FAQs

No. You need no specific degree. As we explained in the “Training” section, the School advocates a first-level training programme (namely, a peculiar and novel training process), which is not conceived of as post-graduate or specialist training. This is because, if we embrace the idea that psychoanalysis is a standalone science, one needs a wealth of specific knowledge that pertains to psychoanalysis’s own field. Consequently, the candidate’s skills and knowledge will be assessed regardless of their academic background. By this we don’t mean to preclude the affiliation to candidates with a degree, or to set low standards for admissions. To the contrary, the Admission Committee will assess every application. For more information on the “General criteria for admission”, click here .

The duration of the training process to begin practicing as an analyst (or “qualifying training”, known as “formazione abilitante” in Italian) is variable. For a candidate to be ready to practice, the following elements play a crucial role: progress in personal training analysis, learning and fully understanding the core concepts of psychoanalysis, the candidate’s own research work, and last but not least the moral standards the candidate demonstrates.

Such knowledge and personal development constitute the so-called “qualifying training”, which is essential in order to practice as an analyst.

When the candidate fells ready, and the trainer analyst has sufficient evidence to judge them so, they will be able to commence practicing.
The School fully adheres to the training process Freud suggested. What really matters is not the duration of the process, but the quality of the work done as far as both the training analysis and learning/research outcomes are concerned.

On average we can consider 4 years.

Nevertheless, the School believes the training process to be continual, by which we mean that the analyst is always bound to maintain and improve their own professional and cultural level in relation to the advances and development of the field and of the School’s objectives.

Yes. The School vouches for the training of its candidates.
Anyhow, we would like to underscore that the analysts who trained in our School practice privately as self-employed, offering intellectual services and not psychological support. These services do not fall under the regulation of psychotherapeutic practice (Law 56/89), but under the usual self-employment regulation.

No, and one should not even want to. The School is a scientific association that chose not to fall under the legislation regulating psychotherapy (Law 56/89). There is a precise and fundamental reason for this, which is to preserve the lay status of psychoanalysis; hence to allow, on the one hand, for the possibility of relying on analysts with different backgrounds and, on the other hand, for the development of psychoanalysis as a standalone science, the study of which demands bespoke learning.

The School admits candidates from any cultural background, after one or more interviews aimed at ascertaining the candidate’s cultural, moral and motivational level, as well as their psychological stability. For more information, click here.

The cost of analytic training (inserire hyperlink alla sezione “Modalità A membership fee, which covers:

• participation to the fortnightly Seminar;
• supervision from one or more senior members to agree the candidate’s specific training process with;
• discussion of clinical cases with one or more senior analysts (especially when the candidate begins to practice);
• funding for the cultural activities promoted by the School;
• financial support to the School.

The cost of personal training analysis with one of the analysts in the School, which is agreed upon privately and taking account of the candidate’s financial circumstances.
The cost of training for non-analyst members only includes the membership fee.

Personal training analysis is mandatory for candidates who wish to become analysts. It is integral part of the training process for two reasons: firstly it assures candidates acquire adequate self-knowledge, and secondly it helps to achieve a better understanding of theoretical and technical aspects of clinical practice.

For candidates who only have a cultural interest in psychoanalysis (and hence have no goal to become analysts), training analysis is not compulsory.
For further information click here.

No. The School is a scientific association that, although qualified, has never requested official accreditation, because we want to remain a private and autonomous organization and we do not believe that institutional recognition is guarantee of competence and expertise.

Yes. Former analysis or training outside the School do not preclude application or admission. Admission is always decided upon the candidate’s assessment by the Admission Committee, as we described here.

Nevertheless, the training process will be the same for candidates who have already studied psychoanalysis or psychology, and training analysis will still be compulsory in order to complete the training with us.

This is important because there is considerable variation among training programmes in psychology, depending on their underlying orientation.

Our School, in contrast to the currently most fashionable approaches, embraces a project standing on naturalist and rationalist grounds, which seeks to establish psychoanalysis as a natural science. For further information, click here.

As for previous personal analysis, while it might turn out to be a valuable asset, the School is compelled to pledge effective results both from a strictly psychological perspective and in relation to theoretical and technical aspects, which are indeed acquired by doing analytic training in the School.

The Seminar takes place fortnightly and is mandatory to attend, since every absence has adverse impacts on the training. Yet remote participation is allowed, provided there are good reasons for it. The School will anyhow evaluate the candidate’s particular circumstances case by case.