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Syllabus
Faculty
Fee
One-year training program For psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists
Love and Aggression:
From Normality to Pathology
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This program brings together what is often separated or split: love and aggression, eroticism and sexuality. Neurobiological foundations, development, trajectories, and dynamics.
Four Training Modules
London time
Module I:
With simultaneous translation into Ukrainian
15 November
20 December
17 January
1:40-8:00 PM
8:40AM-3:00PM
New York time
Online education in English
FORMAT & LANGUAGE
DateS
time
80 academic hours
Psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, psychotherapist
Faculty
Otto Kernberg, MD
One-Year Program Schedule
First Module
Second Module
Third Module
Fourth Module

Current Workshop

1
15.11.2025
Online
2
20.12.2025
Online
3
17.01.2026
Online
4
21.02.2026
Online
5
21.03.2026
Online
6
18.04.2026
Online
7
16.05.2026
Online
8
20.06.2026
Online
9
18.07.2026
Online
10
26.09.2026
Online
11
24.10.2026
Online
12
21.11.2026
Online
During the one-year training program, we will explore:
Nowember 15, 2025
Biological determinants of aggressive and erotic behaviou
December 20, 2025
Traditional psychoanalytic theory and contemporary object theory
January 17, 2026
Contemporary psychoanalytic object relations theory and pathology of aggression
By completing the full training program, you will gain:
  • A comprehensive understanding of the psychodynamics of love
    sexuality, and aggression — from their biological foundations to interpersonal and societal manifestations.
  • An in-depth grasp of pathological forms of aggression
    across different levels of personality organisation: neurotic, borderline, and psychotic.
  • The ability to recognise destructive dynamics
    in couple relationships, including pathological idealisation, exploitation, jealousy, sadomasochism, splitting, and projective identification.
  • An understanding of complex moral and social conflicts
    related to love, sexuality, guilt, and social norms, within both clinical and cultural contexts.
  • Practical guidelines for working with patients
    struggling with difficulties in intimate relationships, self-destructive behavior, or profound conflicts between love and aggression.
  • Clinical knowledge of sexual disorders
    and their connection to narcissism, perversion, identity, and the superego.
  • Knowledge of aggression in transference
    and strategies for working through it.
Program Structure
  • 13 months - 12 workshops
    13 months — 12 workshops (with a break in August 2026). Each workshop offers an in‑depth exploration of a single topic — from the neurobiology of aggression to couple therapy, from the pathology of sexuality to perversions and moral conflict.
  • Each one-day workshop lasts 6 hours:
    20 min introduction
    90 min lecture
    30 min break
    90 min clinical case supervision
    30 min break
    60 min lecture
    60 min Q&A session

    We will examine theory, discuss clinical cases, explore transference and countertransference, and work through therapeutic impasses and possible ways forward.
  • The topics span the entire field:
    from biology to culture, from the individual psyche to mass violence — because love and aggression are present everywhere: in therapy, in marriage, in family life, in friendship, at work, in politics, and in society.
Program Structure
  • 13 months - 12 workshops
    13 months — 12 workshops (with a break in August 2026). Each workshop offers an in‑depth exploration of a single topic — from the neurobiology of aggression to couple therapy, from the pathology of sexuality to perversions and moral conflict.
  • Each one-day workshop lasts 6 hours:
    20 min introduction
    90 min lecture
    30 min break
    90 min clinical case supervision
    30 min break
    60 min lecture
    60 min Q&A session

    We will examine theory, discuss clinical cases, explore transference and countertransference, and work through therapeutic impasses and possible ways forward.
  • The topics span the entire field:
    from biology to culture, from the individual psyche to mass violence — because love and aggression are present everywhere: in therapy, in marriage, in family life, in friendship, at work, in politics, and in society.
Treating individuals inevitably entails working with both aggression and love.
A map of aggression — from neurobiology and core affective systems to perversions, hatred, envy, and malignant narcissism in societies;
A map of love — from infantile perverse tendencies and relationships with primary objects to mature sexual love.
A key to understanding how all of this affects the therapeutic situation and therapy as a whole.
The program will encompass the full spectrum of sexuality, together with its contemporary conflicts and contradictions: homosexuality and bisexuality, transgender identity, and perversion.
You will gain:
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If you aim to truly understand, treat, and avoid professional burnout, it is essential to learn to recognise the ways in which love and aggression intertwine within the human psyche; how individuals defend themselves against these affective systems/drives, thereby maintaining a state of psychic splitting; how aggression transforms into destructiveness; and how this destructiveness permeates therapy, relationships, and society.

We invite you to participate in a unique program comprising 12 one-day workshops, in which Dr Otto Kernberg will share insights and expertise accumulated over more than 60 years of clinical and theoretical work.
Topics and areas of study in the program
AGGRESSION, DESTRUCTIVENESS, AND PERVERSIONS
LOVE AND SEXUALITY
Each workshop of the course on personality disorders includes:
  • The in-depth and detailed lectures accompanied by examples from Dr. Kernberg's clinical practice.
  • A live clinical supervision session, in which Dr. Kernberg will demonstrate the approaches to clinical challenges involving love and aggression.
  • A one-hour Q&A session where you can raise your questions and refine your clinical perspective.
participation package

Invest in your professional growth and development in the field of psychotherapy and psychiatry

Access to the full Course
$1,900
Access the Program
$2,800
benefit -32%
Access to all fourth modules of Otto Kernberg's program
$700
$499
benefit - 28%
Сurrent
12-month access to the workshop recordings
November 15, 2025
December 20, 2025
January 17, 2026
Participant Package includes:
The fee will increase soon.
Handouts for Clinical Case Analysis
Online Zoom workshop participation
Electronic personalized certificate for workshop participants
Access to the first training module
Choose
Scheduled
Second module
February 21, 2026
March 21, 2026
April 18, 2026
Electronic personalized certificate for workshop participants
Participant Package includes:
Online Zoom workshop participation
Handouts for Clinical Case Analysis
12-month access to the workshop recordings
Scheduled
Fourth module
September 26, 2026
October 24, 2026
November 21, 2026
Electronic personalized certificate for workshop participants
Participant Package includes:
Online Zoom workshop participation
Handouts for Clinical Case Analysis
12-month access to the workshop recordings
Third module
Scheduled
May 16, 2026
June 20, 2026
July 18, 2026
Electronic personalized certificate for workshop participants
Participant Package includes:
Online Zoom workshop participation
Handouts for Clinical Case Analysis
12-month access to the workshop recordings
Faculty

Otto Kernberg

Otto Kernberg’s entire professional life has been devoted to the exploration of aggression and love.
He has treated patients for whom destruction was a way of being.
He founded and developed Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), which today is recognized internationally as one of the few evidence-based approaches effective in treating severe personality disorders.
He has worked with individuals whose expressions of aggression were among the most destructive.
He has treated patients with the most powerful defenses against love and against the possibility of deep human connection.
Doctor of Medicine, graduated from the Medical University of Chile (1957).
Director of the Psychotherapy Research Project of Menninger Foundation, Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell University and Director of the Institute for Personality Disorders Institute (until 2021). He was the President of the International Psychoanalytical Association from 1997 to 2001.
He was awarded the 1972 Heinz Hartmann Award of the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, the 1975 Edward A. Strecker Award from the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, the 1981 George E. Daniels Merit Award of the Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine.
He is the author of more than 500 scientific articles and books published in leading journals such as the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, and The Journal of Personality Disorders.
Our one-year training program includes not only lectures and Q&A sessions, but also practical demonstrations of cases that therapists often find challenging.
To illustrate the theoretical concepts, Otto Kernberg will conduct public clinical supervision for two supervisees throughout the program, each presenting their own case of prolonged psychotherapy.

This will provide you with practical experience in applying theoretical concepts to complex therapeutic cases. Participants will learn from observing the therapy's progress and analyzing Otto Kernberg's recommendations. During the discussions, you will have the opportunity to ask Dr. Kernberg questions about the supervision process.
What does clinical supervision encompass?
The Ukrainian Institute for Personality Disorders Studies — training for those who work with people, not with diagnoses.
We assist our students in the acquisition of advanced and up-to-date models of psychotherapy. Become internationally certified. Learn in real time from the outstanding specialists recognized around the world.
Education. Workshops, trainings, and long-term programs from the world's foremost experts.
The main program coordinator
Research - conducting research on the diagnosis and effectiveness of psychotherapy
Translations of books and manuals. Current psychoanalytic literature from around the world in Ukrainian.
1853
227
students who have received professional training
118 hours of seminars conducted
Otto Kernberg, Frank Yeomans, Monica Carsky, Nel Draijer, Jos van Mosel, Veronica Steiner, Katarzyna Gwóźdź, Mathieu Norton-Poulin, Julia Sowislo, Tennyson Lee
The specialists we collaborate with
Educational programs participants' countries

Our institute's statistics

Why Basic Psychotherapy Training May Not Provide Sufficient Preparation for Real Clinical Practice
  • In many training programs:
  • As a result:
  • Aggression is addressed neither as a clinical category nor as a fundamental motivational system.
  • The therapist lacks a clear understanding of the level of the patient’s level of personality organization.
  • Assessment of the level of personality organization is requently absent or addressed only superficially.
  • General interventions are applied where precise, differentiated treatment is required.
  • Sexuality is either presented schematically or omitted altogether due to cultural sensitivities.
  • The therapeutic process stalls, with severe clinical dynamics mistakenly interpreted as “incurability.”
  • Transference and countertransference remain largely theoretical constructs, without sufficient clinical application.
  • The therapist remains vulnerable to boundary violations, manipulation, and emotional exhaustion.
  • Love is often reduced to the concept of attachment, without exploring the capacity for love itself, the psychic conflicts surrounding it, and its pathological manifestations.
This program is designed to address and close these critical gaps
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Why Basic Psychotherapy Training May Not Provide Sufficient Preparation for Real Clinical Practice
  • In many training programs:
  • Aggression is addressed neither as a clinical category nor as a fundamental motivational system.
  • Love is often reduced to the concept of attachment, without exploring the capacity for love itself, the psychic conflicts surrounding it, and its pathological manifestations.
  • Sexuality is either presented schematically or omitted altogether due to cultural sensitivities.
  • Transference and countertransference remain largely theoretical constructs, without sufficient clinical application.
  • Assessment of the level of personality organization is requently absent or addressed only superficially.
  • As a result:
  • The therapist lacks a clear understanding of the level of the patient’s level of personality organization.
  • General interventions are applied where precise, differentiated treatment is required.
  • The therapeutic process stalls, with severe clinical dynamics mistakenly interpreted as “incurability.”
  • The therapist remains vulnerable to boundary violations, manipulation, and emotional exhaustion.
This program is designed to address and close these critical gaps.
JOIN THE PROGRAM

What participants of previous seminars say about us

Psychologist
Olga Puziichuk
I am deeply grateful for the One-year Training Program on Personality Disorders with Otto Kernberg, MD. The depth of knowledge I gained exceeded my expectations, as did the overall quality of the program’s organization. I have no criticisms—only a strong desire to continue collaborating with the Ukrainian Institute for Personality Disorders Studies and to recommend it to my colleagues.
The program was highly informative and valuable. Studying with Dr. Otto Kernberg felt like a fortunate encounter with something profound and significant—beyond just acquiring knowledge. I sincerely thank Dr. Kernberg and the program organizers for this meaningful experience.
Anna Lil-Bezak
Psychologist, lecturer at a higher education institution, philologist
Psychologist
Yuliia Stadnyk
Thank you very much for such a deep and important course. I especially want to emphasize the thoughtful design, both in terms of topics and materials, as well as the seminar structure (lecture – supervision – lecture – questions). This format provides high-quality theoretical knowledge, access to materials, answers to questions, and the opportunity to observe the approach in practice. Dr. Kernberg’s supervisions are invaluable.
I am deeply grateful to the TFP Association for the unique and highly valuable chance to learn from Dr. Otto Kernberg. Each workshop was incredibly engaging and profoundly inspiring. During supervision sessions, I gained many important insights that I have already begun to apply in practice. This training has been a true resource and support for my professional development. I sincerely thank everyone involved for creating a space of growth, depth, and inspiration.
Yuliia Novosadova
Psychologist
You are truly the most professional and well-organized team I’ve encountered in psychological education.
Anna Polyakova
Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)
Psychologist, Sexologist
Lana Zorina
The difference in teaching style compared to what I’ve experienced in Ukraine is striking. The quality of the material and the clarity of its presentation are truly impressive.
Thank you for the chance to expand my professional knowledge and gain experience through the teachings of Otto Kernberg, MD. It was a rare privilege to learn from a true legend of our time. I also want to express my gratitude for the well-organized structure of the program.
Iryna Rozina
Ph.D. in Psychology, Associate Professor, Psychotherapist
Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Accredited Gestalt Therapist, Supervisor
Olga Zahariichuk
I appreciated the program very much. I am sincerely grateful to the organizers for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Otto Kernberg and to become more familiar with the TFP method through the supervision sessions.
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I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Otto Kernberg, a leading figure in psychiatry and psychology. This seminar was both highly informative and well-structured. It enriched my therapeutic skills with new knowledge and practical recommendations.
Having access to the video recordings was especially convenient, allowing me to review the material, reinforce my learning, and take detailed notes. I gained a clearer understanding of subtle clinical nuances, which has immediately improved my work with patients.
I also want to commend the impeccable organization and ongoing informational support. I highly recommend this training to anyone seeking to enhance their professional expertise.
Iryna Khrysanfova
Psychologist, Psychotherapist
The course turned out to be more valuable than I had expected. Of course, hearing a clear and accessible explanation of personality disorders directly from Dr. Otto Kernberg was already of great significance. But observing how he conducts supervision—how he approaches each case, how he thinks through clinical problems—was exceptionally instructive.
I would like to thank the organizers and interpreters. Having access to both English and Ukrainian recordings was the best possible arrangement in this context. The translation was remarkably accurate, which is especially important.
I also appreciated the clear organization and the care taken to ensure a safe and respectful learning environment. Thank you for the in-depth knowledge and meaningful experience.
Liudmyla Mezentseva
Psychologist
Great organization and the seminar itself! I look forward to the next event ❤️ Many thanks to Oleksiy and Dr. Yeomans, and everyone involved!
Cool organization, translators and special satisfaction from a clear setting
Thank you very much, Oleksiy, for this opportunity, and special thanks for the organization!
Thank you very much, highly topical program, very interesting and saturated materials. There is something to think about. and special thanks for the articles!
I also want to thank you for the excellently organized, very useful and informative training, professional work of the translators. I look forward to further actions
Thanks to Frank Yeomans for valuable communication, desire to provide knowledge, sincerity and correctness in communication
I also thank Oleksiy very much for the opportunity to learn from such an incredible specialist! I am in awe of the way Dr. Yeomans works with clients, his acceptance of clients and the way he is able to articulate complex things gently. Incredible organization, great translators! I'll back you up for the next module!
I join my colleagues - a great organization, thank you, Oleksiy! And an excellent translation. Great gratitude to Dr. Yeomans for sharing his knowledge and experience. Worth it!
Organizers can be narcissistically admired. Everything is perfect. Many thanks! I look forward to the next seminars. Everything is very collegial, accessible, clinically useful
I am sincerely grateful for the high level of organization and the thoughtful attention given to participants. The event was excellently coordinated—with clear scheduling, a user-friendly streaming format, and reliable technical support. I especially appreciated the professionalism of the moderation and the responsiveness to participants’ questions. The materials were provided in a timely manner, which greatly supported deeper engagement with the topic. Thank you for the chance to be part of such a meaningful event within the analytic community.
This was a valuable chance to learn from real clinical experience—clearly presented and illustrated with practical examples. I was also struck by Dr. Kernberg’s sense of humor. I always find myself listening with full attention.
The entire program was exceptionally well structured and delivered. The coordination, participant support, and thoughtful guidance throughout the course were all carefully managed. Studying with a master of the field felt like both a personal challenge and an invitation to grow and deepen my knowledge. Thank you.
Thank you for the seminar and especially for such an interesting analysis of supervisions already on the 1st module. This clearly shows the method. And I`m ready to go to the next module!
Dear Larissa and the Ukrainian team! Thank you for the excellent course! It was very well organized, high level psychotherapy education. I’m very happy to participate. And my heart is with Ukranian people!
What You Will Learn and Why This Program Works at a Deeper Level
  • Aggression across personality organization:
    How aggression manifests at different levels of personality organization — from neurotic to psychotic — and how these distinctions determine the course of therapy.
  • Couple dynamics and masked aggression:
    How to work with couples in which aggression is disguised as love, corroding relationships from within — and what clinical strategies can open space for change.
  • Eroticized transference and defenses against sexuality:
    How to recognize and work through eroticized transference, defenses against sexuality, and destructive relational patterns, particularly within narcissistic and perverse dynamics.
  • Most importantly:
    Most importantly, you will gain a structured psychodynamic framework that enables you to see deeper:
    not merely alleviating symptoms,
    but identifying their source —
    and choosing a therapeutic trajectory capable of fostering transformation.
  • Discerning normality and pathology in sexuality:
    How to differentiate between healthy and pathological expressions of sexuality, especially when traditional reference points are blurred and clinical reality demands precision and an analytic stance.
At its core, this program is an integrative, strictly clinical, and ethically grounded model that combines:
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  • Object relations theory
  • Neurobiology
  • Contemporary psychodynamic psychiatry
  • Respect for diversity, while maintaining clinical precision
  • Scientific clarity
  • And the living experience of more than six decades of vigorous and productive work by Dr. Otto Friedmann Kernberg
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