The Washington School of Psychiatry

CHILD and ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING PROGRAM

Benson Forman, PhD, Co-Chair
Jane Nielson, MSW, Co-Chair

The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program is a two-year postgraduate certificate training program for mental health professionals. Classes use lectures, discussion, case presentations and clinical examples to teach principles of child development, psychopathology, assessment and psychotherapy of children and adolescents from a psychodynamic orientation. The learning process is enhanced by weekly supervision with senior child therapists.

Clinical work with children and their parents is an exacting and exciting subspecialty; postgraduate training deepens the clinician's understanding of the unfolding dynamics and informs and enriches the work. The scope of the coursework and the broad experience of our faculty offer clinicians in both private practice and public service agencies a unique opportunity to enhance their professional lives.

ELIGIBILITY

The program is open to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, professional counselors, and other mental health professionals with a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience. Because the focus of this program is on long-term individual work with children, adolescents, and parents, each student is expected to work with at least one child and one older child in long-term therapy during the course of the program. For those students not currently engaged in long-term therapy, the program will support efforts to find appropriate cases. Personal therapy is strongly recommended.

SCHEDULE, TUITION, FEES

Classes begin in September and last through May, meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9:30 with a half-hour break for dinner. In addition to the Wednesday class, students are required to attend two half-day conferences each year. Students also participate in 30 weekly individual supervision sessions. Tuition for the 2008–2009 academic year is $2,350; supervision is offered at a reduced fee of $50 per session. This two-year training program starts a class every two years: the next class will begin the fall of 2009.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Students are asked to submit a curriculum vitae and a statement about their interest in the program. Qualified applicants will be invited for interviews with three faculty members. On request, applicants will be required to provide professional references.

STUDY GROUP

In alternate years, the program faculty will offer a year-long study group in topics in child development and child therapy to those potentially interested in enrolling in the next course cycle. Classes will meet monthly from September through May; tuition is $375. Applicants are requested to submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of interest.

CURRICULUM