Czech Society
for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Rules of psychoanalytic group psychotherapy training in the group section training institute
of the Czech Society for Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy

(present state)

Training in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy (PGP) is organized on the basis of principles applied in similar organisations abroad (particularly by the European Federation of Psychoanalytic PsychotherapyEuropean Federation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and by E.G.A.T.I.N.)

Training in psychoanalytic group psychotherapy is organised by the Group Section Training Institute (GSTI) of the Czech Society for Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy (CSPAP) through their training group therapeutists.

Training programme in PGP is based on the following principles:

1. A candidate for training shall apply in writing to the management of GSTI CSPAP.
    
2. The fitness of the candidate is assessed by two training group psychotherapists each of whom shall invite the candidate for an interview. GSTI training committee (consisting of training group psychotherapists) shall then decide at their next meeting about the candidates application. In case they consider it necessary, the training committee shall require prior to their decision the third assessment by another training group psychotherapist. In assessing the candidate they wiil also take into account his or her education and his or her prospect of utilizing the aquired skills in their work. Relevant university education (psychology or medicine) is a prerequisite even though it is exceptionally possible to admit also a candidate whose line of education and specialision is different or a student. The head of group section informs the candidate in writing about the decision of the training committee. Admission in the training course in not automatic. The candidate who has not been accepted for training may, however, apply again after the period of two years.
     Admission procedure includes CSPAP fee determined by group section committee. The candidate who has been admitted for training may apply for the status of the CSPAP host member.
    
3. The training is divided into three stages - self-experience, theory and supervision. The full training takes minimum four years and the minimum overall group experience is 500 training lessons. The training is divided into three stages - self-experience, theory and supervision. The full training takes minimum six years and the minimum overall group experience is 550 training lessons.
     The candidates must participate in at least 85% lessons in each part of the course. The candidates pay their own training fees that are determined for each part of the training by group section committee.
    
4. The self-experience part of the training is organised in a group led by a group psychotherapist. The minimum number of training lessons is 350. The frequency of the training is one session in a week or 2 sessions once every two weeks ( a session is 2 training lessons lasting 45 minutes each) during 10 months in a year for a minimum of 3 to 4 years. The training may be also organised in blocks (e.g. 8 sessions every two months) or the two regimes may be combined.
    
5. The theoretical part of the training consists of 200 training lessons (45 minutes each), lectures and seminars in psychoanalytical theory as well as theoretical and practical PGP. The training is planned for two years. The candidate may go through this part of the training also in a foreign training institution of the same character and then apply for nostrification of such education to the GSTI training committee.
     The candidate may apply for admission to the theoretical part of the training after having completed 100 lessons in the self-experience part of the training. This training leg shall be completed either by the seminar form or by a written test.
    
6. Supervisory part of the training may be assumed, following the candidate´s application, after the candidate has gone through at least 50% of the self-experience part of the training or any time later, ideally e.g. after he/she has completed the self-experience part of the training. The candidate´s application presented by the head of group section shall be assessed by two training psychotherapists in the form of interviews and the GSTI training committee shall at their next meeting either approve or refuse the candidate´s addmission in supervision proposing at the same time further procedure (for example postponement of supervisions). Group section committee shall determine the fee for the above assessments.
     Supervision is organised in a group and the the candidate´s work with one or two groups of patiens who meet at least once a week for one session is supervised. At least 200 supervised lessons (45 minutes each) over the period of at least 2.5 years are required.
     Supervision sessions are usually organised in blocks (e.g. once a month).
     The candidate´s group psychotherapist cannot act as his/her supervisor.
     The candidate can go through supervision part of the training in a foreign training institution of the same character and the GSTI training committee shall decide about nostrification of such education.
    
7. Completion of the training:
     After having completed all three parts of the training, the candidate shall present his/her final paper (15 to 20 pages) on a theoretical topic he/she has selected and on the case history of one of the supervised groups. The paper shall be presented (in a number of coppies that is the same as the number of training psychotherapists in GSTI) to the head of group section who shall in turn present it to the training committee for assessment (neither the candidate´s training group psychotherapist nor his/her supervisor shall participate in the assessment). If the assessment of the paper is positive, the candidate shall be invited to the closing coloquium to defend his/her work. The coloquium is public, i.e. may be attended by all ČSPAP members and candidates.
     In case of negative assessment the GSTI training committee shall propose to the candidate further procedure (e.g. further supervision of the work with another group) that would lead to the completion of the training course.
     After the successful closing colloquy the GSTI training committee shall decide at their next meeting about the completion of the course and shall issue the candidate with a certificate authorising his/her to exercise PGP in the Czech Republic and possibly also abroad after the international institutions have fully approved of this course.
     The head of group section will then present the next meeting of full group section members with the proposal to change the candidates host membership to full (or extraordinary) membership to the next meeting of full group section members who shall vote on the proposal.
    
8. Exclusion of the candidate from training
   The IPP ČSPAP training committee may exclude the candidate from further training:
   • - if he/she does not comply with the obligations of a candidate, i.e. fails to pay the prescribed fees, does not attend training for a long period of time, does not take the final examination, or fails at the second and/or third colloquy
   • - if the candidates undergoes negative personality changes that were not recognised before or that would prevent him/her from exercising the profession of a psychoanalytic group psychotherapist in future.
     The proposal to exclude the candidate (which may be presented by any regular ČSPAP member) is voted on by the training committee of GSTI and the proposal is accepted if approved by four fifth majority of all members of the committee.
    
9. Rule of procedure:
   Rule of procedure: All decisions of the relevant bodies are adopted by a vote of all members present (more than fifty percent of all members of the given body constitute a quorum) using the non-reporting system. Approval of simple majority of the members present is required if a resolution or decision is to be adopted (exept for item 8 of these Rules).
    

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