Training Schedule ’25

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW WELCOME FOR SEMESTERS 1 and 2, 2025

SEMESTER 1
Term 1 Feb 24 – April 14, 2025
Term 2. May 5 – June 30, 2025

SEMESTER 2
Term 3  July 21 – September 8, 2025
Term 4  September 29 – November 24, 2025

There are three levels in the ICAPP Training Course, as below

LEVEL 1
Units 1 – 4  
Foundation Studies in the Psychoanalytic Understanding of Children and Adolescents

It is made up of the following courses

Units 1 & 2 

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 at one of the following times. If a group is full at the time of application students will be placed on a waiting list.

i)  Tuesdays   9.30am to 11am Waiting list open
ii) Tuesdays   4pm to 5.30pm 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. 

Unit 3 

Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory with Marc Chaussivert

Applications are now open for Semester 1 2025

This reading seminar introduces students to key concepts in psychoanalytic theory. The development of these concepts will be explored through the writings of early theorists including Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Bion, Lacan and others. Alongside these we will also look at a range of more contemporary thinkers that have had a particular influence in working with children and adolescents including Anne Alvarez, Christopher Bollas, Tom Ogden and Antonino Ferro.

Time   Mondays 5pm – 6.15pm
Date   Commencing February 24th 2025 continuing for 15 Weeks (plus a two week mid semester break)
Cost   $1,350

Applications close February 10th 2025.

Unit 4 

Introduction to the Clinical Practice of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy with Chris Stretton

Applications are now open for Semester 1 2025

This unit introduces the student to the theory and practice of child and adolescent psychotherapy. The seminar will follow Peter Blake’s book, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy as well as referring to other leading theorists. It will include topics such as assessment, working with parents, the setting, symbolisation and play therapy. Clinical material will be presented for in depth exploration as to how it relates to introduced techniques.

Time   Mondays 6pm to 7.15pm
Date   Commencing February 24th, 2025 continuing for 12 weeks (plus a mid-semester break to be discussed with students)
Cost   $1,080

Applications close February 10th 2025

LEVEL 2

Units 5 – 8 

Clinical Studies of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy

Note  Level 1 (Units 1 – 4) must be successfully completed before students can progress to Level 2.

For entry into Level 2 each student is required to be undertaking their own personal therapy at least twice a week until completion of their training cases. It is a requirement that the therapist be approved by ICAPP.

Unit 5 

Working with Parents and Families with Beverley Tydeman

This program of readings and discussion of clinical material focuses on working with families and parents from a psychodynamic perspective. A child or adolescent cannot be thought about outside the context of their family and parents. The tension of working with the individual child and/or the family or parents is a constant issue in child and adolescent work. These tensions will be explored in these seminars with theoretical and practical issues being discussed from a psychoanalytic perspective.

Time  Wednesdays 7pm to 8.15pm (times may change along with daylight savings changes here and in London, and will be discussed with the seminar leader, Beverley, who resides in London)

Date          Commencing February 26th
Cost          $1,425
Duration  15 Weeks plus a two week mid semester break.

Applications close February 10th 2025

Unit 6 

New Course
Intuition and Creativity and it’s Place in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Children

Time   tba
Date   Commencing Semester 2
Cost   tba

Unit 7

Assessment & Understanding of the Child’s Inner World including small group clinical supervision with Peter Blake

This unit is being offered in Semester 2, applications now open 

This program consists of readings and discussion of presented clinical material that focuses on the psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents. This is for both short and long-term interventions as well as parent consultations.

This seminar series also provides an opportunity for professionals working with children and/or adolescents to present their work for group discussion concentrating on relevant theoretical and technical issues. This seminar is for experienced psychotherapists who work with children and / or adolescents

Time   Mondays 5pm to 6.15pm
Date   Commencing July 21, 2025 continuing for 15 weeks
Cost   $1,500

Applications close July 10th 2025.

Unit 8

Exploring Klein and Bion

This seminar series begins by exploring Klein’s personal and professional development and considering the impact of these on the evolution of her ground-breaking ideas. We then read and discuss some of her seminal works in tandem with writings of significant Klein scholars.

The second part of the series considers Bion’s work both in light of his development of Klein’s theories and in its own right. Again we will consider his work alongside those who have made significant studies of his work.

A 1500-word essay is required for this unit for it to be accredited towards the ICAPP Training Coming in Semester 2

LEVEL 3

Units 9 – 12 

Clinical Training in Psychoanalytic Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy

Level 3 builds upon the understanding and knowledge gained in previous levels and begins the formal training in child and adolescent therapy. Readings in contemporary literature on child and adolescent therapy will be examined, incorporating different schools of analytic thinking in this area. Clinical supervision and discussion both individually and in small groups will begin. Students will be required to be undertaking clinical work with children and / or adolescents and will take on 2 training cases. Students are also expected to continue their personal therapy during this training.

Unit 9

Advanced History and Theory of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with Brad Freeman

Applications are now open for Semester 1, 2025

This reading seminar will focus on the post-Bionian work of Tom Ogden and Antonino Ferro along with other contemporary and emerging theories and practices. It examines the changing views of the unconscious and the importance of working inter-subjectively.

Time   5pm to 6.15pm
Date   Commencing February 27th, 2025 continuing for 12 weeks
Cost   $1,080

Course Assessment A 1500 word essay is required at the end of the unit.

Applications close February 10th 2025

Unit 10

New Course
Psychoanalytic Perspectives of Child Development and how it informs our clinical work with Beverley Tydeman, UK.

In this course participants will be introduced to the ideas of personality development and how these ideas inform the practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children of various ages. 

Time   Wednesdays 5.00pm to 6.15pm for 15 sessions.
Date   Commencing July 23 till November 19, 2025 (with two weeks break to be advised)
Cost.  $1,350

Applications close July 10th 2025.

Unit 11

New Course
Advanced Clinical Topics and Conversations with Sue Reid, London UK 

Following on from the evening with Sue Reid in 2024, this seminar series will focus on several varying clinical issues at depth. It will include discussion of presented clinical material from student from a specific perspective related to the issues being raised With her background in Infant Observation and her work with the most profound psychotic states, Sue is eminently positioned to guide students to a new depth of understanding in their everyday work.

Time  7pm to 8.15pm
Date  Commencing March 4 2025, continuing for 12 weeks
Cost  $1200

Applications from experienced psychotherapists working with children and/or adolescents are invited.

Applications close February 20th 2025

Unit 12

New Course
Working Psychodynamically with Children and Adolescents from a Winnicott Approach with Professor Steven Tuber, New York, USA

This seminar will focus on working in a Winnicott way when seeing adolescents. There will be introductory readings, and the following seminars will concentrate on viewing clinical material presented by attendees of this course from the Winnicott approach.

Time   Wednesdays 9am to 10.15am
Date   Commencing July 22 2025 till September 8th
Cost    $800 for the 8 weeks course 

Applications from experienced psychotherapists working with children and/or adolescents are invited.

Applications close July 10th 2025