A Depth Perspective on Personality Disorders

Course Description

In this course, Dr. Lionel Corbett draws from decades of psychoanalytic experience to discuss various forms of psychopathology. He combines his medical training, and understanding of Jungian psychology to dive deep into the soul and its troubling manifestations. 

Corbett distinguishes between the medical model and the depth psychology perspective. He will first explore the biases in mainstream psychology and biological psychiatry which often view disorders such as depression and schizophrenia as merely biochemical imbalances in the brain. The depth psychology perspective, however, seeks to understand why these disorders form and what purpose they might serve.

The depth psychological perspective posits that the psyche is innately intelligent and purposeful. Disorders are seen as both protective and isolating. In Jung’s view, symptoms have a purpose; they are not merely reactions to past events or recent experiences. A symptom aims to move the personality in a particular direction, important for the individual’s personal growth and unfolding. There is an attempt at self-healing within the symptom and disorder. Dr. Lionel Corbett will explore these self-healing attempts across various disorders. 

Dr. Lionel Corbett will also explore how people experience personality disorders, both in themselves and in others. We all encounter some degree of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and even psychopathy; these experiences only become disorders when they become extreme. By understanding these manifestations and recognizing their intelligence and purpose, we will learn more about ourselves and develop greater empathy and understanding for others.

This course is ideal if :

• You want to develop a depth-psychological perspective on psychopathology and learn about the hidden or unconscious facets of the human psyche.
• You want to learn to recognize features of personality disorders in yourself as well as in people around you like family members, coworkers, acquaintances and friends. 
• You are working with people in a clinical setting or if you are an interested layman.
• You want to find purpose and coherence in psychopathology.

Course Overview

Four live webinar classes will consider particular character disorders, neurosis, or psychosis.

By the end of this course you will :

• Understand the deep motivations and outer expressions of character disorders, neuroses and psychoses.
• Distinguish defining characteristics of distinct psychopathologies and spot traits of the same in yourself and those around you.
• Have a sense of the subjective experience of different disorders.
• Recognize the hidden promise of healing and wholeness in psychopathology.