The first meeting could be an informal get-together of potential participants. The goal of the first meeting should be to introduce the concept of a study group, discuss the course format, and tailor the course content to the needs of the potential participants. Participants are then asked to select a disorder that they will present to the group, to be accompanied by an actual case study. Case discussion may focus on the course of therapy, include various objective and projective assessment results, or both. Once these presentations are scheduled and any additional questions are answered, and the first meeting ends.
Participants meet once a month.
In the first 90 minutes, the leader and one or two participants invited beforehand present the history, and clinical characteristics of the disorder under study. In the second 90 minutes, a participant or two will have the opportunity to present an actual case that illustrates the characteristics of the personality disorder, with an emphasis given to treatment issues. Although this format may be conceived of as a seamless progression, for administrative reasons it may be helpful to think of it as four semesters consisting of five sessions each. These chapters offer broad-based discussion and set the foundation for the clinical chapters that follow. The final semester brings us back to Chapter 1, the introductory chapter to the book.