History
EFPP membership, sections & Board
Constitution
EFPP Board
Areas of Work & Future Tasks
Join EFPP
Organisational Bylaws
National Networks
NATIONAL NETWORKS
Introduction
Development of the topic
Procedure
Applications
Conclusions
Introduction
Since the inception of the EFPP, 30 years ago, it was thought that the National Network is the most suitable and effective model of organization through which member countries and their respective organizations should be anchored in the European Federation. The National Network was deemed to be the best possible structure to develop and pursue the objectives and the Ethos of the EFPP (Article 6 of the constitution). It corresponds in short, to the promotion, enhancement, development and anchoring of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and its corresponding training bodies in the four constituent EFPP Sections (modalities) as they are reflected in the public as well as in private settings.
Membership of EFPP hence comes via the National Networks. The Federation does not recognise membership of individual clinicians. It recognizes psychoanalytic organisations of four different psychoanalytic modalities from European countries and holds to the principles of forging these organisations into national networks. Each of the four recognized EFPP psychoanalytic modalities has approved training standards and a clinical and organisational ethical code to adhere by.
The guiding principle of all national networks is that cohesion and togetherness allow for a greater scope of developing and promoting as well as defending psychoanalytic psychotherapy in its diverse applications in the competitive market place of today’s mental health environment. The container of the national network allows more effectively to provide scientific arguments in relation to evidence and efficacy for its clinical model in the public arena and for political argument. As a cohesive professional body of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, it has a far greater chance of staking its legitimate claim in the field of national mental health and be recognized by the public as a true alternative to proposed treatment models for mental suffering.
The democratic principle of the federation finds representation in the EFPP through delegates, selected by the respective national network. Delegates participate on behalf of their national network in the decision-making processes of the federation in biennial delegates meetings and function as the conduit between national network and federation and vice versa. This democratic principle also applies to the associations or membership institutions of the national network. It stands to reason that the national network selects delegates for the different psychoanalytic modalities from the pool of its membership institutions. It is then one of the responsibilities of the selected delegates, to foster ever closer relationships between the associations of the national network.
Development of the topic
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is a treatment modality that has a long history and is rooted in the theoretical and clinical application of S. Freud, M. Klein, W.R. Bion and many others. Originally conceptualized as a treatment for adults, suffering from mental pain, with time this led to the development of diverse clinical applications, including the treatment of children and adolescents, couples and families as well as the usefulness of group-practice. The different psychoanalytic applications are today a proven practice to alleviate mental distress and suffering. The EFPP takes account of this and brings the principal four modalities of psychoanalytic psychotherapy together under one umbrella. The common thread is psychoanalytic theory and practice.
With new and different approaches to mental health emerging on the market all the time, psychoanalytic psychotherapy needs strengthening, promoting and defending. The solidarity and cooperation among the various psychoanalytic psychotherapy associations in one country creates a cohesive presentation of psychoanalytic thinking in the public. It is an effective way of promoting the evidence and efficacy of the treatment model for public awareness. This is the core rational for the national network and for the EFPP.
The EFPP functions as the guardian and protector of minimum training standards and the ethical codes as they are anchored in the bylaws of the EFPP constitution. The national network and its constituent membership institutions adhere to its designated training standards and agrees to protect them within the four existing diverse modalities of Registered Charity Number 1046731 European Federation Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy psychoanalytic psychotherapy of the Federation. It does not inhibit the national network from applying higher training standards within its network but it is the EFPP standards that are relevant for membership in the federation.
The EFPP views the architecture of the national networks as that of a collaborative system. National networks are composed of collegiate organizations that foster mutual recognition, respect and support amongst each other. All those psychoanalytic organisations in a country that fulfil the EFPP standards and adhere to its Ethical Code participate in a network on the basis of solidarity, mutual support and tolerance. The EFPP is then the platform that unites all the associated members of the national networks under its umbrella and in its international orbit.
The national network stimulates the dynamic interchange, communication, cooperation and enhances collaboration and exchange among psychoanalytic psychotherapists and their professional bodies. It strengthens the profession as a whole as well as fostering awareness amongst other professionals, administrators, legislators and of course the public.
This model of organization stresses both the autonomy and independence as well as the diversity and individuality of each association. By the same token, it also stresses the importance of shared objectives and communal space with a view of a common purpose, defined by the EFPP Ethos and its requirements.
The national networks preserve the identity and the belonging of the individual clinician to his/her training organisation i.e individual association. The belonging to the alma mater of the individual training organisation itself, should be no hindrance to the experience of belonging to a national network, which in turn belongs to an international European organisation, the EFPP. We might see this as representing different levels of belonging that in its togetherness strengthens the identity of the single association as well as that of the individual clinician.
The uniqueness of the EFPP as an umbrella organisation is that it holds 4 different psychoanalytic modalities under one roof. This allows for an ongoing dialogue amongst the different psychoanalytic approaches and in so doing strengthens psychoanalytic theory and practice. The motto could be described as “in pluribus unum”.
The national network fosters a sense of cooperation, openness, tolerance and mutual support. The cooperation that it fosters is designed to overcome and prevent the isolation of an individual professional entity and its continuing professional development. In promoting a national and international outlook, it strengthens critical debate and prevents the stagnation of the individual associations. The shared international engagement within the EFPP helps to maintain openness towards developments in the profession in various membership countries and in turn allows to reflect and deal with the shared issues of the associations in the national network.
National networks allow horizontal links among its constituent members organisations in recognising cultural variety and differences in theoretical inflections and clinical practice as well as appreciating the size of the respective association. The currency of these links is tolerance and respect. It is mindful of authoritarianism and anti-democratic tendencies as well as the abuse of power and authority by one association over the other. As stated above, the democratic process embedded in the EFPP is a model also for the functioning of the national network.
Procedure
It is important to understand the procedural dynamic that lead to the development of a national network. This is not a rigid formula and depends on multiple national factors as well as historical realities.
The first applicant association of a country for membership of the EFPP that can derive from any one of the four recognized modalities or sections, or indeed from a combination of some of them or all of them. It is the nucleus and starting point of a national network. It is then designated and takes on responsibility as an anchor for all those future EFPP applicants from within the same country.
In terms of procedure of application, it therefore stands to reason that any new applicant from any of the four recognized EFPP sections within a country, applies for EFPP membership via the existing National Network. It can be assumed and is very likely, that an established organisation, hence in EFPP terms, the established national network, is familiar with the development of the professional situation in the individual country. As a member of the EFPP it is familiar with the EFPP standards and requirements and is therefore best placed to process any new application for membership of the EFPP in good faith. The designated national network organisation(s) must operate as honest brokers between the Registered Charity Number 1046731 European Federation Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy new applicant and the Federation. Professional rivalries must be secondary to the merit of the applicants wish to become a recognized member of the EFPP.
The new applicant association does not have to be a member of any existing association of the network. It just has to fulfil EFPP criteria when applying for membership, but will be a potential future member in the collegiate system of the national network, if its application to the EFPP is successful.
Once the application has been scrutinized for merit by the existing national network it will be forwarded to the EFPP section chair of the relevant modality and presented to the EFPP board for approval. Should an applicant to an existing national network be rejected by them, the applying organisation has the right to appeal to the EFPP section chair and for the case to be presented to the EFPP board for adjudication.
The existing association/national network may have higher standards than those the EFPP requires; however, the new applicant will be measured by the EFPP standards as they are laid out in the bylaws.
The national network might also encourage associate membership of organisations that might aspire to EFPP standards but might not yet be able to fulfil the relevant criteria.
Applications
1. In countries with already existing national EFPP networks, applications for EFPP membership will be processed at the level of that National Network, which will then contact the Board for a final approval.
2. In countries without National EFPP Network, applications for EFPP membership have to go to the EFPP section chair, who will scrutinize the application for its merits and present the application to the Board for a final approval.
Conclusions
The National Network is not an abstract concept. It is a reality that implies tolerance, movement, transformations and continuous adaptation as the realities change.
The rhythm and stages of development of national networks varies in the different countries, due to a multiplicity of factors. One important aspect is that psychoanalytic psychotherapy as a method to alleviate mental suffering, encounters different degrees of acceptance in different European societies. The profession is regulated very tightly in some European countries but not in others. Therapy is in some European countries financed by the relevant national health system while in other countries the patient has to carry the finance the cost of therapy from private resources.
These are just some examples that illustrate the importance that through the cohesiveness and solidarity of the profession, representation can be made to the public at large, to government departments and health insurance providers.
In this sense the unity of psychoanalytic psychotherapy organisations represented by a national network, translates into potential political power. The strengthened identity of the profession through cooperation and solidarity is the best way to maintain public awareness of the profession and influence future professional regulation and recognition of the modality by health service providers. With this in mind, it is clear that there is a political dimension and mandate at the core of the national networks and of the EFPP.
National Networks is a complex and diverse organizational model but very coherent and consistent with the objectives of the European Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Its composition is dependent on diverse historical background, geography and social as well as professional circumstances. The EFPP wants to recognize and respect the different speed of development and different configurations in the development of national networks. Herein lies the dynamic and wealth of a continually developing national and international organisation.
Ethical Code
EFPP INSTITUTIONAL ETHICAL CODE GUIDELINES
PREAMBLE
Ethics addresses the process of reflecting on values and on the relationships between different values. The aim of ethics is to guide and help people to make choices and to evaluate their own and others actions. Ethics do not provide ready answers, but they offer tools for thinking and processing.
The standards and values of psychoanalytical organizations and individuals that function in them are ruled by principles belonging to the field of normative ethics, these principles are:
● inviolability
● autonomy and
● dignity of the individual/organization
These principles are the base of human rights to be respected in any rational society or organization. They create a sense of morality in which the desire and the right to know becomes accepted as well as the right to think and the freedom of thought. These principles derive from considering the subject/organization as an end in itself and not as a means. This sense of morality can make one feel recognized as a ‘linked being’/a ‘linked organization’ to a greater whole and is a necessary condition for mutual respect from each other member.
Together with these principles comes a sense of organizational responsibility. Ethical responsibility means not only the sense of belonging to the organization, but the obligation to behave/ act ethically within it.
Ethical guidelines create an ethical culture
EFPP as an organization of a psychoanalytic professionals, sets out its ethical culture and governance on the basis of the following ethical guidelines. These guidelines are limited in time and may evolve under the influence of organizational, professional or social factors. The ethical guidelines are intended to think and act in a responsible way.
The Ethical guidelines of the EFPP are at the service of:
● constructively handling – respectful and considering the dignity of others – the tensions inside and between organizations
● preventing them from slipping into arbitrariness or violence.
The guidelines below are intended to set a frame to protect and foster a sense of belonging and sense of morality and are the impetus towards progressing to a mature psychoanalytic psychotherapeutic organization.
GENERAL ETHICAL INSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES
EFPP and its affiliated organizations commit themselves to insure ethical and professional standards are maintained in the professional practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The EFPP acts with the intention that its ethical principles should primarily regulate cooperation and relations between the membership-organizations.
EFPP identifies with European values of openness, tolerance and respect for diversity. Its ethos is informed by these values and one of the federations aims is to foster a culture of diverse modalities rooted in psychoanalytic theory and practice as well as the culture of psychoanalytic traditions. This ethical code reflects humanitarian values, psychoanalytic values and professional responsibilities and obligations.
a. Humanitarian values: respect for diversity, equality, freedom of speech, openness to listening, respect for dignity, tolerance for difference.
b. Psychoanalytic values: general obligation to respect an organizational clinical ethical code regulating the professional exchange between therapists and patients – open mindedness, respectfulness, reflexivity, dignity and integrity, moral stance, legal frame, confidentiality.
c. Professional obligations: each EFPP organization shall respect and stay within this general obligation of maintaining ethical standards. Members shall take reasonable measures to ensure that all professional activities and training facilities are maintaining ethical and professional standards and criteria. Each organization shall establish, maintain and make available to interested parties a code of ethics (or similarly named set of ethical rules).
d. Professional development: the explicit intention to learn and to evolve as a professional organization and training institution.
INSTITUTIONAL ETHICAL ISSUES
The following institutional ethical principles are the basis of an ethical and moral climate and EFPP stands for their implementation in all its affiliated networks.
a. RESPECT
To maintain a culture of respect within each organization, EFPP follows the ethical principles of:
● The right for inviolability: any organization is worthy and shall be respected.
● The right for autonomy; it sets limits to our own actions as a function of the other’s and demands respect for organizational references, choices, and ideas. This principle is related to establishing connections between reasons and consequences.
● The right for dignity: illegitimacy of discriminating on the basis of factors outside the individual or organizational will, as well as on the basis of beliefs, opinions, and decisions.
● The right for recognition: Discrimination and the consequent destruction of autonomy creates asymmetrical links which give one of the linked members the capacity to decide on behalf of the others, thus transforming them into helpless subjects without rights.
b. INTEGRITY
Organizations with integrity create standards to provide the cultural cohesion for professional responsibility and competence. They help approaching organisational problems and dilemmas in a rational and transparent way. In EFPP integrity entails an internalised set of core values and principles that function as ethical guidelines for all the member organisations. (It is about organizations and their governance).
● Ideals of organizational integrity must be shown to be practical and affordable in terms of
● standard and criteria transparency (EFPP bylaws),
● professional support (e.g., national/international networking) and
● the right for idiosyncratic organizational professional identity.
Codes of ethics by themselves are not a good indicator of an organization’s commitment to ethics. For a code of ethics to be effective, it needs to be part of a broader moral climate.
Moral climate can be construed as comprising shared perceptions of prevailing organizational norms established for addressing issues with a moral component. A moral climate in EFPP involves ethical commitments that are value-based and are embodied in the character of the organizational members and the organization’s routines. EFPP takes the moral point of view with respect to organizational actions in accord with the following principles:
● commitment to moral values for EFPP (as stated above),
● a view of EFPP as a social union rather than merely a mean for achieving individual goals,
● management according to a set of substantive moral principles (including those of fairness) and a set of procedures that at avoid bias and give the delegates a voice in the rules governing the EFPP,
● determining individual responsibility of the delegates as representatives of their organizations
● the EFPP-board recognizes that the interests of various member-associations have intrinsic value,
● aiming to create an environment nourished by listening to otherness, in which different opinions and questioning is encouraged and exclusionary groupthink is avoided.
A number of factors could act as obstacles, leading to groupthink. These factors include overestimation of the group, close-mindedness, pressures toward uniformity and unanimity, the stereotyping of outsiders, self-censorship, direct pressure on dissenters, mind guards and the narcissistic illusion of invulnerability.
c. BALANCE OF POWER
To ensure an equitable balance of power, EFPP is guided by the ethical principles of democracy and equity as follows:
Democratic procedures regarding the establishing and preserving the setting of democratic values and practice. In doing so:
– The interests of one member-organization should not take priority over the interests of all others.
– When a situation arises in which it appears that the interests of one group of member-organizations must be sacrificed for the interests of another, that decision cannot be made solely on the grounds that there is a greater number in one group than in another.
Equal opportunities to fairness and equity in a democratic culture of a professional organization in terms of:
● accountability of the elected board to the delegates by hierarchic transparency,
● exchange of information through feedback,
● freedom to disseminate information,
● board’s commitment to the goal of the democratic process itself,
● recognition and legitimacy of elected authority,
● establishing and preserving the legitimacy of the board by producing decision outcomes that represent the interests of the delegates,
● insuring the adequate representation of members
d. ETHICAL LEADERSHIP (The role of the organization’s board)
Ethical leadership demonstrates the will and ability to strategically position, design and sustain an organisation successfully, to develop the members-organisations competence and to direct human and organisational energy in pursuit of performance and achievement that stand the ethical test of effectiveness and efficiency. Working in such a way, the Board aims:
● to facilitate and encourage open and honest communication, particularly in discussions that concern decision making processes
● to value the individual’s viewpoint and the feedback that results from shared decision making,
● to facilitate and encourage transformational processes and evolution of the membership organizations e.g., by moderating emerging conflicts,
● to create intellectual stimulation as this provides a climate that supports delegates in questioning their own values, beliefs and expectations. It also enables delegates to make their own decisions about what is “right” and “wrong”: The board is instrumental in getting delegates to re-examine assumptions that may inhibit creativity and innovation,
● to provide a caring climate by remaining optimistic about likely outcomes despite setbacks that may occur, constantly providing encouragement and feedback to delegates.
● to be concerned about the larger picture and the development of the organization.
Integrity is recognized as a core ethical value of the board. Integrity means that the board’s decisions are consistent with espoused moral values, and that the members of the board are honest and trustworthy. This display of integrity in the board’s behaviour can lead to building the trust and respect of the delegates.
e. PROCEDURE OF IMPLEMENTATION
In order to implement these ethical principles in EFPP; we would like to suggest the following steps:
- Bring it in the board and decide about the next steps
- Presentation of the Code of organizational Ethics to the delegates
- Discussion to reach commitment (diversity over the countries, ideal or “law”)
- Feedback and adaptation (processual implementation, respecting limitations)
- Installing an ethics-committee
- Periodic time slots for ethics issues in delegates’ meetings and at conferences
References:
● Norman E. Bowie (….). Organizational Integrity and Moral Climates.
● Van Aswegen, A.S., & Engelbrecht, A.S.(2009). The relationship between transformational leadership, integrity and an ethical climate in organizations. SA Journal of Human Resource Management/SA Tydskrif vir Menslikehulpbronbestuur 7(1), Art. #175, 9 pages. DOI: 10.4102/sajhrm.v7i1.175
● McDonald, Gael 2009, An anthology of codes of ethics, European business review, vol.
21, no. 4, pp. 344-372
● Kerr, J.L. (2004), The Limits of Organizational Democracy, Academy of Management
Executive, 13, 3, 81 -95
● Ethics-Guidelines, Ethics Code and Implementing Procedures – unpublished manuscript of the EFPP
● Ethics Code of the International Psychoanalytical Association
● Puget, J. (1992). Belonging and Ethics. Psychoanalytic Enquiry, vol. 12 (4), 551-569.
Training Standars
Training Standards of EFPP Adult Section
BYLAWS
THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL TRAINING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN AGREED FOR QUALIFICATION OF PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
A) PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING FOR ADULT INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Amended and adopted 13th March 2009 at the Delegates Meeting Kortenberg
1) Training is organised and implemented by an organization with training as one of its specific purposes. The organization must keep a register of members and trainees, which clearly defines those who are entitled to practice as qualified Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists.
2) An academic degree or an equivalent theoretical and clinical experience is precondition for application to the training programme. Every organization should have a Training Committee that furthermore evaluates the suitability of applicants.
3) National laws define the standard requirements for training in the member countries. The EFPP states the minimal criteria for qualification as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist. For recognition as a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy practitioner of individual therapy, the criteria should be as follows:
a) Duration of training
A minimum of four years training course in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
b) Personal psychotherapeutic experience
During the training program, the trainees are required to undergo individual psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy with a qualified psychoanalyst or psychoanalytic psychotherapist for not less than twice a week over a minimum period of four years. It is recommended to start the individual psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy before the training and continue thereafter. The individual psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy is conducted on a non-reporting basis.
c) Supervision requirements
The candidate sees at least two patients, for not less than 360 sessions in total. One patient is seen for two or preferably three sessions a week for not less than 240 hours. The training organization will decide number, frequency and duration of other cases. The total supervisory sessions should be not less than 200 sessions and at least one case should be supervised for at least two years on a weekly basis. Each trainee should have at least two different supervisors.
All cases used for qualification should be supervised and it is recommended that it includes at least one ending phase treatment.
d) Theoretical requirements during the training
The training period includes theoretical and technical seminars on Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and its applications and clinical presentations material for not less than 360 hours in total.
Final qualification should include a written clinical paper based on a supervised case.
e) Clinical Experience
Before qualification, the trainees should have clinical experience in different clinical settings including institutional dimensions to the provision of health services and to be acquainted with a wide range of mental disturbances. Infant observation is also recommended.
The Training Committee should continuously monitor the candidate’s suitability and progress on the basis of verbal or/and written reports from teachers and supervisors throughout the training.
Addendum
Organizations should make provisions for training and continuous development of supervisory skills and for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) for their members. Organizations should have an ethical code, an ethical committee and complaint procedures.
Training Standards of EFPP Group Section
BYLAWS
THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL TRAINING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN AGREED FOR QUALIFICATION OF PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
B) PSYCHOANALYTIC GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING*
Amended and adopted March 2017 at the Delegates Meeting Berlin
1. Training can occur only in an organisation which has training as one of its specific purposes. Therapists and supervisors will have been formally approved by the training organisations as competent for training purposes. The training organisation will keep a record of its members.
2. That record will clearly define those who are entitled to practice as independent and qualified psychoanalytic group psychotherapists. It must include those senior members who are qualified through service and experience but who may not have undergone formal training. This applies only to countries new to psychoanalytic group psychotherapy or in exceptional cases and during a limited period of time.
3. For recognition by EFPP, the training organisation’s criteria for qualification as a psychoanalytic group psychotherapist shall fulfil the following minimal requirements.
The qualification as Psychoanalytic group psychotherapist may be obtained by an integrated training programme in PGP or by a comprehensive training in PGP.
– The qualification by integrated training in PGP means that the training in PGP is based on the qualification in individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy for adults or for children/adolescents according to EFPP standards.
– The qualification by comprehensive training means that the training on PGP is totally based on a specific training programme in PGP.
The training programme may be divided in a basic level and in a graduating level. The basic level should include at least half of the requirements of the full requirements.
In the following the training requirements for both training programmes are separately indicated. The meaning of 1 hour is corresponding to 60 minutes.
3.1. Duration
For both programmes a duration of at least 3 years.
3.2. Personal psychoanalytic group psychotherapy experience
For comprehensive training programmes at least 240 hours.
For integrated training programmes at least 120 hours.
The personal psychoanalytic group psychotherapy experience in conjunction with the training should last for at least two consecutive years and can take place in a mixed group, with patients who are not in training, or in a therapy group composed of students.
3.3. Supervision
Comprehensive training programme: 120 hours of supervision of at least two one weekly groups of patients (two long term groups or one long term group and two short term groups).
The supervision should last over at least 3 years and should take place preferably in a group. Integrated training programme: 120 hours of supervision of at least one weekly group of patients; the supervision should last over at least 3 years and should take place preferably in a group.
3.4. Theory seminars
For both programmes seminars in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy and psychoanalytic psychotherapy not less than 160 hours.
4. Before qualification as a psychoanalytic group psychotherapist the student will have gained clinical experience in settings where a variety of psychological disturbances will be encountered; this will acquaint him or her with the full range of mental disturbances, different modes of therapy, and the professional and institutional dimensions to the provision of health services.
5. The candidate’s personal suitability and progress will be evaluated throughout the training; only exceptionally will a candidate be accepted who does not have university degree or an equivalent professional qualification.
*) Psychoanalytic Group Psychotherapy includes different approaches and schools such as Group Analysis by Foulkes and Bion, Gruppo Operativo etc.
Training Standards of EFPP Child & Adolescent Section
BYLAWS
THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL TRAINING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN AGREED FOR QUALIFICATION OF PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
C) CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING
Amended and adopted March 2017 at the Delegates Meeting Berlin
1. Training is organised and implemented by an organisation with training as one of its primary purposes. The organisation keeps a record of its members.
2. The organisation clearly defines the status of its members and keeps a record of those members who are entitled to practice independently as qualified psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapists (European certificate level). The minimum criteria, which an organization should meet in order to be recognized by EFPP as a training organization are described below. The full training may be divided into parts. However, in order for the training to be certified by the EFPP the quantitative sum of the parts should be at least the same as the criteria’s stated below:
3. In exceptional cases, the child and adolescent section members of the Board of EFPP can consider such special circumstances, which do not permit a member country to meet the stated training standards. Such an approval of standards below the certificate level is provisional and must be reconsidered after 5 years.
Minimum requirements for the certificate level:
a) Four to five years of training
b) 300 teaching hours of theory seminars covering, at least, psychoanalytic theory, human growth and development, psychopathology and psychoanalytic concepts and technique.
c) Psychoanalytic infant observation of 30 small group seminars (1 year) covering the weekly observation of an infant from birth to 1 ½ – 2 years old.
d) 60 – 120h small group clinical seminars, covering, at least, work with parents, nonintensive psychotherapy, (technique) and assessment.
e) Individual supervision (120h -160h) of 400 – 480 h of intensive psychotherapy (2-3 times a week) of three different cases (young child, latency child and adolescent) of both sexes.
f) Group supervision (60h –120h) of 3-6 non-intensive psychotherapy cases.
g) Trainees should be in personal intensive psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with an approved psychoanalytic psychotherapist or psychoanalyst, 2-3 times weekly at least for the duration of their training.
h) Before qualification, a clinical paper should be submitted and approved.
The teachers and supervisors should be senior child and adolescent psychotherapists. Applicants should be graduates in medicine, psychology, social work or hold an equivalent university degree. They should have some professional experience of working with children and/or adolescents of at least 2 years and should be assessed for their personal suitability.
Further clarifications of the training standards are included in the EFPP European Certificate.
Training Standards of EFPP Couple & Family Section
BYLAWS
THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL TRAINING STANDARDS HAVE BEEN AGREED FOR QUALIFICATION OF PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
D) PSYCHOANALYTIC COUPLE AND FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY
Accepted March 2005 at the Delegates Meeting Stockholm, adopted on 13th March 2009 at the Delegates Meeting Kortenberg
1. Training can only take place in an organisation with training as one of its specific purposes. Therapists and supervisors will have been formally approved by the training organisation as competent for training purposes. The training organisation will keep a record of its members.
2. That record will clearly define those who are entitled to practise as independent and qualified psychoanalytic couple and family psychotherapists. It must include those senior members who are qualified through service and experience but who may not have undergone formal training equivalent to the training standards requirements (including personal analysis). This applies only to countries new to psychoanalytic couple and family psychotherapy or in exceptional cases and during a limited period of time. Psychoanalytic psychotherapists who have not undergone a formal training in PCFP but who themselves want to start a new training course in PCFP are supported by the EFPP Section of PCFP. It is assumed that such courses will cooperate with psychoanalytic psychotherapists who have a formal training in PCFP and that they will seek supervision and advice from experienced trainers of PCFP.
3. The qualification as psychoanalytic couple and family psychotherapist may be obtained after a 4 years of specific and exclusice couple- and family training program (in accord with all standards and requirements) or a minimum of 2 years additional to the prior qualification in psychoanalytic psychotherapy (adult, child and adolescent or group).
4. Trainees
The required qualifications for entering the basic psychoanalytic training are stated in the bylaws of the four sections. Applicants are assessed by the training committee. The assessment should be based on personal interviews and made by a group of trainers.
5. Seminars in theory
A minimum of 100 hours. The theory seminars of the training in PCFP should include child and adolescent development as well as child, adolescent and adult psychopathology in the interdependent and the intersubjective perspective of the parents, the family and the family life cycle.
6. Personal experience
During the training programme trainees must undergo psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with a qualified training psychotherapist for not less than twice a week over a minimum period of 4 years. The curriculum must include a specific personal experience in a group setting related to psychoanalytic couple and family psychotherapy. This experience should have duration of at least 2 years with a minimum of 40 hours.
7. Supervision
Required: the supervision of one properly completed family psychotherapy and one couple psychotherapy. The supervision should include a minimum of 90 hours.
8. Evaluation of the training
The trainee’s personal suitability and progress will be evaluated throughout the training. At the end of the training, the trainee has to present a written paper on one clinical case.
The Role of the EFPP Delegate
1. The Representation Role (delegation tasks)
2. Organisational Role (administrative tasks)
3. Linking role (communication tasks)
4. Proactive role (creative tasks)
– Proposal
The overall task of the Delegate is to embody the ethos of the EFPP and to promote the aims and purposes of the EFPP within their own National Networks or organisations and provide constant feedback and exchange from their NN or organisations to the EFPP Board. The EFPP Delegate has a dual representative role. He is a representative of his NN or organisation and Section (Adult, Child and Adolescent, Group, or Couple and Family) and is the official representative of that particular section of the EFPP. The Delegates are the vital link in a very complex organisational structure involving different roles within various areas of work with defined tasks:
1. The Representation Role (delegation tasks)
To represent and connect their organisations of psychoanalytic psychotherapy to their NN and to the EFPP; the reciprocal task is to represent the aims and ideas of EFPP to their NN or organisations in their own countries. The Delegate is invited to attend the biennial Delegates Meeting and any other meetings involving his tasks of representation, report back to their national network or organisations and give any relevant feedback afterwords to the EFPP Board. In constitutional matters or organisational changes, the delegates will represent his NN or organization’s view in terms of decisions and voting rights and will assume the task to work actively within his NN or organization on the items submitted to change.
2. Organisational Role (administrative tasks)
The Delegate is the designated person for all mailing or website delegates area activities, to receive information from EFPP or send notices from their NN or organisations. The Delegate will be provided with a password to log in to the Delegates area of the EFPP website. It is very important to have at all times valid and updated information about the delegate and his organisation’s contact information. The Delegate is the contact person for the EFPP Treasurer, the Finance Officer, and the Administrative Secretary. The Delegate has the responsibility to see that the annual subscription fees are paid and that membership numbers are up to date. The Delegate will inform the Honorary Secretary and the Administrative Secretary of any changes regarding the name of his national organisation or network and the name and e-mail of the financial administrator of their organisation who will be responsible for paying the invoice for the annual subscription. He will notify the EFPP Administrative Secretary and the Section Chair of all changes in representatives in their NN or organisations particularly when Delegates step down and are replaced. He will inform about the election procedures and the vacancy in each section and will notify the Section Chair and Honorary Secretary of any candidacy. All this relevant information should be updated coinciding with the biennial Delegates Meeting and will be stored in the EFPP Archive.
3. Linking role (communication tasks)
One of the most important roles of the delegate is the linking he does engage himself in multiple processes of communication both horizontal (Delegate – Section Delegates- Section Chair – Board – his NN or organization) and vertical (Delegate – Member of his NN or Organization). The communication reaches several levels of organizing and structuring topics: organizational level (discussion regarding the sections criteria and standard for training and membership and section bylaws and implementing in their NN or organizations as agreed and any other relevant organisational issue regarding the EFPP; scientific level (conferences, seminaries and other academic activities of EFPP, EFPP Book Series books etc), clinical level (study days, research and developments of the PP in their NN or organizations), informing level (sharing information in both ways, from their NN or organizations to EFPP and from EFPP website to their NN or organization). The delegates can propose and organize meetings with other delegates or members of his NN or organization to discuss matters of interest related to EFPP Membership.
The Delegate encourages participation at conferences, workshops, and other activities of the EFPP and the promotion of the EFPP Clinical Series Books and the EFPP Review and disseminates the fliers concerning conferences and other workshops to the members of their organisations, informs their organisations about the information on the EFPP website.
4. Proactive role (creative tasks)
The Delegate has total freedom to explore a more creative side of his role by letting the Section Chair and the Board know what is his area of interest and in each way he would like to be involved in different activities and projects as proposing ideas for working group or study groups, collaborating with other delegates in different work frames to exchange theoretical or clinical ideas, participating in the organization of conferences, presenting papers or sharing perspectives from his country, collaborating with the board in the discussion of relevant organisational issues. This proactive role remains extremely important as the delegate is not seen as an administrative or formal tool within the EFPP organisational structure but as one of his most vital and transforming elements.
This is just an overview of the most common and important tasks of the delegate’s role. While the role of a Delegate can be very satisfying, it requires a regular evaluation of the personal and time resources allocated and involvement. We encourage any communication regarding the need for a better understanding of this role and of support for some tasks. Also, we encourage delegates to find out if they have a particular interest or an area of expertise within the EFPP complex field of possibilities (working groups on certain topics, research areas, EFPP book series team, EFPP podcast etc).
Necessary requirements for becoming a delegate: good English skills, interest in organizational work, institutional experience and commitment.
Proposal:
The EFPP welcoming committee will as well provide a platform for the new delegates to meet and there will be an annual zoom meeting to welcome the new delegates and to share experiences with the ones on the point of ending their mandates.
Guidelines for EFPP Conferences
Introduction
1. The name of the Chair of the Organising Committee
2. Date, place and the title of the conference
3. Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee
– Organising Committee
– Scientific Committee
4. EFPP Conference Coordinator
– IN CASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLICATIONS
5. Relationship of the Organising Committee with the Scientific Committee
6. Budget
7. Publicity and announcements
8. Program – structure of the conference
9. Discussion Groups
10. Language
11. Information to be available at all conferences
Introduction
The objects/aims for an EFPP conference:
• to promote psychoanalytic psychotherapy and to enhance and support the profile and profession of the national network in the host Country and to generate a financial surplus to support the network and the EFPP.
EFPP conferences take place every second year (even years) in the springtime. In odd years the EFPP delegates Bi annual General Meeting is held in March.
The EFPP Executive has the responsibility to decide whether to hold a one, two, three or four section conference.
An EFPP conference is arranged in cooperation between the national network of the host country and the EFPP. The host country should be prepared to incorporate the special EFPP sessions such as discussion groups and EFPP ongoing workshops. The EFPP has to respect the culture of the host country. The conference can be a genuinely creative evolution of the best from the host country incorporating the traditions and experience of the EFPP. This cooperation can produce a conference experience that is unique for the participants in providing opportunities for learning and taking part in an atmosphere of genuine inquiry.
Sections delegates and national networks of a country who are interested in running a conference with the EFPP should write to the Chair of the Executive Committee expressing their willingness to host an EFPP conference. The Executive Committee has the final decision if more than one country is interested. The Executive Committee also has the authority to ask national delegates to consider if their country would take on the task of hosting an EFPP conference.
The Executive Committee will delegate to the EFPP Conference Coordinator, the task of negotiating cooperation between the EFPP and the host country. He/she is joined by the relevant Section coordinators of the EFPP.
The tasks and the responsibilities of each party are embodied in the “Guidelines for Organising EFPP Conferences” which have to be to be accepted and agreed by both parties.
The date of the acceptance by both parties inaugurates the organising of the Conference in question:
1. The name of the Chair of the Organising Committee
should be given to the Chair of the EFPP Executive and the Conference Coordinator immediately after an agreement has been reached to hold the conference.
2. Date, place and the title of the conference
Should be agreed 2 years in advance (at the latest) by the EFPP Executive in conjunction with the host country.
3. Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee
The composition of the Organising Committee and Scientific Committee should be established within the two following months of the agreement. The chair of the Organising Committee should notify the EFPP Conference Coordinator of names and composition of both Committees. The Chair of the Organising and Scientific Committees should not be the same person.
Members of both committees should agree to have their names listed in conference announcements and programs.
– Organising Committee:
The chair and members of the Organising Committee are appointed by and belong to the (EFPP) national network in the host Country. In addition the EFPP Conference Coordinator will be a member of the Organising Committee to guide liaison with the EFPP at every stage of the conference planning.
The Organising Committee is recommended at an early stage to hire a skilled administrator/professional Conference organiser. Secretarial help of a high standard should also be made available.
– Scientific Committee:
The Scientific Committee consists of a local national committee and an international committee.
The Chair of the Scientific Committee and the members of the local national committee should be drawn from members of the (EFPP) national network. All members should have seniority in their professional standing.
The international Scientific Committee consists of the Section Coordinators of the EFPP Executive from all sections relevant to the conference. In addition further members appointed to the international Committee should be senior clinicians of an international reputation with a good professional network.
The task of the Scientific Committee is to agree and invite the main speakers, discussants and any other invited panel speakers or public lecturer. The members of the national committee together with the EFPP Section coordinators will read and agree on the paper presentations, which are submitted for the parallel sessions and workshops. Their task is also to invite and select the chairs for the paper presentations and workshops and to set up the programme for the parallel sessions. In the event of dispute EFPP Executive members from the relevant sections may override local decisions around presentations connected with the section.
4. EFPP Conference Coordinator
The EFPP Conference Coordinator is a member of the Executive Committee appointed in this specific role. All subsequent liaison between the Organising Committee and the Executive will take place via the Conference Coordinator.
The Coordinator will not attend the meetings of the national Organising Committee but must be notified in advance of their meetings and the agenda, the minutes, and decisions taken should be promptly forwarded to him or her.
The Conference Coordinator will advise the local Organising Committee on all matters pertaining to organising an EFPP conference. The task of the Conference Coordinator is to support the Chair of the Organising Committee and to ensure that the Committee is keeping to an agreed timetable, and that all publicity relating to the Conference is of an appropriate and high standard.
The Conference Coordinator reports regularly to the Executive about the progress of conference planning.
The Conference Coordinator will promptly inform the Executive if the planning is in danger of getting behind the agreed schedule or of any other difficulties, which may arise in the planning of the conference.
– IN CASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLICATIONS
If at any stage of the planning of a conference matters of serious concern and/or evidence of organisational malfunctioning or difficulty arise, the Chair, vice-chair and the Section Coordinators of the EFPP shall be able to make strong recommendations to rectify the situation to the Organising Committee.
5. Relationship of the Organising Committee with the Scientific Committee
The Organising Committee must convey in writing to the Scientific Committee:
The timetable within which the Scientific Committee is expected to complete necessary tasks that the Organising Committee require of it. For example the names of the main speakers and invited panel speakers to be included in the publicity Financial limits and funding arrangements for the committee, speakers, chairpersons and any other financial arrangement or commitment that the Scientific Committee may or may not make e.g. with speakers.
Under no circumstances may any member of the Scientific Committee make any arrangement to pay or compensate persons involved with the conference without the written agreement of the Chair of the Organising Committee.
6. Budget
A budget should be prepared using the EFPP budget template.
The budget will include the costs of the Executive of the EFPP; the venue for the Executive meeting over two days before the conference, hotels for the Executive for four nights to include the conference nights, attendance at the conference and the gala dinner.
The Organising committee should make fund raising a priority and seek financial sponsorship from a wide range of resources at the earliest possible stage of planning. Surplus: If the conference generates a surplus, the EFPP should be given a donation of 30%.
The EFPP does not underwrite or take responsibility for any losses incurred by the Conference Organising Committee.
The EFPP will if required make a loan of €2000 in advance to the Conference organisation. The EFPP will underwrite the loan in the case that the Conference organisation is unable to repay this sum.
A contract which states and regulates mutual financial obligations and risks between the local Organising Committee and EFPP should be drawn up and signed.
7. Publicity and announcements
A website for the conference should be created by host country as soon as the date, theme and venue have been decided. It should also include the names of the arrangers, EFPP (which sections) and the national organisations involved. The conference website has to be continuously updated by the conference organisation. The conference will be publicised on the EFPP website with a link to the conference website.
The EFPP website has tools which will be accessible by the members of the local Conference Organising Committee and the Scientific committee to send emails including attachments out to all delegates.
One of the important roles of the delegates is to distribute the announcements and news about the conference to their national networks.
A flyer should be distributed as soon as the date, theme and host country – and website address – is settled. It should also include the names of the arrangers, EFPP (which sections) and the national organisations involved.
First announcement – and website information
• Same information as on the flyer followed by
• Welcome signed by the chair of the Organising Committee on behalf of both the Organising and Scientific Committee and the Chair of the EFPP on the behalf of the Executive Committee
• Organising Committee: list of the members (remember to get their acceptance)
• Scientific Committee: list of members (again – remember their acceptance)
• Conference Organisers: addresses and all relevant information
• Conference website for detailed information
• Venue with reference to the website
• Fees, early and late registration. Fees for special groups (trainees and others) and special arrangements. Cancellation policy. What are included in the fee, e.g. lunch, Conference Dinner? Accompanying Persons programme (if relevant).
• Accommodations, suggestions.
• Scientific programme: Invited speakers, conference themes,
• Conference language/s
• Call for abstracts – paper presentation/workshops. Information about deadlines and acceptance notification. Information about layout and where to send the abstract (mostly by email).
• Relevant information about the structure of the conference
• Issue of insurance: for example: The conference organisers do not accept any responsibility for possible personal injury or property damage during the event. It is advised that participants arrange their own personal and travel insurance
• Information about online registration and payment – via the website (Arrangements must be made to accept the payment of conference fees on line by credit card and not by bank transfer).
The subsequent announcements will be on the updated website.
8. Program – structure of the conference
EFPP conferences run from Friday morning till Sunday noon.
It is an option to start with an opening or Public lecture on Thursday night perhaps combined with a welcome reception.
Welcome reception (an option) may take place on either Thursday night or Friday night.
Conference or gala dinner is usually held on Saturday night.
A program should include:
• Opening Welcome and Introduction to the Conference
• Plenary session with main lectures and discussants,
• Discussion groups (see separate guidelines)
• Parallel sessions with paper presentations, panel discussions, ongoing workshops (see separate, updated information)
• Closing session with evaluation
• Option: Large group, social dream matrix, other kinds of experiential groups, etc. The chair of the EFPP will represent the EFPP in the opening and closing sessions. The section coordinators should be the chairs of one plenary session with a main paper from their section.
9. Discussion Groups
The discussion groups are an important and special part of EFPP conferences. In a discussion group the participants are invited to engage in a professional exchange on equal terms with colleagues from different parts of Europe.
The primary task is to consider the application of the conference learning i.e. the papers including main papers and workshops, to the participants own theoretical framework and clinical work.
The group offers an opportunity to explore further the participants’ own responses to the papers in a discussion with others in a multicultural and multi professional exchange. Groups will be held in English and other languages depending on the official conference languages. Groups in other languages will depend on the number of participants from these countries.
To make the best use of this opportunity we recommend that participants make a commitment to attend the same group throughout the conference.
Each group will be convened by the same pair of leaders each day, and membership as far as possible should remain the same to ensure continuity.
The discussion groups take place on each day of the conference – after the main paper presentation.
Each discussion group is convened by two group convenors. There are 3 meetings for the group convenors during the conference.
The EFPP Conference Coordinator will arrange the discussion groups including finding convenors. Often this is done in co-operation with the local person who is a member of the Organising or Scientific Committee. The EFPP conference coordinator will also lead the group convenor meetings.
10. Language
Usually there are at least two official conference languages. As English is the official EFPP language, English is also one of the official conference languages.
Usually the host country wants their mother tongue to be the second official conference language.
In the case where the UK and English is the official language, a decision may be made as to whether to include two other languages as official languages, for example French and German/Spanish.
There is always the challenge of how the translation should be done.
Participants should receive paper copies of the main lectures in English and in the other official languages as decided.
The EFPP does not recommend having simultaneous translation of the main papers because it is very expensive and has not functioned satisfactorily in the past.
The EFPP recommends that the main papers in the official languages are also projected onto screens in the conference hall.
Based on feedback from many conferences the EFPP strongly recommends that the main speakers and other speakers should be encouraged to give their lectures in a way that respects the need for participants whose mother tongue is not either English or one of the official languages to follow and understand the content of the lecture.
11. Information to be available at all conferences
• Details of future conferences
• Details of the EFPP Book Series
• Bookstall with adequate supply of EFPP Book Series (Karnac is the publisher for the EFPP series).
Review 2021