Innovation in child psychoanalytic training: an implementation study

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalytic Education
• Child and Adolescent Analysis
• Psychotherapy Training Evaluation

Background:

• The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) initiated an evaluative research project to assess innovations in psychoanalytic training.
• The Committee on Child and Adolescent Analysis (COCAA) led the project, focusing on training standards.
• Previous training models often required adult analysis before specialization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a pilot psychoanalytic training program for child and adolescent analysis.
• To assess the feasibility and satisfaction of a program not requiring prior adult training.
• To inform potential policy changes in APsaA's educational standards.

Main Methods:

• A five-year evaluative research project involving eleven candidates across four psychoanalytic institutes.
• Implementation of a pilot training program for child and adolescent analysis.
• Data collection through satisfaction ratings from candidates, faculty, and program directors.

Main Results:

• High levels of satisfaction reported by candidates, faculty, and program directors regarding the pilot training.
• The flexibility of specialized child analytic training without the adult training prerequisite was viewed as advantageous.
• The study identified limitations and implications for future psychoanalytic educational initiatives.

Conclusions:

• The pilot program demonstrated a successful and satisfactory model for specialized child and adolescent psychoanalytic training.
• The findings support the integration of flexible training pathways within APsaA's educational framework.
• The study underscores the value of educational evaluation and promotes further research in psychoanalytic training innovation.