie Klein First Aid Kit: Get my notes and graphics ➡ https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/mk

    Don't miss this 🟡 PATREON: Book Club ➡ https://patreon.com/PsychodynamicPsychology 🤳 INSTAGRAM: Casual updates ➡ https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology 👩‍🏫 Work with me ➡ https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/work-with-me

    RESOURCES mentioned Klein's Biography: https://melanie-klein-trust.org.uk/timeline/ Object Relations Theory: https://youtu.be/Qt1bNJR5cp8?si=LQIO23ZC81QOSYU- Psychoanalysis of Dwight Schrute: https://youtu.be/Xjbzbe0ubqU?si=fFxDeioffbWzP3Im Kleinian case study: https://aeon.co/essays/my-dismal-years-in-psychoanalysis-with-melanie-kleins-disciple

    LITERATURE Klein, Melanie: "Love, Guilt, and Reparation and other works 1921-1945" Klein, Melanie: "Envy and Gratitude" Segal, Hanna: "Introduction to the Work of Melanie Klein" Mitchell, Stephen A.; Black, Margaret J.: Freud and Beyond. Guntrip, Harry: Psychoanalytic Theory, Therapy, and the Self.

    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • On Feeling Behind in Life
    Jan 12 2024

    If you're a millennial, you've likely experienced a feeling of being "behind in life" or a "fear of missing out". While most takes on this phenomenon focus on cultural issues ("toxic hustle culture", patriarchy, workaholism), I would like to tentatively explore an underlying topic of self-alienation. This is a work in progress.

    📚 Join my book club → Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/psychodynamicpsychology⁠


    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • What is Psychodynamic Psychology? (Beyond Psychotherapy + Freud)
    Jan 12 2024

    What is psychodynamic psychology? What does it have to offer beyond psychotherapy (and frankly beyond Freud)? This is what today's episode is all about! We'll cover that psychodynamic psychology is (1) a treatment modality, (2) a body of knowledge, aaaand (3) a set of values. So, lemme drop some juicy theories on you while we're at it 💁🏼‍♀️ I hope you enjoy this one 😊

    📚 Join my book club → Patreon: https://patreon.com/psychodynamicpsychology

    💌 Join my newsletter: https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

    Connect with me on Instagram or YouTube

    Feedback? Questions? Suggestions? Put 'em here: https://tally.so/r/w7LWZZ

    Resources mentioned:

    Nancy McWilliams' article "The Future of Psychoanalysis"

    My YouTube video on defenses: https://youtu.be/tiQRJh0HL4E

    A.J. Jacobs' honesty experiment: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a26792/honesty0707/

    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Subconscious vs. Unconscious
    Oct 4 2023

    Do we say "subconscious" or "unconscious"? Is there a difference? And is that difference important? Let me introduce you to my psychodynamic pet peeve and help you never sound psychodynamically-naive again.

    💌 Join my newsletter: https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

    👀 My newest project "The Psychodynamic Circle" will be launching soon. Get on the newsletter if you want to be notified :)

    Connect with me on Instagram or YouTube

    Feedback? Questions? Suggestions? Put 'em here: https://tally.so/r/w7LWZZ

    Resources mentioned:

    - Sigmund Freud: General Psychological Theory: Papers on Metapsychology, Chapter IV: The Unconscious (1915)

    - Sigmund Freud: The Question of Lay Analysis (1926)

    Show more Show less
    8 mins
  • Psychoanalyzing Dwight Schrute (a psychodynamic case study)
    Aug 10 2023

    FACT. Dwight Schrute is our favourite The Office character. FACT. His favourite would be Michael Scott. FACT. He would never enter psychotherapy.... but today, we'll pretend he does 🤓

    📚 Join my book club → Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/psychodynamicpsychology⁠

    Feedback? Questions? Suggestions? Put 'em here: https://tally.so/r/w7LWZZ Thank you for listening! Alina


    Show more Show less
    21 mins