1. INTRODUCTION
The NSW Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (
The
2. PREREQUISITES FOR TRAINING
It is usual that prospective trainees will have a basic clinical qualification in areas such as psychiatry, psychology, social work or occupational therapy. Other relevant tertiary qualifications will be considered. At least two years' clinical experience, following professional qualification is required.
Applicants are required, by the time of application, to be established in (at least) twice-weekly personal therapy or analysis with an approved therapist. Approved therapists are drawn from senior members of
The Selection Subcommittee manages the selection process. The interview provides an opportunity for the applicant to discuss their application and the training in depth with a senior member from NSWIPP who will evaluate the applicant’s personal and professional suitability to train and practice as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
Applicants are asked to include with their application evidence of membership of their professional body and a copy of their Professional Indemnity Insurance.
3. AIMS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
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To develop an understanding of the psychoanalytic theory of human behaviour, emotional development and mental life.
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To develop competence in the assessment and psychoanalytic psychotherapeutic treatment of adults.
- To develop an awareness of the scope and the limitations of various psychoanalytic psychotherapeutic approaches.
- To develop insight into transference and counter-transference and an understanding of the unconscious.
- To develop in the therapist an awareness of the need for consultation with other professionals as a way of monitoring the treatment process, and to be able to use this consultation constructively in the service of patients.
- To develop a high standard of ethical practice in the therapist's interaction with the patient and with other professionals and professional bodies.
The course is based on the assumption that the psychotherapeutic process includes both cognitive and affective aspects, and that the integration of both these aspects is vital in the development of a competent psychotherapist. The trainee's own clinical work is supervised and integrated with teaching in the theoretical and clinical seminars.
Theoretical knowledge of the process of psychoanalytic psychotherapy is paired with an increasing awareness of the emotional response of the therapist to the patient. Because of the importance of the therapist's own understanding of the nature of the inner world, it is required that each trainee will undertake a personal therapy concurrently with the other aspects of the training.
The developing clinical experience of the trainee is the focus of the teaching which is conducted in small groups. This small group setting is integral to the course, providing trainees with opportunities to learn from each others' different experiences and ideas, and in providing peer support, lively debate, and consultation.
The course is part-time allowing time and space for the trainee’s growth and development as an increasingly competent clinician.
5. STRUCTURE OF THE TRAINING COURSE
The Training Course extends over a minimum period of four years, depending on the time required for trainees to complete their case requirements. (Most trainees complete the training within five years, but some take longer).
Clinical and theoretical seminars are held at the Institute's premises for 3 hours per week in terms corresponding to public school terms, i.e. four terms per year. Infant Observation Seminars are held in the rooms of the seminar leader, and individual supervisions in the rooms of the supervisor.
There are four concurrent strands to the training course:
- personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy
- infant observation
- individual supervision of approved training cases
- theoretical and clinical seminars
5.1 Personal Therapy
Applicants must be established in therapy with an approved therapist by the time of application. This continues at least twice a week until all components of the training are completed.
Since personal therapy is a requirement of the training, it cannot be claimed as a medical expense, but is tax deductible as an educational expense.
5.2 Infant Observation
The focus of work during the first year of training is the Infant Observation. Trainees make contact with an expectant mother and her family prior to delivery, and then visit her and her baby at home at weekly intervals for the next twelve months. Extension of the visits for a longer period to observe later development is sometimes possible. Careful recordings of the observations made during the visits are kept, and are then considered in supervision sessions of small groups with a seminar leader. These seminars are held in the day for one and a half hours. Each small group and leader remain together for this part of the course. The discipline of being an attentive observer of a developing relationship which involves intense feelings, provides a solid foundation for involvement with emotional states evoked in the clinical situation.
5.3 Case Supervision
Each trainee treats two patients and undertakes a once-a-week individual supervision with a different supervisor for each patient. The case requirements are as follows:
case seen at least twice weekly for two hundred hours, or over two years, whichever is longer, and supervised once weekly.
The period of supervision may be extended in the interest of the trainee’s development.
It is expected that supervision will commence by the end of the infant observation, and it could be extended beyond the training in the interests of the trainee’s development. A list of suitable supervisors, who are all senior members of
Arrangements for supervision, including fees, are negotiated between trainees and supervisors.
Selection of patients
Trainees are responsible for finding patients suitable for psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Selection of suitable patients will be looked at in depth with the trainee’s approved supervisor.
5.4 Theoretical Seminar Program
The format chosen for the theoretical program is a seminar or tutorial style of learning. Seminar leaders will distribute reading material before the seminar and each trainee is expected to prepare and discuss the references. Whenever possible, suitable clinical material is used. A principle of spiral learning is followed where the same topic is reworked during different stages within the course to encourage a deepening understanding of the material.
5.5 Clinical Seminar Program
Trainees are given the opportunity to present case material from their own clinical practice in their training group at a seminar lead by a senior NSWIPP member. These seminars run while the trainee is completing the supervised case component of the training.
5.6 Year by year course structure and curriculum
YEAR ONE
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Introductory Seminars
- Ethics
- The Frame
- History of Psychoanalysis
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Infant Observation- Weekly presentation of observation data in a
small group -
Whole Group Meetings
- Presentation of trainee’s observations to senior
members and the whole training group
YEAR TWO
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Completion of Infant Observation
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Commencement of supervised cases
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Theoretical Seminars
- Psychoanalytic technique
- Major Theorists – Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Kohut
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Clinical Seminars
- Trainees present their clinical work to a senior
member
YEAR THREE
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Supervised case work
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Theoretical Seminars
- Clinical Studies – Depression, Narcissistic
Personality Disorder, Psychosis (particularly
the work of Bion)
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Clinical Seminars
YEAR FOUR
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Supervised case work
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Theoretical Seminars
- Oedipal problems, psychosomatic illness, antisocial
disorder, mother/infant relationship, transference and
countertransference, termination.
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Clinical Seminars
Upon acceptance into the training program the trainee is assigned a trainee adviser for the duration of the training. The trainee adviser is a representative of the ATAB and usually a member of the ATAB. This arrangement provides a personal point of contact for the trainee and a link with the ATAB. The trainee adviser and trainee meet each term at which time progress is reviewed and any specific issues addressed, including feedback from the ATAB.
7. ASSESSMENT
There is ongoing assessment of trainee progress, and formal evaluation occurs every six months.
The completion of each stage of the training gives both the trainee and the ATAB an opportunity to consider whether the trainee has met the requirements for progression to the next stage of the training. This is particularly important at the end of the Infant Observation year.
A formal certificate will be issued to trainees on the successful completion of all aspects of the training.
8. PROGRESSION TO INSTITUTE MEMBERSHIP
It is hoped that all trainees who successfully complete the Training Course will apply to the Membership Advisory Board of the NSWIPP to become members of the Institute. Upon successful completion of the training course and while trainees prepare to apply for membership, they are invited to join the Institute's Guest List. This is to give trainees the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the scientific life of the Institute.
9. COSTS
The cost of the Training Program for the 2010 intake will be $120.00 (plus GST) per seminar. There will be 4 terms per year and usually 8 seminars per term, and this fee is reviewed annually. (This is exclusive of supervision and personal therapy fees.)
10. FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information about the training course is available by contacting the Chair of the ATAB. Further information about the selection process is also available by contacting the Chair of the Selection Subcommittee.
Both can be contacted by ringing NSWIPP on (02) 9558 3175.
Updated August 2010
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