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.
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.
Adoption, Infertility, Divorce, and Cultural issues
Click here for a detailed look at the entire curriculum.