What I think would be interesting as a student would to maybe follow a single case and see how different theories might work with/conceptualize that same case?
This is a great idea! OP, if you give an overview of dynamics from the historical perspective, you can cover all the basic trains of analytic thought - starting with Freud
and his colleagues: Jung, Breuer, Ferenczi; and moving to "evolving" traditions from the 1940s tripartite split of the British Psychoanalytic Society, which gave way to Freudians, Kleinians, and independents, like Winnicott and Blowby. You can cover: ego-psychology, object relations, and interpersonal-theories all in one swoop!
What about giving three different students the role of the Ego, Super Ego, and Id, telling them what their "duty" is, and then reading scenarios that they have to "solve" together?
Ahh, yes, Cara. But contemporary psychodynamics is so much more than the ego, superego and id. It does sound like a fun task though for groups of three! Then ask several groups to present their findings to the class: solutions, difficulties, strengths/agreements, etc. OP, if you do this make sure you
also highlight some key contemporary theorists who are changing the field of psychodynamics, as we know it, like Kernberg, Fonagy & Target, Schore, Bromberg, etc.
In my masters in psychoanalysis what we used to do is read a case and try to come up with all the levels of interpretations from different psychoanalytic perspectives (Klein, Lacan, Freud, etc) we would also read about famous people or artists or watch movies (Spider, The Wall, Machstick Men) and also try to interpret as if they were our patients.
Or you could show short movie clips that exemplify these characters that we all know and love, like Spiderman, Darth Vader (who is borderline and very dissociative), Melman the giraffe from Madagascar, etc.
OP, I'd end your tutorial with some useful evidence-based attachment or psychotherapy research, perhaps something on the therapeutic alliance or ruptures (like Safran & Muran's classic...and more recent...work).
Let us know what you end up doing, psychanator! Good luck!
