Becoming a psychoanalyst requires completing psychoanalytic training. The Belgrade Psychoanalytic Society, as a full member of the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), structures its candidates' training in accordance with IPA criteria. Upon completion of training at the Belgrade Psychoanalytic Society, individuals also become members of the IPA. The IPA recognizes three models of psychoanalytic training: the Eitingon model (Max Eitingon), the French model, and the Uruguayan model. The Belgrade Psychoanalytic Society follows Eitingon’s tripartite model, which includes personal analysis, at least two supervised clinical cases conducted by training analysts with patients, and clinical and theoretical seminars.
Individuals eligible for psychoanalytic training must hold a degree in one of the helping professions, such as medicine, psychology, pedagogy, andragogy, special education, or social work. For candidates without clinical experience, a mandatory one-year clinical internship in psychiatric institutions is required.
Before entering the training program, prospective candidates undergo three interviews with the Society’s training analysts, during which their motivation and mental capacities for the profession are assessed. This includes personal attributes such as integrity, maturity, flexibility, empathy, and the ability for self-reflection.
To apply for psychoanalytic training, candidates must submit a CV, a scanned diploma, and a motivation letter via email to the Society at: belgradepsysoc@gmail.com or belgradepsysoc@outlook.com .
Personal analysis is the first step in psychoanalytic training. It lasts for a minimum of four years with a frequency of four sessions per week and runs concurrently with other training activities. After the first year of analysis, candidates gain the right to attend theoretical seminars, become members of IPSO (International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization), access the PeP Web (Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing), participate in professional meetings designated for candidates, and attend psychoanalytic conferences.
Through personal analysis, the unconscious mind is explored, and internal content is processed, enhancing the candidate’s capacity for self-understanding and understanding others. The analysand’s personal experience expands their empathy, builds confidence in the efficacy of the psychoanalytic method, and enriches their comprehension of psychological phenomena and processes. Among other goals, analysis aims to help the candidate achieve a high degree of character stability and maturity, openness to the unknown, flexibility, and the development of creative potential necessary for maintaining an open and dynamic psychoanalytic relationship. The analysis process is entirely private and confidential.
The training analyst informs the Education Committee of the start and completion of the analysis. All other information remains confidential and cannot be shared with any body or individual within or outside the Society.
The candidate begins the theoretical seminars after one year of training analysis. These seminars provide knowledge of psychoanalytic theories and methods. The following topics must be covered: Freud’s theories, object relations theories, and other contemporary psychoanalytic schools, theories of early development, psychoanalytic techniques, psychopathology, and psychoanalytic ethics. In addition to mandatory topics, there are elective seminars that explore specific themes or psychoanalytic schools in greater detail.
The training analyst is required to attend all mandatory seminars and one elective seminar.
Seminars typically last 16 weeks, held once a week for 90 minutes. During the seminar, the assigned articles and additional literature relevant to the topic are discussed within the candidate group, facilitated by the seminar leader. The Society provides the seminar program and necessary literature.
Supervision is a learning process in psychoanalysis, achieved through working with patients under the guidance of a training analyst (supervisor). To be approved for entry into supervision, the candidate must have completed at least two years of personal analysis, gained clinical experience, started theoretical seminars, and received a positive evaluation from the Education Committee. After selecting a supervisor approved by the Education Committee, the candidate collaborates with the supervisor to choose a patient to begin psychoanalysis. The supervisor and candidate meet weekly for 45 to 50 minutes to discuss the ongoing psychoanalytic work with the patient. It is recommended that the candidate undergo didactic analysis during the supervision period. At least six months after beginning the first supervision, and following a joint assessment by both the supervisor and the candidate, the candidate may begin a second supervision. After receiving a positive evaluation from the Training Committee, the candidate begins supervision with a second supervisor. This process allows the candidate to gain experience with different working styles and theoretical approaches during the psychoanalytic process. The second supervision lasts at least two years, while the first continues until the second is completed. The candidate may undergo multiple supervisions. When the supervisors assess that the candidate has developed the capacity for independent work, they recommend applying for membership in BPD or IPA.
The clinical seminar involves presenting the clinical work of the training psychoanalyst in a group of candidates, led by the supervisor. The clinical seminar is held every other week for 90 minutes. Supervision takes the form of a group discussion moderated by the supervisor. The two-year clinical seminar is a mandatory component of the training.
Once all the above conditions are fulfilled, the candidate must present their supervised work with patients before a three-member committee appointed by the Education Committee to qualify for membership in BPD. During the evaluation for membership, the candidate’s other activities within the Society and the broader psychoanalytic community will also be taken into account.
If the evaluation is positive, based on the report from the Education Committee, the candidate’s admission to regular membership in the Society is put to a vote at the first regular Assembly.
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