Professional Speaking, Workshops, & Training
Dr. Klafter lecturing in NYC to mental health professionals about psychotherapy approaches for the in-depth treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorders.
Dr. Klafter’s experience as a professional speaker began with his experience as an educator and teacher, training psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. Dr. Klafter’s lectures and workshops are typically interactive. Although presentations often include formal teaching, he encourages audience participation, case discussion, humor, and thoughtful exploration of differing perspectives as a way of deepening learning and engagement with complex psychological and professional questions. He has extensive experience speaking regionally nationally and internationally in four types of venues:
To psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, mental health agencies, and organizations on psychotherapy theory and technique, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of various mental disorders and syndromes, including trainings, workshops, lectures, case conferences, and panel discussions.
To hospitals, and medical practices, and other health care organizations on topics in mental health and psychiatry of interest to non-psychiatric physicians whose in the course of their medical practice encounter patients suffering from emotional difficulties and mental disorders.
To religious leaders and lay communal leaders on pastoral counseling, issues in the intersection of religion and mental health, parenting, family, and relationships counseling. managing boundaries with congregants, and religious outreach.
To schools, communal organizations, churches, and synagogue organizations on a variety of educational, religious, social, and psychological topics.
Selected Professional Speaking Engagements:
“On Being Supervised: Clinical Supervision According the Core Competencies of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.” American Psychoanalytic Association Annual Meeting, presentation in conjunction with the American Board of Psychoanalysis. Discussant: Richard Fritsch, MD. January 28, 2026.
“The Cult of Cure-Alls – Clinician Integrity in the Use of Alternative Modalities.” NEFESH International Conference, Parsippany, NJ. January 7, 2026.
“Psychoanalytic Work in a Community of Holocaust Survivors.” Discussants: Ira Brenner, MD, and Nanette Auerhahn, PhD. American Psychoanalytic Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. February 5, 2025.
“How Our Work as Therapists Changes Us as People.” Joint Presentation to the Katona Study Group and the Westchester Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychothearpy, February 21st, 2024. [Click Here to watch video presentation.]
“Treatment Resistant Depression: Psychopharmacology, Psychotherapy, and Rehabilitation.” NEFESH International Conference, Parsippany, NJ. December 18, 2024.
“Psychoanalytic Process Workshop on Gratitude.” Psychoanalytic Case Presentation by Dr. Klafter. Discussant: Jonathan Lear, PhD. Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute, Cincinnati, OH. Dec. 6, 2024.
“Advanced Psychodynamic Technique: Transference and Countertransference.” NEFESH International Conference, Hauppauge, NY. Dec. 27, 2023.
“Identifying Mental Disorders During Childhood.” Presentation to the Monroe School Board, Monroe, NY. Sept. 6, 2022.
“Narcissism: How do we cultivate and nurture healthy self-esteem?” Presentation to Katona Therapy Study Group, March 23, 2022.”
“Mission Impossible with Dr. Klafter: Dilemmas with Difficult Patients”. Presentation at Nefesh International 23rd Annual Conference, Hauppauge, Long Island, NY. Dec. 11, 2019.
“Understanding and Treating Narcissistic Personality.” Workshop for Therapists. Chicago, IL. October 29, 2017
“Thorny Ethical and Clinical Dilemmas.” Presentation at Nefesh International 20th Annual Conference, Hauppauge, Long Island, NY. Dec. 20, 2016.
“Stress Induced Chronic Fatigue and Depression.” Presentation. International Stress and Behavior Society. June 23 2016, Miami, FL.
“Sexual Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community, a Jewish Legal Perspective.” Nefesh International 19th Annual Conference, Hauppauge, Long Island, NY. December 27th, 2015.
“Psychoanalytic Listening and Rock Music.” Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute. Cincinnati, OH. November 18, 2015. (For part series, presenter and discussant at case conference for advanced psychotherapists.)
“Working with Defense and Resistance in Psychotherapy Treatment” Presentation to the University Health Clinic, Professional Staff, Yeshiva University, New York, NY. April 23, 2015.
“Unconscious Religious Fantasies in Orthodox Jewish Patients.” American Psychological Association - Psychoanalysis Division 39 Annual Meeting. April 27, 2014. NYC, New York.
“How Our Work as Analysts Affects Our Real-Life Relationships.” Keynote Address, Israel Association of Orthodox Jewish Mental Health Professionals. January 27th, 2014. Jerusalem, Israel.
“Narcissistic Leadership and Narcissistic Organizations.” Israel Association of Orthodox Jewish Mental Health Professionals, Annual Meeting, Jerusalem, Israel. January 28th, 2014. Jerusalem, Israel.
“Consequences of Sexual Abuse – Theory and Practice.” Israel Association of Orthodox Jewish Mental Health Professionals, Annual Meeting, Jerusalem, Israel. January 27, 2014
“The Dynamic Unconscious According to the Sages of Talmud: A Critical Comparison with Classical Psychoanalytic Theory.” David Shappel College of Jewish Studies. November 8th, 2012. Jerusalem, Israel.
“Religious Resistance to Psychotherapy Treatment.” World Psychiatric Association, Annual Meeting on Culture and Psychiatry, November 6, 2012. Tel Aviv, Israel.
“Between Two Worlds: Psychology and Orthodox Judaism.” 2 day training seminar for mental health professionals. Sponsored by Nefesh Israel Organization. November 4-5, 2012 Michlala Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
“Mental Health and Orthodox Judaism.” 5 part lecture series for the Orthodox rabbis of Cleveland OH, sponsored by the Mt. Sinai Foundation and Cleveland Orthodox Mental Health Professionals. Cleveland OH, 2010-2012
“Ashmedai, King of Demons: A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Chapter 7 of Tractate Gittin, Babylonian Talmud.” Nefesh International 15th Annual Conference, December 3 2011, New York, NY.
“Thou Shalt Not Covet: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Whether We Can Control Our Thoughts and Wishes,” Young Israel of Southfield Michigan. June 18, 2009. Southfield MI
“Depression and Heart Disease.” Mercy Anderson Hospital, Cincinnati Ohio, May 2009
“The Impact of Religion on Psychotherapy Treatment,” Indianapolis Society of Psychoanalytic Thought, February 9, 2009.
“Diabetes and Depression” Presentation for Diabetes Education Counselors Associations, Cincinnati OH. Good Samaritan Hospital. Octobor, 2007.
“Boundaries in Rabbinical Counseling.” Lecture to Chicago Rabbinical Council, and Chicago Association of Orthodox Jewish Mental Health Professionals. October 29, 2006.
“Patients Who Lie.” Grand Rounds Lecture. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, June 15, 2005.
The Suicidal Patient in the General Hospital Setting,” Grand Rounds Lecture, Mercy Anderson Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, May 8th, 2003
“Tarisoff Meets Taliban: Confidentiality and the Duty of Psychiatrists to Warn Third Parties Since September 11th, 2001.” Grand Rounds Lecture, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, October 30th, 2002.
Selected publications by Dr. Klafter are listed HERE.