Home > Professional Training > The Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program

The Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program (CAPPT)

Click here for information about CAPPT Extension Classes

CAPPT is a unique four-year part-time clinically oriented, psychoanalytic psychotherapy training program. Its focus is to train professionals in the intensive treatment of children and adolescents who are experiencing psychological and developmental difficulties.

Today's complex lives demand that psychotherapists develop specific skills in the understanding of child development and the ability to help children, parents, and the community. To meet these challenges, CAPPT has designed a program: (1) to provide comprehensive training in child diagnosis and psychotherapy for emotionally disturbed children and their families; (2) to develop in students the capacity to teach, supervise, and consult in agencies, clinics, and schools; (3) to serve as a model for the development of similar training programs. CAPPT accepts for training physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals who have had experience in working with children and adolescents.

Unique Features of CAPPT

CAPPT is a multidisciplinary program whose primary focus is on clinical training. When CAPPT began in 1962, it was the first four-year program offering psychoanalytically-based intensive clinical training in child psychotherapy. Today it continues to be a leader in Chicago and throughout the United States.

The faculty consists of both psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists. CAPPT has served as a model for training programs in other cities.

In the field of child mental health, CAPPT graduates are esteemed as psychotherapists, supervisors, consultants, teachers, and administrators. A number of graduates are also on the faculties of CAPPT and other Institute programs.

Certification

A certificate recognizing competence in the psychotherapy of children and adolescents is awarded upon completion of all requirements.

CAPPT Curriculum

The objectives of the curriculum are to provide each student with a sound theoretical approach to diagnosis and treatment planning; a body of knowledge of psychoanalytic psychology; and a command of psychotherapeutic techniques for the treatment of children and adolescents with different types of emotional disorders, as well as for work with their parents.

Courses are periodically revised and expanded and new courses added in order to keep abreast of new developments, and to meet the specific needs of each class. Student representatives participate in curriculum planning and development.

Basic Curriculum Sequences

Normal Development
In the first year, the course begins with a discussion of an empathic approach to observation and data collection, followed by a review of the pregenital phases of development. The oedipal, latency, and preadolescent phases are covered in a second course. The psychoanalytic theories of adolescent development are studied in the final course in this sequence.

Diagnostic Evaluation: Clinical Theory and Practice
The focus of the first year is on the collection of data from which a diagnostic formulation can be made. The issues and problems associated with taking a developmental history from parents and conducting the assessment of the child are studied in detail. In the second year, the clinical case conference method is used to further refine skills in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Developmental Psychopathology
In the first year, the psychopathology of childhood is presented in overview as well as in relationship to normal developmental processes. In the second year, the course focuses on the nature and dynamics of preoedipal disorders. Psychotherapeutic approaches to these disorders are also covered.

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Clinical Theory and Practice
The first year is devoted to an overview of the principles and techniques of child psychotherapy. The concepts of the working relationship and the therapeutic alliance, transference and countertransference, and bringing the treatment to an end are applied to the psychotherapy of children and adolescents. The second, third, and fourth years of this sequence consist of clinical case conferences in which students present a variety of cases in different phases of the treatment process. In the third year, the clinical case conference is devoted to the psychotherapy of adolescents and, in the fourth year, to treatment endings.

Other Courses

Work with Parents
This course deals with the diagnostic process, the initial interview and ongoing or intermittent contacts with parents once therapy with the child begins. The indications and contraindications for therapy for parents as well as family therapy are studied.

Play, Fantasy and Dreams
This course provides an introduction to the psychoanalytic understanding of and psychotherapeutic use of dreams, day dreams, fantasy and play in the psychotherapy of children and adolescents.

Principles of Supervision and Consultation
The clinical case conference method is used to teach the principles of supervision and consultation concerning child and adolescent development.

Self Psychology
This course applies the concepts of self psychology to the psychotherapy of children and adolescents.

Psychoanalytic Psychology
A historical overview introducing the student to the work and applications of psychoanalytic theories, such as those of M. Klein, Winnicott, Bion, et. al.

Special Topics
Parent Loss; The Use of Psychological Testing; Affect; Inpatient Treatment; Current Literature

Requirements for Admission to the CAPPT Program

Personal psychoanalysis or intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy completed or well under way. Personal treatment may be obtained either privately with a psychoanalyst or psychotherapist approved by the Institute or through the Clinic of the Institute for Psychoanalysis. The objectives of personal treatment are: (a) to acquire direct experience of the influence on behavior of the unconscious and the defenses; (b) to gain sufficient freedom from those emotional conflicts which would otherwise interfere with one's clinical work; and (c) to overcome unconscious resistances which would otherwise block learning.
A graduate degree in the mental health or human development field where there is an emphasis on the clinical theory and technique of psychotherapy. For example, we accept applications from social workers, psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatric nurses, counselors, and educational and speech therapists. We encourage applications from those who work in educational institutions and social agencies providing community service.
Previous professional experience working therapeutically with children and adolescents. Experience in working with adults is recommended.
Personal suitability for undertaking and completing the program as evaluated through individual interviews by the Admissions Committee. The applicant's capacity for learning, motivation for undertaking and completing the program, and interest in continuing to work with children, adolescents, and their parents are assessed.
Coverage by adequate malpractice insurance is required.