Jungian child psychotherapy

An author’s program for specialists who want to gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in working with children and adolescents using an analytical approach.

Program author: Oksana Zaleska – Jungian analyst, child psychotherapist, PhD, member of Ukrainian Association of Analytical Psychologists (UAAP group member of IAAP), member of PAChAP, member of Ukrainian society of psychotherapists (USP), Senior expert at Mental Health Center of NaUKMA

The program, with a 20-year history and the 10th group starting in 2024, is a testament to its continuous evolution and development. It now boasts an international faculty, drawn from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Israel. This global perspective enriches the theoretical knowledge and practical skills that participants gain, fostering a sense of belonging to a worldwide community of child psychotherapists.

The program uses a variety of teaching tools: seminars, lectures, practical exercises, creative tasks, reflective discussions, and clinical supervision.

The program is structured into four blocks, each focusing on different aspects of child psychotherapy. Participants will also engage in supervised clinical work with children, providing hands-on experience and support. The program supervisors are Oksana Zaleska, Yulia Larina, and Yulia Grushetska.

• Introduction. Organization of child psychotherapy practice, and basics of counseling children and adolescents.
• Theories of child development, psychoanalytic models, contemporary research on infants, and diagnostic models.
• Clinical tools (serial drawing, play, verbal interaction, mythodrama, free play, storytelling, expressive sand play).
• The program includes a comprehensive set of clinical seminars, each focusing on a specific area of child psychotherapy. These specialized seminars cover a wide range of topics, including fears, aggression, addiction, somatic problems, school difficulties, traumatic experiences, complex trauma, gender identity, and more.

Part of the training involves clinical work with children under supervision. During the training, small supervision groups work on case studies and provide support. The program supervisors are Oksana Zaleska, Yulia Larina, and Yulia Grushetska.
Upon completion of the training, a colloquium is held where participants present their clinical work, consisting of a case description, work dynamics, and their theoretical justification. The program lasts 3.5 years.