Historic Overview

Primary Object

“…to advance Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In particular in keeping with the Freudian principle, this advancement shall remain centred on the personal analysis as the indispensable means by which the practice of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy can be transmitted, studied and understood.”

Historic Overview

The Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland began life in 1993 as an informal learned society made up largely, but not exclusively of graduates of the Masters Programme in Clinical Psychotherapy offered by the School of Psychotherapy at St Vincent’s University Hospital at Elm Park in Dublin.

The Masters programme itself has been in existence since 1984, providing a vibrant teaching in psychoanalysis at postgraduate level, which is informed in particular by the works of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan. Over the years, in addition to attracting health professionals from psychiatry, psychology and social work, many of whom hold senior positions in the Health Service, the programme has been enriched by participants from other disciplines which include literature, philosophy, nursing, counselling, teaching and pastoral care.

From 1984 on – with a through-put of roughly fifteen graduates every two years — a proportion of these felt the necessity to continue their psychoanalytic formation at a theoretical and clinical level. This included the expression of their own contribution to the development of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy in the Irish context through their clinical work, teaching, research and publication. Additionally, considerable emphasis was placed on maintaining links that had been established with workers in the field in other European countries – France and Belgium in particular – and North America. Hence the setting up of what was initially called The Association for Psychoanalysis in Ireland (API) in 1993. A year later in 1994 this was renamed The Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland or APPI. At that time its primary aim was to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and to encourage debate among its members. This aim found formal expression on at least three levels:

1) APPI held its first scientific congress in November 1994. This has been an annual event since then.

2) Many of its members have been involved in teaching psychoanalysis in universities and colleges. In particular, they have played a major role in implementing undergraduate and postgraduate degree and diploma courses in psychoanalysis and allied areas under the auspices of the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies at LSB College/DBS (formerly LSB College).

3) 1994 saw the launch of the academic journal The Letter Lacanian Perspectives on Psychoanalysis, by the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies in association with APPI and the School of Psychotherapy. Members of APPI became the main contributors of scientific papers to the journal together with prestigious colleagues from Europe and North America.

Emerging out of these activities, it was important that APPI should involve itself with issues related to training and the provision of registration to those of its members who required it. Accordingly, APPI became incorporated as a professional association in March 1999. This followed on from the November congress of the previous year when 48 members of “old APPI” historically subscribed to its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Incorporation has allowed APPI to formalise registration and to facilitate the accreditation of its members. Mindful of the difference between a deontology of psychoanalytic practise and the ethics proper to psychoanalysis, much attention is currently being paid to the complexities of psychoanalytic training. APPI’s other activities include the organisation of a monthly clinical programme of lectures and seminars and the centralisation and co-ordination of reading group activity.