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  • Biographical Description

  • Peter Buirski, PhD is Clinical Professor and Dean Emeritus at the Graduate School of Professional Psychology.

    I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University and immediately joined the faculty of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.  Concurrently, I undertook psychoanalytic training and graduated from the Psychoanalytic Institute of Postgraduate Center for Mental Health.  I have earned the Diplomate recognition in both Clinical Psychology and Psychoanalysis from the American Board of Professional Psychology. 

    Throughout my career, I have been an academic, an administrator and a clinical practitioner.   I came to DU in 1991 as Director of the School of Professional Psychology and became the first Dean of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology in 1993 when we were made a separate graduate school of the University of Denver.

    My early research interests focused on primate behavior and personality which I pursued through field work on baboons in Kenya and chimpanzees at the Gombe Stream Research Centre in Tanzania.  As a clinician, my scholarly work has focused on the exploration and elaboration of Intersubjective Systems Theory, a rich clinical perspective that informs my clinical teaching and supervision.  At GSPP, I bring this perspective to my yearlong beginning psychotherapy seminar for first year students.  For select advanced students, I teach a yearlong practicum in supervision where I oversee advanced students supervising the work of beginning students.  I also teach an elective course in Intersubjective Systems Theory. 

    I am the co-author of Making Sense Together: the intersubjective approach to psychotherapy and the author of Practicing Intersubjectively.  I have edited three books including co-editing, with Amanda Kottler, the recently published book New Developments in Self Psychology Practice.

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Curriculum Vitae

    PETER BUIRSKI, Ph.D.

    email: peter.buirski@du.edu

     

     

    CURRICULUM VITAE

     

     

    Address:                                                           Personal Data:

     

    Graduate School of                                           DOB: 02/07/44

    Professional Psychology                                   Married

    University of Denver                                        2 children

    2450 South Vine Street                                          

    Denver, CO 80208

    303-871-2382 office

    303-388-7237 mobile

    303-871-4220 fax

     

     

    Academic Training:

     

         A.B.  Miami University (Ohio), 1965

            Major:  Psychology

            Minors:  English Literature & Comparative Religion

     

         Ph.D.  Adelphi University, 1969

            Major:  Clinical Psychology

     

         Certificate in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

           Postgraduate Center for Mental Health; June, 1973

     

         Certificate in Analytic Group Psychotherapy

           Postgraduate Center for Mental Health; June, 1975

     

         Certificate in the Supervision of the Psychoanalytic Process

           Postgraduate Center for Mental Health; June, 1977

     

    Current Positions:

    Dean Emeritus and Clinical Professor, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver;

                Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Medical School;

                Faculty, Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis;

                Private Practice

    Honors and Awards:

     

     

         Diplomate in Clinical Psychology - American Board of Professional Psychology, 1974

         Diplomate in Psychoanalysis - American Board of Professional Psychology, 1997

         Fellow, Academy of Clinical Psychology, 1994

         Fellow, Academy of Psychology Psychoanalysis, 1997

         University of Denver Commencement Speaker, August 2007    

     

     

    Previous Positions:

     

          Dean, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver 1991-2012

       

        International Federation for Psychoanalytic Education, Secretary 1993-1995

     

        Head of Training Division and Director of Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program,                         

                Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, 1983-1988

     

         Chairman, Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1979-1983

     

         Deputy Chairman, Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1973-                      1979

     

         Coordinator of M.A. in Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1972-1973

     

     

    Editorial Positions:

     

     

         Editorial Board, International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, 2006-present

     

         Associate Editor, International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, 2005-2006

     

         Associate Editor of Progress in Self Psychology, 2003-2005

     

         Editorial Board of Psychoanalytic Psychology, 2000-2006    

         

         Editorial Board of Psychologist-Psychoanalyst, Newsletter of Division 39 of APA, 1985-1988

     

         Editor of Group, Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 1980-1983

     

         Associate Editor and Book Review Editor of Group, 1976-1980

    Organizational Membership:

     

         American Psychological Association

             Division 39 – Psychoanalysis, Section 1

             Division 52 – International Psychology

          Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis, Faculty Member

          Denver Psychoanalytic Society

         

     

    Thesis Topic:

     

         Literature as a projection of the author's personality

     

     

    Field Research:

     

         Study of the social behavior of free-ranging chimpanzees: Gombe Stream Research Centre, Tanzania, July - August, 1973

     

         Study of the social behavior of free-ranging baboons: Nairobi National Park, Kenya, July - August, 1970

     

     

    Presentations:

     

     

       6th National Conference of the Psychology of the Self, Cape Town, South Africa, 10th February, 2002   

     

     New Developments in Self Psychology Practice: Denver Psychoanalytic Society, Nov. 22, 2013

        

     Practicing Intersubjectively: New Mexico Psychoanalytic Society, May 17, 2014

      

     

     

    Publications:

     

       Book Reviews:

     

    Buirski, P.  Ethology and Human Aggression:  Notes on Anthony Storr's Human                  Aggression.  Psychotherapy Bulletin, 1969, 18-19.

     

    Buirski, P.  Identity Group Psychotherapy with Adolescents, by Arnold Rachman,                 Ph.D.  Group, January, 1976.

     

    Buirski, P.  Group Therapy 1975, by Lewis R. Wolberg, M.D. & Marvin Aronson,              Ph.D.  Group, July, 1976.

     

    Buirski, P.  The Hunting Hypothesis, by Robert Ardrey.  Group, July, 1976.

     

    Buirski, P.  The Search for Oneness, by Lloyd Silverman, Ph.D., Frank Lachmann,              Ph.D. & Robert Milich, Ph.D.  Dynamic Psychotherapy, 1983, 190-192.

     

       Articles:

     

    Buirski, P. & Kramer, E. (1970).  Literature as a projection of the author's personality.          Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment, 34, 27-30.

     

    Buirski, P., Kellerman, H., Plutchik, R., Weininger, R., & Buirski, N.  (1973).  A field study of emotions, dominance and social behavior in a group of baboons (Papio anubis).  Primates, 14, 67-78.

      

    Kellerman, H., Buirski, P., & Plutchik, R.  (1974).  Group behavior in a baboon troop:         implications for human group process.  In:  Wolberg, L. R. & Aronson, M. (eds.).           Group Therapy 1974.  New York: Stratton.

     

    Schlachet, P. & Buirski, P.  (1974).  Termination: analyzable or unanalyzable.  Group,  November.

     

    Buirski, P.  (1975)  Some contributions of ethology to group therapy: dominance and             hierarchies.  International Journal  of Group Psychotherapy, 25, 227-235.

     

    Buirski, P. & Wright, F.  (1977).  Dominance and personality in short-term process              groups.  Group, 1, 45-55.

     

    Buirski, P., Plutchik, R., & Kellerman, H.  (1978).  Sex differences, dominance and             personality in the chimpanzee.  Animal Behavior, 26, 123-129.

     

    Wright, F., Buirski, P. & Smith, N.  (1978).  The implications of leader transparency for the dynamics of short-term process groups.  Group, 2, 210-219.

     

    Buirski, P. & Buirski, C. K.  (1980).  The split transference in the simultaneous                   treatment of mother and child.  Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 44, 639-646.

     

    Buirski, P.  (1980).  Toward a theory of adaptation of analytic group psychotherapy.             International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 4, 447-459.

     

    Buirski, P.  (1982).  The question of the appropriateness of group therapy for the                  developmentally arrested patient.  Group, 6, 11-18.

     

    Buirski, P.  (1986).  The psychoanalytic view of the nightmare.  In: H. Kellerman                (Ed.).  The Nightmare.  New York: Columbia University Press.

        

    Cook, H. & Buirski, P.  (1990).  Countertransference in psychoanalytic supervision: an          heuristic model.  Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, 8, 77-87.

     

    Buirski, P. & Plutchik, R.  (1991).  Measurement of deviant behavior in a Gombe                chimpanzee:  relation to later behavior.  Primates, 13, (2), 207-211.                

     

    Block, P. & Buirski, P.  (1992).  Practical pitfalls of "Postdoctoral education for professional practice."  American Psychologist, 47, 1243-1244.

     

    Buirski, Cathy K. & Buirski, P.  (1994).  The therapeutic mobilization of mourning in a young child.  Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 58, 339-354.

     

     

    Reckling, Anne & Buirski, P.  (1996).  Child abuse, self development and affect regulation. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 13, 81-99.

     

    Buirski, P. & Haglund, P.  (1998).  The Wolf Man’s subjective experience of his treatment with Freud.  Psychoanalytic Psychology, 15, 49-62.

     

    Buirski, P. & Haglund, P.  (1999).  The selfobject function of interpretation.  Progress in Self Psychology: Vol. 15.  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

     

    McDonald, L., & Buirski, P.  (1999).  Prescriptions for practice.  Denver Medical Bulletin, 89, 1-5.

     

    Buirski, P. & Monroe, M.  (2000).  Intersubjective observations on transference love.  Psychoanalytic Psychology, 17, 78-87.

     

    Ryan, M. & Buirski, P.  (2001).  Prejudice as a function of self-organization.  Psychoanalytic Psychology, 18, 21-36.

     

    Buirski, P.  (2004).  Worlds of Experience: Interview with Robert D. Stolorow.  Progresss in Self Psychology.  Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

     

    Buirski, P.  The Paradox of Selfobject Relating: When Good Feels Bad.  International Journal            of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, 3. 263-272.

     

    Muchnick, R. & Buirski, P. (2016).  Social Media as Organizing but not Transforming Self-Experience. International Journal of Psychoanalytic Self Psychology, 11, 142-151.

     

     

      Books:

     

     Buirski, P.  (Ed).  (1987).  Frontiers of Dynamic Psychotherapy.  New York:                      Brunner/Mazel.

     

     Buirski, P.  (Ed).  (1994).  Comparing Schools of Analytic Therapy.  Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.

     

    Buirski, P. & Haglund, P.  (2001).  Making sense together: the intersubjective approach to psychotherapy.  Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.

     

    Buirski, P.  Practicing Intersubjectively.  (2005). Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson (imprint of Rowman & Littlefield).

     

    Buirski, P. & Kottler, A.  (2007).  New Developments in Self Psychology Practice.  Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson (imprint of Rowman & Littlefield).

     

     

    Translations:

     

    Buirski, P. & Haglund, P.  (2004).  Making sense together: the intersubjective approach to psychotherapy.  Tokyo: Iwasaki Gakujutsu Shuppansha.

     

    Buirski, P.  (2007).  La paradoja de la relacion de selfobject.  Discusion de la presentacion del caso presentado por Amy Eldridge.  Aperturas Psicoanalyiticas, 26, 1-5.

     

     

    Paperback Reprint:

     

    Buirski, P.  Practicing Intersubjectively.  (2007). Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson (imprint of Rowman & Littlefield).

     

    Buirski, P. & Kottler, A.  (2007).  New Developments in Self Psychology Practice.  Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson (imprint of Rowman & Littlefield).

     

    Buirski, P. & Haglund, P.  (2010).  Making sense together: the intersubjective approach to psychotherapy.  Lanham, MD: 

     

     

     

  • Publications

  • Books
  • PI Ch 1.pdf

  • MST.ch1.pdf

  • Commencement Address

  • DU SUMMER GRAD 2007

This portfolio last updated: 12-Jan-2023 4:01 PM