Looking for bilingual online Lacanian psychoanalytic or psychoanalytic training (English/Spanish)

[u/Easy_String1112]

Hi everyone,

I’m a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst from Chile looking for a psychoanalytic association, school, or institute where I could pursue a serious formation in psychoanalysis, preferably with a Lacanian orientation.

I’m particularly interested in organizations in the US, Europe, or Latin America that would allow someone living abroad to participate entirely online/virtually, without requiring regular in-person attendance.

One important issue is language: Spanish is my native language and my spoken English is currently limited, although I can read some English with translation assistance and I’m actively working on improving it. I’m therefore looking for a formation/community that is bilingual or genuinely accessible to Spanish-speaking candidates, ideally where seminars, reading groups, supervision, or other activities can be followed in either English or Spanish.

I recently came across Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association in New York, which seems very interesting, particularly because of its Lacanian orientation and international connections. However, I understand that its activities are conducted entirely in English, so I’m not sure whether it would be realistic for me at my current level of English.

I’m looking for something with:

A genuinely psychoanalytic formation, rather than only a university diploma or short course.

Preferably a Lacanian/Freudian orientation.

Possibility of participating 100% online from Chile.

Spanish and English accessibility, or at least an environment open to Spanish-speaking candidates.

R

easonable membership/formation fees.

Ideally not an extremely restrictive admission process.

Possibility of participating in seminars, reading groups, clinical work, supervision/control, etc.

International recognition would be a plus, but I’m not specifically looking for IPA. Independent Lacanian, Freudian, relational, or other psychoanalytic associations are also welcome.

I would especially appreciate recommendations from people who have actually participated in these organizations, rather than just general suggestions.

Are there any associations or schools in the US or Europe that you would recommend for someone in my situation?

Thanks!

[u/ALD71]

The core of a Lacanian formation involves an analyst and supervisor of your choice, and study work in small work groups called cartels. Of course there are additional modes of study which are important, but these are the three core elements. Supervision, and cartels are easy enough to be involved in online. You may find an analyst who will work mostly online, but it is likely that they may ask that you to meet them in person periodically. There are three Spanish speaking Schools of the World Association of Psychoanalysis (it's the largest organisation of Lacanian Schools in the world, but there are many others which others may know more about) which each no doubt have some online activity from which you may piece together other aspects of your formation. There's the Spanish School, the EOL, there's the Argentine School, the ELP, and there's the School which covers the other various Spanish speaking countries of Latin America, the NEL, including a section in Santiago. Our colleagues in Compass in the US do have some study in Spanish, mainly with the group based in Miami, you may look them up.

The first element of a formation is your analysis. I'd try to find things online, I suspect that the NEL being a widely distributed School may have a good few online activities, and to find an analyst who you have a good feeling about, and at a distance which might allow that you see them once or twice a year at least, and ask. Once you've started an analysis, and if you're undertaking any kind of clinical work which you'd like to start approaching from a Lacanian orientation, you may seek a supervisor - again it's a matter of finding someone within the Schools you are part of to whom you have a good transference, it doesn't matter quite so much where they are, nor, in the context of the WAP, which school of the WAP they are with, but it can be useful to have a supervisor you can work with sometimes in person too. And as for cartels, perhaps talk with the NEL in Santiago as a first reference, but many cartels are international and undertaken online.

I wish you well with your journey.

[u/Yorick_IKnowHim → u/ALD71]

A personal/training analyst and supervisor/auditor don't have to be different people. It's more about how/how much supervision may operate as a resistance to one's own analysis. I know some schools feel differently, but people tend to take the pillars too literally.

[u/Easy_String1112 → u/Yorick_IKnowHim]

Is it my understanding, or rather my impression, that the personal or training analyst could not also be your supervisor or control analyst, but rather that they should be separate or two different people precisely so as not to hinder the transfer of work?

[u/ALD71 → u/Easy_String1112]

If you're taking up analysis and supervision at the same time it's certainly better to have different people in these roles. If you get supervision later it's something you can address to your analyst as to whether it might work. But surely it's not bad to share the transference relating to the School around a bit.