Training Program In Child And Adolescent Psychoanalysis

The Institute offers a training program in the analysis of children and adolescents which is approved by the Board on Professional Standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association. The program leads to graduation by the Institute in this special area of psychoanalysis.

A combined education and clinical training in child, adolescent, and adult analysis provides the candidate with an optimal opportunity to acquire a broad understanding of the development and functioning of the human mind and an opportunity to acquire a synthesized psychoanalytic approach to the clinical situation. Psychoanalysis of children, adolescents and adults shares a common theoretical foundation, has analogous clinical principles, and has the mutual aim of improving mental functioning and increasing self-knowledge. In addition, child psychoanalysis aims at restoring the progression of normal development.

Clinical training in child and adolescent psychoanalysis aims to give the candidate the clinical skills necessary to effectively utilize psychoanalytic process in the treatment of children and adolescents and the clinical skills necessary to work with their parents. It includes learning specific techniques useful in the analytic situation with children, e.g., how to help the child move from play to verbalization through interpretation, how to understand and interpret transference, how to work with resistance, defenses, and internalized conflict, and how to understand the use of the analyst as an auxiliary ego or superego.

Training in the psychoanalysis of children and adolescents may be undertaken by a graduate or candidate in active training at an accredited Institute of The American Psychoanalytic Association. Those having the requisite background but without additional clincal experience with children (e.g., a residency in child psychiatry) may consult with the Director of Child Analytic Training regarding a preparatory program designed to acquire the necessary experience of working with children. Candidates seeking admission to the program should apply in writing to the Director of the Child Analytic Training Program by requesting an application form from the Administrator. After assessment by the Child Analysis Faculty, the application will be reviewed by the Education Committee for a final decision. The adult and child analysis program may be undertaken concurrently.

In addition to the courses in Psychoanalysis and Development offered to all candidates in their second year, and the Continuous Child Case Conference in the third year, candidates in the child analysis program must complete at least eight seminars in child analysis studies, including “Fundamentals of Child Analysis I, II, and III.” Child Analysis I covers the history and development of child analysis. Child Analysis II will explore technique in child analysis. Child Analysis III will focus on continuous case presentations in child analysis. The remaining four seminars will be scheduled for “Advanced Child Analysis Seminar” where the emphasis will be on current psychoanalytic topics for study or research.

Candidates in the child analysis program shall be required to do a sufficient number of child analyses with supervision to demonstrate competence in the analysis of children. This requires the analysis of at least three children, one of whom must be a latency child. It is highly desirable that one be a prelatency child and that students have a significant experience in analyzing some phase of adolescence. Children of both sexes should be included. Candidates will be supervised weekly for at least one year with the first supervised case. Thereafter the frequency of supervision is at the discretion of the supervisor. At least one case will be supervised during the termination phase.

Child And Adolescent Psychoanalytic Clinic

E. Kirsten Dahl, Ph.D. Director and Chair

Child Analytic Faculty Committee

• Jean Adnopoz, M.S.W.
• Linda Mayes, M.D.
• Phyllis Cohen, Ed.D.
• Eric Millman, M.D.
• Alice Colonna, M.A.
• Barbara Nordhaus, M.S.W.
• E. Kirsten Dahl, Ph.D.
• Samuel Ritvo, M.D.
• Robert Evans, M.D.
• John Schowalter, M.D.
• Robert King, M.D.
• Fred Volkmar, M.D.
• Steven Marans, Ph.D.
• Joan Wexler, M.S.W.

The Clinic is staffed by the Child Analysis Faculty. The clinic offers affordable psychoanalysis to children who are deemed suitable after intensive evaluation by the Child Clinic Committee. Children selected for psychoanalysis will be treated at least four times weekly for a period of time which is usually eighteen months to two years. Parents are seen periodically in ongoing consultation about their child’s condition as necessary. Children who are best treated by the clinic suffer from complex conditions of anxiety and depression, often with behavioral or sleep disturbance, which have not responded to less intensive treatment measures or for whom analysis is deemed to be the treatment of choice.

For application forms, contact: The Child Analytic Clinic, 255 Bradley Street, New Haven, CT 06510 (or phone 203- 562-2103; or FAX to 203-562-0563). Contact Dr. Kirsten Dahl with any questions concerning referrals by phoning 203-782-2050.