Child psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy are methods of treatment which address the roots of emotional behavioral disturbances in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Children evidencing symptoms of emotional distress suffer impairments in their relationships and ability to function in their family and school environment. Careful diagnostic evaluation is implemented to distinguish between behaviors and emotional disturbances that are part of normal development and those that may impede and distort development.

Psychoanalytic work seeks to understand the most primitive level of a child’s experience and to treat emotional and behavioral disturbances at their source. The central part of training develops the analytic ability to attend to the effects of the child on the therapist (transference) and informs the therapist’s response (countertransference) and interpretations. Emotional growth occurs with timely interventions that are attuned to the child’s current state and concerns; the therapist closely follows the child’s response to interpretations. This enables the therapist to know if anxiety has been modified and if there are signs of emotional growth. Specific aspects of the frame, the setting, and qualifies of the therapist’s mind are developed in order to provide a safe environment for expression of feelings and thoughts.

PCC offers core programs leading to IPA certification as a Child Analyst and a one-year intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy program to deepen the practices of clinicians working with children and adolescents. The Infant, Child, and Adolescent committee also offers a special clinical series each year.