The Surprising Root of Manic Character Patterns
Kathryn Levison, BA
How can an upbeat person have a gloomy undercurrent to their otherwise personable nature? Why would someone who’s “always happy and productive” suddenly turn irritable but then shift back to their usual cheerful self? And who wouldn’t feel steamrollered and sad when someone or something dear to their heart is suddenly and unexpectedly stripped away? Drawing on psychoanalyst Nancy McWilliams’ theories, two classic concepts from Freud and Jung, and her own personal experiences, Kathryn Levison offers an answer that is both surprising and surprisingly logical.
Read More The Surprising Root of Manic Character Patterns
Chasing an Object of Desire: Ramie Bou-Saab on Borderline Personality
Micaiah Warren interviews Ramie Bou-Saab, AM LCSW about his understanding of and therapeutic approach to individuals on the borderline personality spectrum. Bou-Saab recognizes the demographic diversity in this spectrum and how this contributes to the differing needs and challenges they face when it comes to managing their emotions, responsibilities, and relationships.
Read More Chasing an Object of Desire: Ramie Bou-Saab on Borderline Personality
Masochistic Personality Disorder: Causes, Signs & Treatment
Kathryn Levison, BA
People who seem to be their own worst enemies — whose histories are riddled with actions and decisions clearly antithetical to their well-being — can confound even the most skilled clinician. But while theories on its origin abound, one thing is crystal clear: masochistic self-defeat is a learned behavior. Follow along as Kathryn Levison presents insights, information, and her own personal experience that, with psychoanalytic psychotherapy, any learned behavior — even the most self-damaging — can be un-learned.
Read More Masochistic Personality Disorder: Causes, Signs & Treatment
Demystifying Dissociation
Kathryn Levison, BA
Using Dr. Nancy McWilliams’ text Psychoanalytic Diagnosis as a springboard, Kathryn Levison offers insights into the history of and advances in the treatment of dissociation, the role of neuroscience in explaining the physiological roots of memory impairment, and presents psychoanalytic psychotherapy as the best possible option for healing disconcerting symptoms and finding balance for those who find dissociation to be a helpful tool for managing the stresses of life and relationships.
Read More Demystifying Dissociation
SEMINAR: Examining the Emotional Legacy of Systemic Racism
NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | 10am CST
This live supervision seminar was presented in partnership with The Kedzie Center. This online seminar provided a live view of how two psychoanalysts from two different countries and with different racial identities think and learn about race in the clinical setting. This discussion between Dionne Powell, a Black American clinician, and Amanda Kottler, a White South African Clinician was moderated by Huey Hawkins, Jr., a Black American clinician from St. Louis.
Read More SEMINAR: Examining the Emotional Legacy of Systemic Racism
The Doctor Debate: Still Talking About Titles
Flora Lazar, PhD LCSW
The American Psychoanalyst
Volume 55, No 2, Spring/Summer 2021
In this article for The American Psychoanalyst, Flora Lazar revisits a sensitive topic in psychoanalytic history — what is the necessary academic preparation for training/practice in psychoanalysis? She traces the history and controversy about degrees in the field and argues, from a self-psychological perspective, that degrees may have more meaning to clients/patients than to clinicians.
Read More The Doctor Debate: Still Talking About Titles
Statement on Adam Toledo / Declaración sobre Adam Toledo
The shooting of Adam Toledo brings to debate the living conditions of people of Color, Latino origin, and other minorities in the city of Chicago, and the poor response by the authorities to address and improve conditions in these areas. We urge meaningful actions that would save lives.
El tiroteo de Adam Toledo trae a debate las condiciones de vida de personas de color, de origen latino, y otras minorías en la ciudad de Chicago, y la pobre respuesta por parte de las autoridades para atender y mejorar las condiciones en estas areas. Exhortamos por qué se realicen acciones que salven vidas.
Read More Statement on Adam Toledo / Declaración sobre Adam Toledo
Statement on the Racial Violence in Atlanta
Since the start of the pandemic, Asians have seen a rise in bullying, harassment, and hate crimes, often targeted toward the most vulnerable members of the community. The latest deadly hate crime in Atlanta is yet another culmination of racism, xenophobia, and misogyny. We stand in solidarity with the Asian community and remain steadfast in denouncing all forms of white supremacy.
Read More Statement on the Racial Violence in Atlanta
SEMINAR: The Individuated Dividual or What is Culture Good For?
JUNE 4, 2021 | 6:00–7:30pm CST
Depth Counseling’s first live supervision seminar was presented in partnership with the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago, and Yellowbrick Consultation and Treatment Center as part of the 2021 Weissbourd Dialogues. This seminar explored the emotional world of a first-generation Indian American as he struggles with cultural expectations of personhood that differ from the normative American conceptions of individuality. Case presented by Sean M. Dowdy, PhD, with clinical supervision by Usha Tummala-Narra, PhD.
Read More SEMINAR: The Individuated Dividual or What is Culture Good For?

Kathryn Levison, BA

Kathryn Levison, BA

Kathryn Levison, BA