Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Developing the capacity to understand the inner world of children, adolescents, and families.

Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is a specialist long-term educational programme of the Iranian Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies (IRCP). It is designed for professionals who wish to understand the emotional development, personality organisation, early relationships, and psychological difficulties of children and adolescents from a psychoanalytic perspective.

Based on the British Object Relations tradition, the programme combines theoretical teaching, clinical seminars, supervision, individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy, developmental observation, and systematic study of classical and contemporary psychoanalytic literature.

The programme brings together theory, developmental observation, clinical experience, and therapeutic processes to support the progressive development of psychoanalytic thinking and professional identity.

Why This Programme?

Psychoanalytic work with children and adolescents requires a deep understanding of psychological development, emotional life, early relationships, and the influence of family relationships on personality formation.

Through observation, analytic thinking, and clinically informed learning, participants develop the capacity to look beyond symptoms and consider the child or adolescent’s inner world within the context of therapeutic and family relationships.

Programme Features

• Systematic education in child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy
• Grounding in the British Object Relations tradition
• Integration of theoretical teaching, developmental observation, and clinical experience
• Continuing supervision throughout the programme
• Study of classical and contemporary child psychoanalysis
• Progressive development of professional identity in child and adolescent psychotherapy

Educational Structure

• Theoretical teaching
• Theory and Practice Seminars (TAPS)
• Clinical seminars
• Supervision
• Individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy
• Child and adolescent psychiatry seminars
• Infant and Young Child Observation

Key Areas of Study

• Psychological development from infancy through adolescence
• Child observation and emotional development
• The work of Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, and other major child psychoanalytic thinkers
• Play, symbolisation, and thinking in child psychotherapy
• Psychoanalytic assessment of children, adolescents, and families
• Parent-child psychotherapy and work with families
• Transference and countertransference in child psychotherapy
• Child and adolescent psychopathology
• Child and adolescent psychiatry and common developmental and emotional disorders
• Clinically informed approaches to developmental, emotional, and relational difficulties

Who Is This Programme For?

• Child and adolescent psychiatry trainees and specialists
• Psychiatry trainees and qualified psychiatrists
• Licensed psychologists and psychotherapists
• Graduates in relevant disciplines who meet IRCP’s admission requirements

Admission Requirements

• Completion of the Foundation Programme in Psychoanalysis or an equivalent programme approved by IRCP
• At least 12 months of individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy with an IRCP-approved therapist
• Successful academic interview and acceptance by the educational committee
• Commitment to regular participation in teaching, supervision, and programme activities

Important: Individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy and supervision form part of the programme’s educational requirements. The cost of individual psychotherapy is not included in the programme tuition and is arranged separately. Supervision for one patient is included within the educational programme; supervision costs for additional patients are the participant’s responsibility.

Academic Team

Scientific Lead

Dr Mahdieh Moin
Psychiatrist and former faculty member, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Member of the British Psychoanalytical Society
Former Director of the Psychotherapy Fellowship Programme, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)

International Scientific Supervisor

Professor Margaret Rustin
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
Adult Psychotherapist
Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society

Programme Coordinator

Dr Mojgan Amini
Psychiatrist
Psychotherapy Fellow
Member of the British Psychoanalytical Society

This programme is an educational programme of the Iranian Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies (IRCP). Information presented on this website is for educational and programme-information purposes.