Psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy, which involves the application of psychoanalysis to children and adolescents, requires specialised training that must meet specific criteria. Operating under the umbrella of the European Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (EFPP), ICAPPA provides candidates with the opportunity to learn and become capable of practising psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy by fulfilling all the criteria recommended by the federation.

The ICAPPA training programme consists of five modules that, whilst distinct, form a coherent whole.

MODULE 1: Introduction to Psychoanalytic Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Objective: To introduce participants to the works of psychoanalysts and child psychoanalysts who have contributed to the development of the theory, particularly Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, who forms the basis of psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy; to provide fundamental knowledge regarding the original theories and ideas of child psychoanalysts and their practical applications.

Entry requirements: Graduates with a degree in Psychology, Psychological Counselling and Guidance, and Specialists in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Duration: To be announced during the application periods.

This module comprises introductory seminars only. Admission to the training programme is subject to an assessment based on interviews, which candidates may apply for following the completion of this module. Participation in Module 1 does not imply acceptance into the association’s training programme.

Module 2: Infant Observation

Infant observation offers the observer the opportunity to gain experiential knowledge of development through the direct observation of an infant from birth onwards. In addition to developing the observer’s observational skills, it helps them become accustomed to pre-verbal communication. As one of the cornerstones of psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy, infant observation develops the observer’s capacity for receptivity whilst also enabling them to witness the infant’s intense psychosomatic experiences.

Objective: To achieve competence in infant observation through the observation of an infant from birth, once a week for two years, and the sharing of observation notes and experiences in weekly seminars within the infant observation group.

Participation requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in mental health or a related field
• Have completed Module 1 and been accepted following an interview;
• Be undergoing individual psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy (on the couch or face-to-face) with a psychoanalyst or candidate psychoanalyst affiliated with an IPA-recognised association for at least one year, with a minimum of two sessions per week

Duration: One observation session and a 90-minute group discussion per week (over a period of two years).

** A certificate of participation will be issued to candidates who request it.

MODULE 3: Theoretical training

Objective: To provide the theoretical foundation necessary to become a psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapist.

Entry requirements: To have completed Modules 1 and 2 and to be a member of the association.

Duration: 300 hours

MODULE 4 : Group supervision

Supervision ensures that the transition from the knowledge-building phase to the practical application phase in psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy training is carried out in a supervised manner. The first stage is group supervision.

Objective: To enable the trainee to share the therapeutic process of the case they are treating with the group and the supervisor, and to participate as a discussant in the presentation of other group members’ cases, thereby benefiting from their experiences.

Participation requirements: To have completed the first year of Module 3 and to be actively working with children and adolescents in the field.

Duration: Completion of 80 hours without a time limit, and each trainee must present their case over a minimum of 5 sessions.

MODULE 5: Individual supervision

Individual supervision is the final stage of the training.

Objective: To enable the candidate to conduct psychotherapy work with cases across different age groups under the supervision of a supervisor, thereby developing the ability to independently assess cases, decide to initiate psychotherapy, maintain the process, and terminate it at the appropriate time.

Participation requirements: Completion of 20 hours in Module 4.

Duration: At least three cases must be followed across three different age groups: pre-school, latency and adolescence. Cases to be followed at least twice a week must be worked on with the supervisor for at least one year for two of them, and for at least two years for one of them.

COMPLETATION

Candidates who have completed all modules submit an application for completion of the training to iceppdformasyon@gmail.com, attaching the necessary documents (a file containing the infant observation approval, seminar approvals, and group and individual supervision reports). Candidates found to meet the requirements following the review of their file are invited to a final assessment interview.

During this interview, the candidate presents a case they have been following in psychotherapy under supervision to the assessment committee, including a brief history, the progression of the psychotherapeutic process, and an evaluation of two consecutive sessions. Upon successful completion, the candidate’s training is concluded, and they are entitled to the title of psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapist, accredited by ICAPPA which is a member of EFPP.