Jang Jung Eun
(Christian Studies)
I was trained as a psychoanalyst in New York for five years. Psychoanalysis is a system of psychological therapeutic theory founded by Sigmund Freud. He believed that psychoanalysis can cure psychopathologies, in particular, neurotic symptoms by releasing repressed conflicts and fears, and making the unconscious conscious through interpretation of dream. However, after Freud, psychoanalysis has led to the development of four separable perspectives on the functioning of the human mind: Freudian Psychoanalysis, Ego Psychology, Object Relations Theory and Self Psychology. I finished the psychoanalytic training program in New York and received an NCPsyA (Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst) certificate granted from NAAP (National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis). I would like to introduce the training program so that readers can obtain some useful information. There are a lot of psychoanalytic institutes which offer a four-year program leading to a NCPsyA certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. However, it usually takes five to six years for native Americans to finish this program because NAAP demands particular requirements to reach the qualification. First of all, it requires to satisfy at least 1,000 psychoanalytic patient-contact hours. The therapeutic practice should be approached from the psychoanalytic perspective and supervised by certified psychoanalysts. Second, students should get over 300 hours of personal analysis with a certified psychoanalyst. It is an indispensable process for the future psychoanalysts to get analyzed if they want to become competent psychoanalysts who avoid projecting his or her own unresolved conflicts onto the patients. Third, they also need to satisfy 200 hours of individual supervision with at least three certified supervisors. Fourth, 450 hours of courses on theory and technique in psychoanalysis are needed to meet the certificate standard. These classes are more focused on clinical experiences with patients than theoretical perspectives. The classes with certified psychoanalysts can be only accredited for the licensure. Psychotherapist is a rewarding job because the goal of therapeutic treatment is to help individuals become mature, well-functioning human beings enlivened by a renewed sense of their own path in life. Particularly, psychoanalytic treatment is an attractive approach because it is an in-depth exploration of the inner psychic world called the unconscious. In addition, psychoanalysts can develop advanced analytic methods to understand the deep-rooted sources of psychopathologies and their repetitive relational patterns. Before deciding to embark on the psychoanalytic programs, it is important to ensure that the institutes you consult have the appropriate credentials which enables students to meet the license requirements. The institute should be validated by a reputable organization, such as NAAP, which can grant the license. Even if the training process requires much time and perseverance to complete, it guides the students on a long voyage of not only becoming a competent therapist but also discovering their real self. * Dr. Jang Jung Eun, an assistant professor at the Division of Christian Studies, teaches Pastoral Counseling and Psychoanalysis at Ewha. He received his doctorate degree from Drew University and finished his psychoanalytic program at Harlem Family Institute.
저작권자 © Ewha Voice 무단전재 및 재배포 금지