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Child/Adolescent Psychoanalysis Program
The analysis of children and adolescents is an exciting and creative enterprise. It provides unique insights into the developing mind of the child. The treatment is based on the same principles and theory of mind as adult analysis. However, it is also guided by a very careful and thorough understanding of each child's particular developmental stage, capacities and needs.
Many children already have complicated inner disturbances that derive from their particular endowment and complex early experiences. These become woven into unconscious fantasy constellations that then interfere with ongoing development. These constellations take much time to unravel and first require the careful building up of a trusting relationship between child and analyst.
Recent research has impressively shown the great advantage of the intensity of psychoanalytic treatment, even with very young children, for many of the anxiety disorders, as well as for the more severe behavior and relational disturbances of childhood. The research highlights that the intensity of treatment (four times a week) allows the child and adolescent the necessary continuity and strength of relationship with the analyst to fully explore and bring to light deeply hidden fears and anxieties.
Our Training Program in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis is unique. Other programs ordinarily require a candidate to have completed Adult Training before embarking on child and adolescent training. At NYFS, a person who wishes to train as a child and adolescent analyst first or exclusively may do so, and upon successful completion of the program automatically becomes a member of the New York Freudian Society.
Approved faculty and supervisors are fully trained and experienced in child and adolescent assessment and analysis. Many originally trained in London with Anna Freud.
Curriculum
The first two years of courses are common to both adult and child analytic training, i.e. those on the psychoanalytic theory of the mind and on normal child and adolescent development. Those taking the Child Program specialty then meet for one seminar a week in addition to the adult course work. From the beginning, we immerse ourselves in studying clinical process material as well as reading the relevant papers.
In the first year we focus on issues of diagnostic assessment and the varieties of child and adolescent psychopathology, using clinical examples from different age groups. We emphasize evaluation of the child's total personality, ego and object relational strengths, and on distinguishing between the neurotic conflicts and the developmental lags and deviations that may derive from multiple causes.
In the second year, we study the criteria for choosing analytic treatment for the young patient and the principles of technique evolved for establishing an analytic process with the three different age groups--preschool, latency, and adolescent. This involves the setting up of the therapeutic alliance, careful analysis of defenses, choice and timing of interpretation, and the understanding of transference issues in children. There is an ongoing respect for developmental considerations: for example the particular developmental needs of the younger vs. older adolescent in treatment. Throughout, we emphasize concurrent work with parents, families, schools and other professionals with whom consultation may be advisable.
In the third and fourth years, these many issues are further pursued and explored via the continuous case presentations, the ongoing study of one case throughout a semester, from each of the three age groups.
Finally there is a seminar further devoted to the variations in psychoanalytic technique necessary in the analysis of borderline, narcissistic, and delinquent children and adolescents.
Control Cases
Candidates undertake the four-times-weekly analysis of two children, one boy and one girl, from different age groups, i.e. preschool, latency, and adolescence. There is a combined minimum total of two hundred supervisory hours.
Case Presentation
Graduation requires a Case Presentation where candidates are asked to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the analytic process at work in the treatment of one of their child or adolescent patients.
Faculty
Phyllis Ackman, PhD
Maurice Apprey, PhD
Bonnie Asnes, LCSW
Paula Atkeson, DSW
Delia Battin, MSW, LCSW
Anni Bergman, PhD
Sylvia Brody - Emeritus
Jane Buckwalter, LCSW
Judith Chertoff, MD
Elsa First, MA, LP
Rita Frankiel, PhD
Laura Kleinerman, MS
Lois Levine, LCSW
Laurie Levinson, PhD
Marsha Levy-Warren, PhD
Thomas Lopez, PhD
Sara Lundberg, LCSW
Eugene Mahon, MD
Hannah Nadler, MSE, LCSW
Jack Novick, PhD
Kerry Kelly Novick
Fred Pine, PhD
Lilo Plaschkes, MSW
Karen Proner
Katherine Rees, PhD
Rita Reiswig, LCSW
John Rosegrant, PhD
Susan Siegeltuch, LCSW
Irving Steingart, PhD
Irene Wineman-Marcus
Ilene Young, EdD
For further information, or to request an application, call:
Kim Kleinman, LCSW, at 646-942-8716.
Application Form
The program application, in PDF format, is available for download here:
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Application: Psychoanalysis Programs in NY (PDF:44KB) |
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