PROGRAM INFORMATION
Description: Therapists struggle to help patients for whom situational stresses interact with personality patterns in complicated combinations of grief, mourning, and depressive and masochistic dynamics. Because neither “Depressive Personality Disorder” nor “Self-Defeating Personality Disorder” is found in the DSM or ICD, official taxonomies offer little clinical help in distinguishing between various painful self-states and framing therapy accordingly. Dr. McWilliams will differentiate conceptually between depression and mourning, between anaclitic and introjective depression, between relational self-sabotage and “moral masochism” (Reik, 1941), and between depressive and self-defeating personality patterns. She will give clinical examples, including a case in some depth, that illustrate treatment implications of the different presentations of sadness, despair, and malignant self-regard.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe three differences between normal grief and clinical depression.
- Explain the differences between predominantly depressive and predominantly self-defeating (masochistic) personality patterns.
- List two clinical implications when the patient is more masochistic than simply depressive in personality organization.
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PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY
Nancy McWilliams is Visiting Professor Emerita of clinical psychology at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology and practices in Lambertville, New Jersey. She is author of Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (1994, rev. ed. 2011), Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (1999), Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2004) and Psychoanalytic Supervision (2021) and is associate editor of all three editions of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (2006, 2017, 2025). A former president of Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association, she has been featured in three APA videos of master clinicians. She is on the Board of Trustees of the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA. Her books are available in more than 20 languages, and she has taught in more than 30 countries.
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REGISTRATION DETAILS
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (MT)
Location: Tentatively, the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. The exact address will be provided closer to the event, but you can find general location information below.
Food & Beverages: Coffee, tea, water, snacks, and box lunches will be provided during the event. Please list any dietary restrictions during registration. While we strive to accommodate all dietary needs, individuals with severe allergies may wish to bring their own food for the day.
Cost:
- DPS Member: $165
- Non DPS Member: $190
- Student Pricing: $90
- Late Registration (begins 9/10): $200
Late Registration: Late registration begins September 10, 2025 and is the same fee for members, nonmembers, and students.
Registration: Registration is required.
Schedule: (Click here for a detailed schedule.)
| Time |
Activity |
| 8:30 - 9:00 AM |
Registration |
| 9:00 - 9:15 AM |
Welcome |
| 9:15 - 10:45 AM |
Session One |
| 10:45 - 11:00 AM |
Audience Q&A |
| 11:00 - 11:15 AM |
Break |
| 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM |
Session Two |
| 12:15 - 12:30 PM |
Audience Q&A |
| 12:30 - 1:30 PM |
Lunch (Provided) |
| 1:30 -2:30 PM |
Session Three |
| 2:30 - 2:45 PM |
Audience Q&A |
| 2:45 - 3:00 PM |
Break |
| 3:00 - 4:00 PM |
Session Four |
| 4:00 - 4:15 PM |
Audience Q&A |
| 4:15 - 4:30 PM |
Wrap-up (Evaluations & Certificates) |
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CME INFORMATION
5.5 CME credits available
CME Certificates: In order to receive a CME certificate, the attendee must: pre-register, pay in full, attend the entire session, and complete an evaluation. Certificates will be handed out at the end of the event in exchange for a completed evaluation.
ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and Denver Psychoanalytic Society. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement
The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure Statement
The APsA CE 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.
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USED BOOK SALE
The Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis is selling a wide variety of used psychoanalytic titles, and all proceeds support psychoanalytic education. If you shop the online used book sale and purchase before September 18th, we will have the books ready for you when you arrive at the event. Please choose the 9/20/25 - Society Seminar option during check out.
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LOCATION INFORMATION
The Anschutz Medical Campus is located in Aurora, CO about 20 minutes from Denver International Airport (DIA) and 30 minutes from downtown Denver by car (without traffic).
Parking: Parking for the day will cost $1 and may be paid through ParkMobile or at parking lot kiosks. Additional parking details will be provided in registrant reminder emails as the event approaches.
Lodging: The Benson Hotel is a relatively new boutique hotel situated on the north side of the Anschutz Medical Campus and is walkable to the event.
Other nearby hotels located on the south side of campus (off E. Colfax Ave.) include the Springhill Suites and Hyatt House Aurora.
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POLICIES
Confidentiality: During programs, we will follow rules of confidentiality for clinical case material including disguising identifying information. Please do not discuss any case material outside of this program. No recording of case material is allowed.
Cancellation: There will be NO refunds after September 10, 2025. Any refunds made before September 10th will be less a $30 administrative fee.
Certificate Replacement: If awarded a CME certificate, please retain for your records. There will be a $3 charge if the Society office must resend a certificate.
Photography Notice: By registering for this event, I hereby acknowledge and agree that the Denver Psychoanalytic Society (DPS) or its agents may take photographs and recordings for DPS purposes, including but not limited to news, publicity, and fundraising purposes, without further compensation to me. All such photos and videos are the sole property of the DPS.
To contact the Society office, please email office@denverpsychoanalytic.org.
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SPONSORS
