The Institute offers a training program in the psychoanalysis of children and adolescents, which is approved by the Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association. This training is offered either following completed studies in adult psychoanalysis, or in a simultaneous sequence alongside adult training. It is open to both candidates at the WNEIP as well as to candidates in adult psychoanalysis who are currently enrolled in or previously graduated from another accredited Institute of The American Psychoanalytic Association.
Our training program is an immersion in thinking about and working with children of all ages, including their parents and larger families. Fundamental to our understanding of human development is the recognition that beginning in infancy and unfolding throughout life, the individual is influenced by both conscious and unconscious internal dynamics which interact in non-linear and complex ways with constitutionally-based neurobiological traits as well as with the familial, social and cultural environment in which they live. Our program of study traces the expansion of psychoanalytic thinking from its roots in more traditional views of development as unfolding in a linear sequence through predictable stages, to one which seeks to understand the nonlinear patterns in development that can lead to diverse outcomes. We draw upon the work of researchers in other fields of human development that challenge, clarify and expand our psychoanalytic understanding.
Our Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic program is a rich training experience that includes:
- A four-year core academic sequence covering topics such as:
o Developmental theory and psychopathology
o Intrapsychic and familial factors that can contribute to disruptions in healthy development
o Clinical technique for working with younger children through play and older children through more verbal modalities
o Work with parenting figures throughout analyses with their children
- Continuous case seminars that follow in-depth our candidates’ and faculty members’ analytic work with children and adolescents struggling with a broad array of psychological difficulties
- Elective courses focusing on diverse theoretical perspectives on development, particular technical aspects of clinical work, and ways to understand and approach clinical dilemmas that can stymie treatment
- The psychoanalytic treatment of three children, of different ages and genders seen four or five times per week, each treatment closely supervised
We are an emotionally vibrant and intellectually open and curious community, committed to supporting children and their families during difficult times. We strive to provide our candidates with the personal and professional support that will make their training experience a richly meaningful one. We hope you will reach out to us if you are interested in learning more about our training program.
