The Inner Life of Addiction: Substance Abuse, Psychoanalytic Theory, and Clinical Practice
Instructor
Holly Han, PsyD, LMFT
Date & Time
Saturdays, August 8, 15, 22, 2026
10:00–11:30am PST
Location
In-Person Course
CEs
4.5 CEs offered for qualifying professionals
Course fee
Early Bird, through July 25
$135 for licensed therapists
$100 for pre-licensed and students
Late Registration, July 25-Aug 7
$155 for licensed therapists
$120 for pre-licensed and students
Course Overview
This three-part seminar explores substance use disorders through a sustained psychoanalytic lens, drawing from classical and contemporary theory to deepen both conceptual understanding and clinical responsiveness. Rather than treating addiction as a symptom alone, the course examines what psychoanalytic thinking uniquely illuminates: the relational, developmental, and unconscious dimensions of compulsive use, and what these reveal about the inner life of the patient sitting across from us.
Equal attention is given to the theoretical and the clinical. Participants will leave with a more nuanced framework for understanding substance use presentations and greater confidence in bringing analytic sensibility to this often challenging work.
Instructor Credentials
Holly Han, PsyD, LMFT is a psychoanalyst and Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. She is a Training and Supervising Analyst and the Vice President of Newport Psychoanalytic Institute. Holly is a co-founder and clinical director of The Malama Collective, a psychoanalytically informed community mental health clinic. One of her areas of interest is addictions and she has worked in several addiction treatment centers and in correctional settings. In addition to clinical work she teaches and provides consultation.
For more information or questions contact us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com
Refund policy: Participants seeking a refund can email us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com at least 15 days before the first meeting. Refunds requested 15 days or earlier will receive 100% refund. 14-7 days prior, participants are eligible for a 50% refund. No refund will be provided 6 days prior or less.
Course meets the qualifications for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit for PhDs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the American Psychological Association and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Please note: Attendance at all class meetings is required for continuing education credits.
Course certificates awarded at the end of the course upon receipt of completed evaluation form.
The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training is a dba of Michelle Harwell Therapy. Michelle Harwell Therapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists and many licensed clinicians.
The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
No known conflict of interest or commercial support for The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training, or the instructor.
To request accommodations for special needs, obtain the grievance policy, report a grievance, request a refund, request more information about the course, or if you have general questions, please email us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com