The Sydney Observation Course ran for more than 20 years. It was originally established by Peter Blake, senior clinical psychologist, and Averil Earnshaw, child psychiatrist, after completing postgraduate trainings in London at the Tavistock Clinic. The Psychotherapy training programme has evolved over the past several years and is now, in effect, a two stage programme. A one year Certificate Course which can be taken in its own right is also the Foundation year for entry into the three year plus training. Other entry paths are also available. ICAPP Certificate Course 2017. The staff has expanded with the addition of locally trained psychoanalytic therapists and other graduates of the Tavistock child psychotherapy programme from London. A new training intake is to begin in 2017. Applications are now being received. Download the application form here.
The Institute of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (ICAPP) introduced a 3-year part time professional training starting in 2009. This specialised course is open to psychologists, social workers and other professionals who would like to gain the knowledge and skills to become effective child and adolescent psychotherapists working within a modern psychoanalytic framework. Successful applicants will need either to be currently working with children and/or adolescents or be able to get access to working with this age group, and to have begun a minimum of twice weekly therapy at the commencement of the course. A prerequisite to entry to the training is satisfactory completion of the one year Certificate Course or its equivalent.
The training programme will facilitate a deep understanding of psychological development and students will develop the capacity to provide effective interventions with children and adolescents with a broad range of presenting problems. The learning experience is intensive and includes hands on clinical experience from the the beginning of the second semester in Year 1. Psychotherapeutic interventions with children, young people and their families or carers is discussed in facilitated small groups and the meaning of material is explored.
Other seminars offer discussions of selected readings in psychoanalytic theory. Current child development research is explored to extend and deepen awareness and understanding of different models of healthy human development. Students also undertake individual training cases under weekly individual supervision, running concurrently with the formal seminars.
The course teachers are highly trained and experienced object relations psychotherapists as well as teachers and researchers in the field of psychodynamic studies. Some staff members of ICAPP are also members of the Sydney Institute for Psychoanalysis and the NSW Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. ICAPP is affiliated with the London Tavistock Observation course and its child psychotherapy training course, which link with the University of East London. ICAPP also links to the Child Psychoanalytic Forum outreach programme and the Brisbane Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies.
Small group seminars are held over 4 terms per year on Tuesday evenings at ICAPP’s Annandale base in Sydney.
Any queries you may have about the training, eligibility etc, please email: theicapp@hotmail.com or phone Liz Chaikin (02) 94208989
