European Psychoanalytical Federation
| European Psychoanalytical Federation | |
|---|---|
| Organization details | |
| Type | Federation |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Founder(s) | Raymond de Saussure |
| Key figures | Raymond de Saussure, Evelyne Kestemberg |
| Orientation | Freudian |
| Institutional context | |
| Affiliation | International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) |
| Relation to IPA | Consolidates European IPA-affiliated societies |
| Operations | |
| Headquarters | Europe (no fixed headquarters) |
| Geographic scope | Europe |
| Training function | Annual conferences on training standards |
| Publications | EPF Bulletin, newsletters |
| Website | https://www.epf-fep.eu/ |
The European Psychoanalytical Federation (EPF) is a scientific organization that unites all IPA-affiliated psychoanalytic societies in Europe.[1] Founded in 1966, it serves as a forum for discussing training standards, research, and the development of psychoanalysis across twenty-two countries, encompassing approximately 3,900 members in 2002 from twenty-five societies and three study groups.[1] The EPF emphasizes scientific exchange while preserving the autonomy of its member societies, distinguishing it from the more regulatory role of the IPA.[1]
History
Precursors and Origins
The idea of a European psychoanalytic organization emerged from a series of biennial European conferences on training initiated in 1960, with discussions intensifying at the third Conference on Training Standards in 1964.[2][1] These meetings highlighted the need for unified guidelines on psychoanalytic training in Europe, inspired partly by the American Psychoanalytic Association's model, though European societies prioritized their independence.[1]
Founding (1966)
The EPF was formally established in 1966 by Raymond de Saussure, a prominent member of the Société suisse de psychanalyse, with Evelyne Kestemberg serving as its first secretary.[1][3] De Saussure's commitment to European unity in psychoanalysis, rooted in his broad cultural engagement across French and Germanic traditions, drove the federation's creation as a counterpoint to national fragmentation.[3]
Growth and Expansion
Initially focused on annual training conferences and a modest bulletin, the EPF expanded by 2004 to host over ten scientific events annually, including colloquia on child analysis, clinical seminars, and initiatives in Eastern Europe.[1] It has facilitated the integration of study groups (e.g., Romanian, Belgrade, Polish) into the IPA structure and collaborated on projects like the Psychoanalytic Institute for Eastern Europe.[4]
Organizational Structure
The EPF operates as a federation of independent societies, administered by an executive board comprising an executive committee (president, president-elect, two vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor) and presidents of member societies and study groups.[1]
Governance
The structure ensures representation without overriding societal autonomy, functioning primarily as a scientific clearinghouse rather than a regulatory body like the IPA.[1] Its bylaws outline six goals: promoting psychoanalysis, maintaining training standards, fostering research, enhancing communication via publications and conferences, facilitating interdisciplinary dialogue, and building contacts with other disciplines.[1]
Membership Categories
Membership is institutional, aggregating IPA-affiliated societies, provisional societies, and study groups. Study groups represent the entry level toward full IPA integration.[1]
Training and Formation
The EPF does not directly train analysts but serves as a forum for harmonizing standards across Europe. It organizes annual conferences on training, clinical seminars, and events addressing evaluation of training methods, professional status (psychoanalyst vs. psychotherapist), and multilingual challenges.[1]
Key Activities
- Conferences and Colloquia: Focus on training, child and adolescent analysis, and controversial issues.
- Eastern Europe Initiatives: Seminars and summer universities to support psychoanalysis's development in the region.[1]
Key Concepts / Theoretical Orientation
Aligned with the Freudian tradition, the EPF promotes core psychoanalytic principles including standards for practice, teaching, and research, while accommodating diverse European cultural and linguistic traditions.[1] Its activities emphasize ethical and democratic values, fostering a shared European psychoanalytic identity amid differences.[1]
Notable Members
- Raymond de Saussure: Founder and first president, advocate for European psychoanalytic unity.[3]
- Evelyne Kestemberg: First secretary, instrumental in early organization.[1]
Publications
The EPF issues newsletters, an annual bulletin (initially 20 pages), and collections of articles on its history. It maintains an archive to preserve and provide access to psychoanalytic history and facilitate scientific exchange.[1][5][6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Template:Cite encyclopedia
- ↑ "Letter from the President of the European Psychoanalytic Federation". International Journal of Psychoanalysis. https://pep-web.org/search/document/IJP.098.0007A.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Raymond de Saussure. First president of the European Psychoanalytical Federation". PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9587809/.
- ↑ "Our History". International Psychoanalytical Association.
- ↑ "Archive". European Psychoanalytical Federation.
- ↑ "On the History of the EPF". European Psychoanalytical Federation.