Discover the paternal function's influence in UK psychology. Study object relations and father figures in mental health CPD courses.
For UK clinicians who think psychodynamically, this course offers an object relations view of the paternal function. The presenter builds on his published paper to review the psychoanalytic literature and describe five ways the father figure shapes the internal world: holding and protecting, separating, supporting psychic structure and the capacity to think, aiding affect regulation, and offering psychic safety. Each dimension is linked to clinical work, showing how a client's relationship with a father or father figure may affect identity and emotional life. The course ends with the paternal function in the consulting room.
This thought-provoking talk explores the significant and often under-recognised psychological impact of the paternal figure in development and clinical work. Drawing from his original published paper, the presenter critically reviews psychoanalytic literature on the paternal function, identifying five distinct dimensions of the father’s role in shaping an individual's internal world.
With clinical relevance across diverse presentations, this talk provides theoretical frameworks to help psychologists better conceptualise how clients’ experiences with their fathers or father figures may influence attachment, identity formation, emotional regulation, and interpersonal dynamics. This material is particularly valuable for psychologists working in psychodynamic, trauma-informed, or relational modalities.
Sections
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Describe five distinct psychoanalytic perspectives on the paternal function
Identify the developmental and psychological impact of the father figure across the lifespan
Apply psychoanalytic constructs to conceptualise the role of paternal relationships in clients’ presenting issues
Reflect on the clinical implications of paternal dynamics in therapeutic practice
Use theoretical tools to better understand transference and countertransference related to the father figure