Online Video Seminar with Dr. Richard Erskine – Shame, Inner Criticism and Relational Withdrawal

Dr. Richard G. Erskine held a three-session online video seminar on December 4, 5 and 6, 2020, on the topic: Shame, Inner Criticism and Relational Withdrawal: Psychotherapy of the Schizoid Process.

The online video seminar was supported by the following associations:

NATAS – National Association for Transactional Analysis of Serbia

TA Center – Association of Transactional Analysts of Serbia

TAUS – Regional Association for Transactional Analysis

UTAS – Association for Transactional Analysis of Serbia

SATA – Serbian Association for Transactional Analysis

SUIP – Serbian Association for Integrative Psychotherapy

Shame, inner criticism and relational withdrawal are core components of the “schizoid process.” This internal process of splitting the Self, although present, often goes unrecognized in many psychotherapy clients, while shame related to the dynamic of withholding, humiliation and loss of contact with others is clearly expressed. Complex and continuous strengthening of the core script belief “Something is wrong with me” is a complex challenge for the therapist. Clients often withdraw into a protective inner space that requires sensitive attunement to their personal experience.

Dr. Richard Erskine spoke not only about the therapeutic significance of shame, but also about the theory of the schizoid process and how this process relates to some clients who are depressed, ashamed, suffer from inner criticism, or fear close relationships.

Dr. Erskine presented the self-stabilizing process of internal splitting, different forms of the Self, the dynamics of compliance and withdrawal, changes in affective attachment patterns, the role of inner criticism, and the therapeutic methods necessary for working with each part of the Self.

In this workshop, in addition to a PowerPoint presentation and ex-cathedra lecture, Dr. Richard Erskine included participants in discussions about clients from their psychotherapy practice in order to research the dynamics of shame, inner criticism, confusion and relational withdrawal. He particularly presented the method of the relational approach in psychotherapy.

Na ovoj radionici, dr Ričard Erskin je pored  PowerPoint prezntacije i eks katedra predavanja, uključivao učesnike aktivno u diskusije o klijentima iz njihove psihoterapijske prakse u svrhu istraživanja dinamike stida, unutrašnjeg kriticizma, konfuzije i relacionog povlačenja. Posebno je izlagao o metodi Relacionog Pristupa u psihoterapiji.

If you did not attend the workshop and would like to watch the recording of all three days of the workshop , or recordings of any previous workshops organized or co-organized by NATAS, you can order the recording. Our recommendation is that, whenever possible, you attend the workshop live, as this gives you the opportunity for direct contact with the lecturer.

This online video seminar, held via Zoom, took place in English and Serbian with consecutive interpretation. You can find a description of consecutive interpretation here: What is consecutive interpreting?).

Dr. Erskine insists on consecutive interpretation because it is the best way to attune live with interpreters and participants — to follow whether attendees understand the seminar content well, to observe participants and their reactions, and potentially include them in the discussion.

Only participants who attended the seminar received a certificate for nine hours of education.

You can view the evaluation results of this seminar here.

For more information, contact:

Zvonko (Zvonimir Ninić); E-mail: natasrbije@gmail.com; Telefon: +381641376144

Dr. Richard Erskine is a clinical psychologist, trainer and director of the Institute for Integrative PsychotherapyDr. Erskine was originally trained in child-centered psychotherapy, and later also studied Gestalt therapy with Fritz and Laura Perls. He is a certified clinical transactional analyst and a licensed psychoanalyst specializing in psychoanalytic self psychology and object relations theory. His work represents the integration of all these concepts and fifty years of clinical experience, including work with disturbed children, prisoners from maximum-security prisons, clients with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders, post-traumatic stress and dissociative identity disorders. In recent years, his research and clinical practice have focused on the treatment of the schizoid process and obsessive disorders. He is the author of several books and numerous articles on psychotherapy theories and methods. His best-selling book, co-authored with Janet Moursund and Rebecca Trautmann, is Beyond Empathy: A Therapy of Contact-in-Relationship (1999, Brunner/Mazel).