Curriculum

The PIP curriculum covers the trajectory of normative and pathological child development from infancy to four years of age. The curriculum is enhanced by case presentations as well as discussions of modifications in technique appropriate to each developmental epoch. Classes are held for one-hour and half every Monday evening for thirty weeks.

First Year

The first year begins with an introduction to psychodynamic principles and techniques in work with infants, toddlers, young children, and parents, and is followed by sections on the major developmental periods.

Trainees will maintain a clinical placement and receive one hour per week of individual supervision (in addition to infant observation group supervision).

Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory and Clinical Theory

Focuses on the writings of Freud, Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, Winnicott, Bowlby, Margaret Mahler, Selma Fraiberg, Mary Main, Dan Stern, and Peter Fonagy

Early Childhood – The Infant, Toddler and Preschool Child

Emphasizes explorations of the young child’s psychic development, relationship and interaction with parents, and social and affective development

Second Year

The second year addresses infant and toddler psychopathology, evaluation and diagnosis, preventive interventions, and contrasting techniques in working with parents and young children. Weekly individual supervision focuses on one dyadic case. (Group supervision continues for in-the-home infant observation.)

Seminars topics are as follows:

Overview of Parent-Infant Treatment Approaches

Evaluation and Diagnosis

Preventive Interventions

Developmental Psychopathology

Including sleep disorders, failure to thrive, eating disorders, excessive crying, attachment Disorders, PTSD/trauma, grief and mourning in childhood, autism, separation anxiety, Gender Identity Disorder

Treatment Modalities

Including video-assisted intervention, working with parents, interactive guidance, mother-baby groups, the role of play in therapy, father-mother-infant psychotherapy.