Fairbairn in the Consulting Room:
Structural Theory, Clinical Formulation, and Masterclass Supervision
with David P. Celani, PhD
5-week Virtual Live Course (on Zoom) September 2, 2026 – September 30, 2026 | Wednesdays | 7:30–9:30 PM ET Tuition: $400 for the 5-week course Each class includes a lecture and a group supervision component. Continuing Education: 14.50 CE hours for NYS Psychologists, NYS Social Workers,
and the APA (covers most mental health professionals outside of NYS);
“The chief aim of psycho-analytical treatment is to promote a maximum “synthesis” of the structures into which the original ego has been split, in the setting of a therapeutic relationship with the analyst. Involved in the achievement of this aim are two further aims, viz, (a) a maximum reduction of persisting infantile dependence, and (b) a maximum reduction of that hatred of the rejecting object which, according to my theory, is ultimately responsible for the splitting of the ego.”— W. R. D. Fairbairn, “On the Nature and Aims of Psycho-Analytical Treatment” (1958, p. 380)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Ronald Fairbairn’s theory, though generally respected by the analytic community, has never been used widely as a clinical model in the treatment of adult psychopathology. This course is designed for both professionals and students who are interested in using Fairbairn’s Object Relations theory in their clinical work. It will combine lectures on Fairbairn’s theory and then apply his structural model to clinical cases presented by the attendees.
These will be the topics of the lectures included in this course:
Week 1: Fairbairn, Suttie, and the overwhelming nature of the child’s dependency on his mother/caretaker.
Week 2: The Origins of Fairbairn’s Structural Theory and the necessity for the child to split his/her objects.
Week 3: The internal dynamics of Fairbairn’s Structural Theory- both his opinion and my view.
Week 4: The three distinct and independent defenses that emerge from the dissociated structures.
Week 5: Setting up a clinical narrative and tolerating the inevitable resistances from the split off structures.
The supervision will focus on two fundamental developmental issues negatively impacted by cumulative trauma: differentiation of the child from the parent andintegrationof the child’s perception of the parent into a single view that contains both loving and frustrating memories. This developmental approach examines how parental failure to support and encourage the child leads to massive feelings of deprivation and abandonment. These powerful emotions bind the child to the parent as they await the love and support that would allow them to explore the external world incrementally. Without this support, the child falls behind their peers, fearing engagement in activities that demand increasingly differentiated behaviors, remaining stuck at an earlier developmental age.
The reliance on Fairbairn’s model as the single approach to treatment will illustrate how this model, which has little commonality with classical or other analytic approaches, can be used effectively on patients with serious psychopathology. This approach will not use classical concepts such as the libido/drive theory, the Oedipal conflict or energic metaphors, but instead will focus on the dissociation of traumatic parental failures, the creation of dissociated sub-selves that contain memories of toxic interpersonal events, and developmental frustration which prevents both differentiation from the object and integration of good and bad object memories. This model falls into two general categories, including trauma/dissociation model as well as a developmental failure model.
LEARNING POINTS:
At the end of this educational activity, its participants will be able to:
Describe and analyze clinical cases through Fairbairn’s trauma/dissociation model.
Describe and analyze clinical cases through Fairbairn’s developmental failure model.
Discuss how to construct a clinical narrative that focuses on parental failures that have been ignored, minimized, excused, or partially dissociated.
Utilize the patient’s relationships with external objects to illustrate both lack of differentiation and/or splitting to minimize intense transferences.
Utilize Fairbairn’s structural model to understand the specifics of the patient’s inner world, and to communicate with dissociated sub-selves when they emerge during clinical interviews.
Utilize Fairbairn’s Object Relations theory in their clinical work with patients/clients with developmental / childhood trauma.
Utilize Fairbairn’s Object Relations theory in their clinical work with patients/clients with personality disorders.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This course is intended for psychiatrists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, social workers, and other mental health clinicians working with patients whose early relational trauma continues to shape their inner world, relationships, and capacity for emotional development.
Although this course is clinically oriented, its conceptual framework may also be of interest to parent coaches and trauma-informed practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of early chronic emotional trauma and its relational dynamics.
SUGGESTED READINGS
Celani, D.P. (2010). Fairbairn’s Model in the Clinical Setting. Columbia University Press.
Celani, D.P. Fairbairn’s Metaphor of The Human Mind [Handout]. Object Relations Institute, NYC.
Celani, D. P. (2016). Fairbairn’s theory of change. The Psychoanalytic Review, 103(3), 341-370.
Celani, D. P. (2020). Fairbairn’s metaphor of the human mind and the trauma bond. [Conference Handout]
Celani, D.P. (2025). An introduction to Fairbairnian Object Relations model. Presented at the Object Relations Institute, February 2, 2025, at the CE seminar “The Impact of early Family Relationships on Child Development: A Fairbairnian Perspective.”
INSTRUCTOR’S BIO
As one of the few contemporary psychologists specializing in Fairbairnian theory, Dr. David P. Celani brings unique expertise in translating complex theoretical concepts into practical clinical applications. His approach makes sophisticated psychological insights accessible to both professionals and parents, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Dr. Celani is the author of multiple peer-reviewed publications on Fairbairnian theory and its application to treatment of personality disorders and developmental trauma, as well as books: Fairbairn’s Object Relations Theory in the Clinical Setting; The Illusion of Love: Why the Battered Woman Returns to Her Abuser and Leaving Home: How to Separate from Your Difficult Family (all published by Columbia University Press). His new book, Ronald Fairbairn: A Contemporary Introduction, was published by Routledge in 2024.
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis 2026 ORIPP Fairbairn in the Consulting Room: Structural Theory, Clinical Formulation, and Masterclass Supervision – David P. Celani, PhD September 2, 2026 – September 30, 2026 Online
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Professions in scope for this activity are listed below.
Psychologists
This course is co-sponsored by Amedco and Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis. Amedco is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Amedco maintains responsibility for this program and content. Maximum of 14.50 hours.
The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Psychologists/Counselors: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA (LEP ONLY), MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY MI: Accepts courses from APA for Psychologists. No general CE requirement for Counselors. OK: Accepts APA credit for live, in-person activities but not for ethics and/or online courses. The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WDC, WI, WY AL MFTs: Credits authorized by NBCC or any other state licensing agency will be accepted. MA MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review. MI MFTs: There are no CE requirements for MFTs in MI. The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY (held outside NY ONLY), OK*, OR, SC, UT, WA, WI, WY The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Social Workers: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, ME, MN, MO, NE, NH, NM, OR, PA, VT, WI, WY
New York Social Workers
Amedco SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0115. 14.50 credit hours.
New York Psychologists
Amedco is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0031. 14.50 hours.
To receive CE certificates for the actual hours attended – please request them at the time of registration or any time prior to beginning of the conference. CE certificate fee: $25 (in addition to the registration fees). No fees charged for PD (Professional Development) certificates from ORI.
REGISTRATION AND FEES:
Tuition: $400/10-week course/trimester (can be paid in 2 installments, upon request) Registration fee: $25/course (waived for ORI’s candidates in training)
Request weekly installments by writing to
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS are available for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for retired or disabled practitioners, or need-based or/and those who live outside of the USA.
To apply for your scholarship, please go to the registration form below.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Full refund until the 1st session.
75% refund before the 2nd session.
50% refund before the 3rd session.
No refund from the day of the third session, but 50% of the full paid tuition will be applied to any further ORI events.
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This course is co-sponsored by Amedco and Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis. Amedco is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Amedco maintains responsibility for this program and content. Maximum of 