COURSE SCHEDULE 2026

Infant Observation

Infant Observation trains the observer in disciplined psychoanalytic observation. The object is the study of the growth of mind and personality of the infant and the familial context in which this may be facilitated or impeded. Infant Observation is the cornerstone of analytic training, and it is fundamental to ICAPP training in Year 1. Each student is required to observe a baby (with the mother or caregiver) on a one hour per week basis for the first year of an infants’ life.  Written accounts of the experience of each observation are recorded and are then discussed in a weekly small group seminar with a seminar leader who provides a psychoanalytic lens for the discussion. 

This experience is invaluable in developing a student’s powers of observation, along with an understanding of the emotional states of the infant as well as the mother-infant relationship. On completion of the twelve months observation, students write a paper on their understandings gained from the observation and the weekly seminars.

Infant Observation is a one-year course. However, the study of units 1 and 2 may extend beyond one year of study, allowing for time for the student to locate a suitable parent/child couple. 

Groups occur on Tuesdays   9.30am to 11am Waiting List Open

Cost         $3,300, (fee may be paid in instalments)
Duration  1 Year (2 Semesters)
Course Assessment task A 5000 word paper is required at the end of the unit. 

Children “talk” to us through their play. How do we listen to this?
This course is designed for professionals dealing with children who want to understand more about how a child communicates their feelings and needs; this includes pre-school teachers, primary school teachers, school counsellors, speech therapists, occupational therapists, child psychologists, paediatricians and so on.

This course is to help those working with children, in any setting to read the child’s play so they can better understand what is going on for that child.

This course will help you:
Observe children and their play in a deeper way, pick up themes in the child’s play, tune in to the child’s worries and fears more effectively, and better manage a child’s anxieties thereby assisting a child to cope better with their world.

Time  Mondays 6pm to 7.15pm Sydney time( AEDT)
Date  Commencing, Monday February 23rd 2026 via zoom and continuing for  5 weeks until March 23rd 2026
Cost  $500

About Chris Stretton

Chris has a BA (hons), Grad. Dip. Clinical Counselling. Clinical member of Australian Counselling Association. He is a Clinical member of Institute of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Clinical supervisor with the Centre for Existential Practice. Also, recipient of the Ron Brookes scholarship at the Sydney Institute of Psychanalysis.

Chris is a psychotherapist based in Newcastle. Since 2009, Chris has worked in the community services sector and continues to do so alongside his private practice. He works with children and adolescents, individuals, couples, and families as well as providing individual and group supervision. In addition to his psychoanalytic psychotherapy training with ICAPP, Chris has trained in the application of existential philosophy and phenomenology to psychotherapy and clinical supervision. He is interested in the similarities, differences and tensions evoked by these influences within his work with people of all stages of life.