The Significance of The Sibling Experience: Its Impact on Development, Identity and Character

Co-sponsoring with MPG Consulting NYC

 Invite you to our Sunday Dialogue Program

The Significance of The Sibling Experience:

Its Impact on Development, Identity and Character

Susan Klett, PhD, PsyD, LCSW-R

Sunday, October 15, 2023, 1:00-3:30pm (EDT), on Zoom

3 CE credit hours for Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors and Licensed Psychoanalysts holding Licenses in New York State   

Although siblings accompany us within our family of origin throughout all of our developmental stages and are often the longest relationship in our lives, scarce attention has been paid to conscious and unconscious influences of siblings in psychoanalytic theory and clinical practice. It is our sibling(s) who first socialize us into the world of peers. The aim of this presentation is to widen the scope of clinical practice to include listening for lateral (sibling) transference and countertransference; to recognize and understand how a patient can “other” or be the recipient of “othering” by a sibling and its’ lifelong internal and external implications. Juliet Mitchell’s concepts of “the Law of the mother” and “Seriality,” will be used to examine significant ways a mother can diminish the potential of “othering” and enhance sibling relationships. We will also examine Juliet Mitchell’s “Sibling Thinking Theory” in opening up ways to listen for both vertical and lateral dimensions of psychic life and for recognizing when they intersect, contributing to shifts in the intersubjective fields, altering relationships and shaping development. I will introduce “Developmental Sibling Relational Systems Theory” and open up space for an in-depth dialogue. Clinical examples will illustrate the necessity of both concepts to fully understand the complexity of an individual’s psychic life.

Presenter:

Susan A. Klett, Ph.D., Psy.D., LCSW-R, is a training and supervising analyst at The Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis Los Angeles and a faculty member, supervising and training analyst at various psychoanalytic institutes in New York City. She is a past President and board member of The Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Society and a former Co-Director and board member of Washington Square Institute for Mental Health. Dr. Klett is the founder and past Director of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training and Skill Group Program at WSI. She has also served as Director of the Scientific Lecture Series at WSI [2009-2014]; co-director of the Education Lecture Series at PPS [2009-2011]; and former Director of Professional Development at the Advanced Clinical Education Foundation [2014-July 2022]. Dr. Klett holds a diplomate in Clinical Social Work from New York State Society for Clinical Social Work.

Her doctoral dissertation examined historical and contemporary perspectives on siblings in psychoanalysis [2017) and she has taught a course at *postgrad PPSI titled: Sibling Dynamics: Understanding their Impact on Development, Attachment Style and Character (2020).

She is a former contributing editor of Issues in Psychoanalytic Psychology and past co-editor of *postgrad PPSI’s newsletter [2009-2011].

Dr. Klett is co- author of Analysis of the Incest Trauma: Retrieval, Recovery, Renewal (Karnac; 2015) and has published articles and reviews on trauma, eating disorders, couple treatment and the psychoanalytic process. She has received a Humanitarian Award for her work with the victims and families of the World Trade Center Disaster (9/11) and has been an invited guest lecturer at various universities in NYC. She has presented nationally and internationally on trauma. Dr. Klett maintains a private practice in Manhattan working with individuals, couples, groups and provides supervision to clinicians and consultations to educational organizations.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between the vertical and lateral dimensions of the transference and countertransference and provide an example of a lateral (sibling) transference and/or countertransference.
2.  List two or three ways a patient may “other” or be the recipient of “othering” by a sibling, and ways this may truncate their development, limit the depth and richness of their relationship and transition into lifelong perceptions of self, self in-relationships and the potential for “othering’ therefore limiting rather than enriching their lives.
3.  Define the meaning of “The Law of the Mother” and “Seriality” and describe how the use of these concepts can facilitate healthy rather than destructive interactions among siblings.
4.  Define the meaning of “Developmental Sibling Relational Systems Theory” and the pivotal moment when a traumatic accommodation may occur influencing ones character development; include the impact of sibling(s) on ones’ interpersonal relationships with peers, and their partner and career choices.

This program is approved for 3 CE Credit Hours. MPG Consulting is an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers (#0119) and for Licensed Psychoanalysts (3P-0034). MPG Consulting, LCSW, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health

A zoom link will be sent to registrants 1-2 days prior to the event

For further information or questions please send an email to:

 Russell Merritt, LCSW: [email protected]

Register Now – (Download pdf and mail)