April 2006
To understand what the Psychoanalytic Therapy
and Research Centre (PTRC) is, it would be useful to take a
quick look at its history.
During the latter half of the 1960s, the Bombay
group of psychoanalysts felt the need to create an institution.
The group was small, and miles away both from its mother body,
the Indian Psychoanalytical Society in Calcutta and the International
Psychoanalytical Association in London. Training for students
was available but there were hardly any facilities. Some of
Bombay’s senior analysts took it upon themselves to improve
matters. They approached some industrialists, including Mr.
Sultan Nathani, Mr Suresh Shah and Mr Balwant Parekh, who understood
psychoanalysis and its worth, and they managed to raise enough
funds to rent premises from where the group could begin its
activities. Others also pooled in their resources and a psychoanalytically
oriented Child Guidance Clinic – the first of its kind
in Bombay – was begun.
During those days, taking small children for analysis
was quite new in India. Mrs Melanie Klein’s work was known
here but no one had actually tried to work with children till
then. At the PTRC’s new Centre, besides seeing children
in analysis, clinical meetings and discussions started taking
place. Senior analysts held lectures; students presented their
papers and students also began taking their training cases in
the rooms here. It slowly grew into a very active, vibrant centre.
It was in 1970-71, when a few psychoanalysts attended
the International Congress of Psychoanalysis in London, that
they met Dr Donald Meltzer, one of the prominent members of
Mrs Klein’s circle. Dr Meltzer readily accepted an invitation
to visit India. When Dr Meltzer and Mrs. Martha Harris (then
a director at London’s Tavistock Clinic) came to Bombay,
it marked the beginning of a long and eventful academic history
between the British Psychoanalytical Society and the Bombay
group of analysts.
Soon Dr Meltzer suggested that the Bombay group ask Miss Betty
Joseph (a Senior Training Psychoanalyst in London) to visit
Bombay too. That, in turn, set the trend for the next 17 years,
when most of Mrs Klein’s important students came to Bombay
to lecture and hold seminars. In fact, Miss Joseph literally
adopted the group! Stalwarts like Mrs Edna O’Shaughnessy,
Dr Eric Brenman, Mrs Irma Pick, Dr Michael Feldman, Dr. Iain
Dresser and Miss Paddy Daniel, all contributed in completing
a long and comprehensive education in modern psychoanalysis
for the Bombay group.
The group steadily grew in numbers and in stature.
Students and analysts were charged with excitement. The quality
of the Bombay group’s work improved considerably and the
Centre was buzzing with activity. But then there were some losses
as well. Some of the senior analysts left and there were some
problems with PTRC’s rented premises. For a while it seemed
like the Centre might come to a halt. However, after some years,
and with the ceaseless efforts of a core faculty group of five
committed psychoanalysts and child psychotherapists (Mr Sarosh
Forbes, Mrs Minnie Dastur, Mr Sailesh Kapadia, Mrs Aiveen Bharucha
and Dr Manek Bharucha), activities began again. Over time, Mr.
Sarosh Forbes established contact with Australian colleagues
and this made it possible for the PTRC to begin its bi-annual
Indo-Australian Conferences. Word of this spread and soon the
Israeli Psychoanalytical Society joined in these conferences.
It is hoped that in the near future, other professional groups
will also participate in these efforts. Apart from stimulating
contact with the international community, these conferences
have helped formulate and present the Bombay Group’s scientific
work to colleagues from other countries.
The PTRC also began its Observational Course in
June 1996 and its Child Psychotherapy Clinical Training in June
1999, on the lines of the Tavistock Clinic in London. In 2002
Mr Zareer Cama, ( CEO, HSBC, India) launched the website of
the Centre (www.psychoanalysis-mumbai.org). In mid-2005, PTRC
inaugurated its Horniman Circle Therapy Centre, offering psychoanalytical
psychotherapy to children and adults on a low-fee basis.
Over these years there has been a continuous stream
of visiting lecturers from the U.K. and the U.S.A. including
Mrs Gianna Williams, Mrs. Margaret Rustin, Professor Michael
Rustin, Ms.Lynn Barnett, Dr. Begum Maitra, Mrs Asha Phillips,
Dr Tharu Naidoo, Farhad Dalal and Mrs Zenobia Nadirshaw.
In the summer of 2005, a group of six child psychotherapists
and adult analysts and clinical students from Mumbai visited
the Tavistock and Portman Clinic in London. They attended seminars,
lectures, clinical discussions and two international conferences
in the five weeks that they were there, and returned greatly
enriched by their experience.
The PTRC has, once again, gained new vigour to
continue the long journey of propagating and advancing the science
of psychoanalysis in India. However, a lot more still needs
to be done. We urgently require a larger place to house the
clinic and training center, to establish a career structure
for psychoanalytically trained psychotherapists in Mumbai, and
scholarships for students interested in training. We also need
to increase provision for needy sections of the community such
as street children and low income families.
The Trustees of the PTRC have supported us in
all our activities. We are, indeed, fortunate for the professional
expertise that each one of them has brought to the PTRC.
We hope that this newsletter will enable us to
reach larger numbers of people and that it will also bring forward
both individual and institutional philanthropists who will see
the value of PTRC’s work and help us in our endeavours.
PTRC’s Training
Each year, The PTRC conducts a series of talks
to make psychoanalytical thinking accessible to professionals
and students who are interested in developing their understanding
of current applications of psychoanalytical ideas. The talks
include topics such as: Introduction to Psychoanalysis; Meaning
of Children’s Play and the Work of the Child Psychotherapist.
Currently, PTRC offers three courses.
a) The Tavistock Model Mumbai Course in Psychoanalytical
Observational Studies.
b) Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with Children, Parents
and Young People
c) The Adult Psychoanalytic Training course.
The faculty includes Dr Manek Bharucha, Mrs Aiveen
Bharucha, Mr. Sarosh Forbes, Mr Shailesh Kapadia, Mrs Minnie
Dastur, Mrs Micky Bhatia, Mrs Zarine D’Monte and Ms Banu
Ismail. The visiting faculty from the U.K. includes Mrs Gianna
Williams, Mrs Margaret Rustin, Mr Michael Rustin and Mrs Asha
Phillips.
The current year (2005-2006) has 12 students in
the Observational Studies Course, 4 students in clinical training
for the Child Psychotherapy Course and 3 students in clinical
training for the Adult Psychoanalytic Course.
a) The Observational Studies Course is identical to that offered
by the Tavistock Clinic in London. (The Tavistock Clinic is
fully funded by the UK government within the National Health
Scheme, and is the largest training centre of its kind in the
UK.) This 2-year course serves both as a foundation course for
those who wish to go on to do the clinical training, as well
as a course for those who may wish to remain in their present
careers but gain a deeper understanding of children’s
development. The course is based on working in ordinary settings
-- like nurseries and schools -- as opposed to clinic settings.
Central to this course is the study of child development through
detailed observations as well as theories, all the while linking
the theory with the practice.
Each of the two years of the
observation course consist of four seminars, which are:
i) Baby Observation Seminars, where a baby is observed from
as close to birth as possible till he/she reaches two years
of age. Trainees are expected to undertake weekly observations
of the baby and mother together in their family setting and
write a paper on their work. Since the course began, there have
been over 90 baby observations done and there is now a substantial
body of research and work. .
ii) Young Child Observation Seminars, where weekly observations
of a young, pre-school child in a family setting are undertaken.
iii) Psychoanalytical Theory Seminars, in which developments
in Psychoanalytical theory from the works of Freud to later
ideas of Winnicott and Melanie Klein are studied.
iv) Child Development Seminars, where a wide range of subjects
are covered, from peri-natal to post-natal development, to parent-infant
bonding, and the attachment theory and research.
The Observational Studies Course provides an in-depth
understanding of interactions with children in one’s existing
field of work. It equips students with the ability to work in
settings where mothers have difficulties with their infants
and helps the student understand parents’ difficulties
with their children.
Enquiries to Course Coordinator:
Mrs Zarine D’Monte
Tel: 22823488 (until May 2006)
26427088 (after May 2006)
b) The Training Course in Clinical Psychoanalytic
Psychotherapy with Children, Parents and Young People. This
course, together with the course in Psychoanalytic Observational
Studies as a pre-clinical component, forms a training for qualification
as a Child Psychotherapist. This course is also modelled on
that of the Tavistock Clinic, London.
The psychotherapeutic experience during clinical
training is extensive and includes attending intensive and non-intensive
psychoanalytic cases, working with a family or group of children
and adolescents, working with parents, as well as doing brief
work, assessments and consultations. In addition, working with
the community and other professional caregivers is encouraged.
Course Consultant: Mrs Margaret Rustin , Head
of the Child Psychotherapy Department, Tavistock and Portman
Clinic, London.
Visiting teachers: Mrs Asha Phillips (London), Mrs Gianna Williams,
Mrs Margaret Rustin, Mr. Michael Rustin (London).
This Course is supported by a generous 3-year
HSBC scholarship which supports a Trainee Child Psychotherapist
working at a school over a 3-year period of their training.
We are also grateful to the Lalkaka Trust (Ratan and Cawas Lalkaka);
Mrs Feroza Seervai and the Versova Vidyalaya Fund. Thanks to
this support, our clinical students have been working as counsellors
in two schools: The Alexandra Girls Educational Institution
(Mayavi Khandelwal and Gouri Salvi) and Girton High School (Manju
Mukhi). Due to the very generous donations of Mr Navroze Seervai
over a period of several years, we have been able to support
the Post of the Clinic Director at the Horniman Circle Therapy
Centre.
The programme of teaching events in this course
include:
i) Weekly Supervision of psychotherapy cases.
ii) Group Supervision. A small group of trainees and a supervisor
meet weekly to discuss ongoing work. These groups provide a
forum for discussion of ongoing psychotherapeutic work, giving
the trainees the opportunity to become familiar with one another’s
cases and individual styles of work.
iii) Work with Parents Seminars give the clinical trainees an
opportunity to present ongoing work with parents, looking into
the different applications of psychoanalytical thinking in working
with parents.
iv) Assessment Seminars provide a forum for the trainees to
present assessment sessions with children, parents and families.
In the discussion of the material, the focus is on thinking
about the nature and extent of the difficulties and determining
the possibility of offering either short-term work or long-term
psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
v) Theory Seminars. These are a series of lectures/discussions
on the psychoanalytic tradition and clinical concepts, which
aims to provide a framework for thinking about clinical experience.
They also introduce the wider literature. A seminar is offered
on Melanie Klein’s ‘Narrative of a Child Analysis’,
as well as an advanced study of Klein’s thought, within
the historical perspective of psychoanalytic theory. Theory
seminars will also centre around recent contributions to psychoanalytic
thought and to the understanding of psychoses, depression and
manic states of mind. The work of Wilfred Bion and the use of
his concepts in clinical work, is studied in some depth. Students
are also offered a seminar on technique, which looks at using
psychoanalytical thinking in a clinical setting.
Students submit a clinical paper of 8,000-10,000
words. This paper will focus on the work done with one of the
intensive therapy cases, relating the work to psychoanalytic
literature and other clinical studies and research. Over the
years, students have produced a substantial body of clinical
papers on psychotherapy work with child patients.
In addition, the clinical training in Psychoanalytical
Child Psychotherapy, requires students to have a minimum of
four weekly sessions of personal analysis with a psychoanalyst
recognised by the PTRC. Students are expected to have at least
one year’s personal analysis before they can begin their
clinical training. This is a probationary period to ensure the
suitability of the student for in-depth clinical work.
This programme for the clinical training course
in child psychotherapy is based on a minimum of three years
clinical work and study. The required practical experience of
clinical work and the wide range of training events make this
a very intensive course. We hope and aim to offer a training
which will help to educate professionals to be capable of independent
work and initiative.
On completion of the course requirements to the
satisfaction of the Training Committee, the student will receive
a certificate of completion of a Tavistock Model Psychoanalytical
Child Psychotherapy Training.
The Course Consultant to the Mumbai course is
Mrs Gianna Williams, who was the Organising Tutor of the equivalent
course at the Tavistock Clinic, London. Mrs. Williams’
generous support, encouragement and guidance made it possible
for the PTRC to develop Tavistock Model Training Courses in
Mumbai.
Enquiries to the Course Organiser: Mrs Zarine
D’Monte
Tel: 22823488 (until May 2006)
26427088 (after May 2006)
c) The Adult Psychoanalytic Training Course is
conducted by the Bombay Sub Committee Board of Training, Indian
Psychoanalytical Society, Calcutta. This course is based upon
experience of clinical work with emotionally disturbed adults.
The course follows the standards recommended by
the International Psychoanalytical Association ( IPA). The Indian
Psychoanalytical Society (IPS) is a component of the IPA. Completion
of the training leads to professional qualification as a psychoanalyst.
The qualified psychoanalyst is registered with the Indian Psychoanalytical
Society and the IPA as a full member. Registration with the
IPA also means that the qualified analyst would have international
recognition. On writing an acceptable clinical paper of 8,000
– 10,000 words, based on the experience of each of the
two training cases, he/she will become a full member of IPS,
which includes voting rights.
The student must be in personal analysis 4-5 times
a week with a training analyst of the Indian Psychoanalytical
Society from the time the applicant has been accepted for the
course. The student is required to be in personal analysis with
a training analyst for a year before registration can be considered
with the Indian Psychoanalytical Society. During this period
of provisional acceptance, a student who is not already doing
the Observational Studies Course (see details above) need have
little contact with the Training Organisation. A student already
with the Observational Studies Course can continue with it during
the period of provisional acceptance.
Registration is initiated by the student’s
training analyst after discussion with the student.
After Registration, the student is offered the
following facilities:
i) Use of library facilities
ii) Subscription at a block rate to the International Journal
of Psychoanalysis
iii) Allocation of a progress advisor
At the beginning of the next academic year, the
student will then begin the Baby Observation Seminars and the
Psychoanalytical Theory Seminars with the students of the Observational
Studies Course. The adult training course does not require attendance
for the Young Child Observation Seminars, the Work Discussion
Seminars or the Child Development Seminars. For the analytical
trainee the Baby Observation Seminars will be for only one year
instead of for two years as for other students.
On completing two years of personal analysis,
baby observation seminars and psychoanalytical theory seminars,
the students have the opportunity to treat two adult patients,
4-5 times a week along with weekly supervision for each case,
for at least two years. At the same time the student continues
with more advanced theory seminars as well as clinical seminars.
The full course takes approximately 5 years for qualification.
The personal analysis will continue at least till qualification.
The minimum requirement for admission to the Adult
Training Course is a University degree or suitable substitute.
(For instance, completion of the two years Observational Studies
Course may be considered a suitable substitute.) The applicant
will first have an informal meeting with either of the Secretaries
of the Training Committee to find out about the requirements
and costs of the training. (If funds permit, there might be
a possibility of a scholarship for students in need of financial
help.) Subsequently, interviews will be arranged with two psychoanalysts.
If accepted the applicant will make arrangements to start his
personal analysis. The student’s analyst will be consulted
before the student can register with the IPS. The analyst will
also be asked if the student is ready to take adult cases under
supervision and finally, if there is any objection to his/her
qualifying as an adult analyst.
Enquiries to Joint Secretaries: Mr Sarosh Forbes.
Tel. No.: 23636317
Mrs Micky Bhatia. Tel. No. 23538089
The Horniman Circle Therapy Centre
PTRC’s Horniman Circle Therapy Centre is
located in the busy Fort area of South Mumbai. The Centre was
officially inaugurated on April 30, 2005, at a small, informal
function attended by friends, well-wishers, faculty and students.
The Centre staff includes Clinic Director, Ms Banu Ismail and
two Clinical Assistants, Mrs Mayavi Khandelwal and Mrs Gouri
Salvi
The Centre’s aim is to help and support
children, parents and adults with a wide range of emotional
difficulties. A team of child psychotherapists and adult psychoanalysts
work together here, providing consultations, psychoanalytic
and psycho-educational assessments, and psychotherapeutic treatment
– brief or long-term (intensive and non-intensive). The
scope of the Centre’s work, which began in June 2005,
includes understanding difficulties in emotional relationships,
helping to cope with bereavement, child abuse, communication
and autistic disorders, learning disabilities, behavioural problems,
eating disorders, self-harm and substance abuse in children
and adults.
The PTRC’s Horniman Circle Therapy Centre
is the only such organized clinic in Mumbai that is providing
help with emotional difficulties through psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The Centre was started with the aim of making this help accessible
to families of all incomes, in order to help them lead a healthier
emotional life. The fees, therefore, are structured on a sliding
scale.
Facilities are also available for seeing Clinic
patients at different locations in Mumbai.
Referrals to the Centre come in from educational institutions,
psychiatrists, paediatricians, general practitioners and others.
Currently, the Centre is open from 9.00 am till 8.00 pm from
Monday to Friday and consultations are by appointment only.
The Centre has three paid posts. Clinical students and qualified
therapists also see patients here – both children as well
as adults. Work is expanding and surely gaining momentum.
The Centre also houses one of the finest collections
of specialized books on psychoanalysis and related subjects
in the city. The library remains open every Saturday between
10.00 am and 2.00 pm for students of PTRC only. If non-PTRC
members wish to avail of the library they will have to apply
to PTRC for permission.
Much of course, still remains to be done and efforts
are on right now to try and raise funds for this pioneering
work. At the Centre we are trying our best to forge stronger
and more extensive links that will make our services available
to needy children. To achieve this, we hope to work together
with colleges, special educational institutions and other organizations
working with street children, abandoned children, children in
orphanages, day nurseries and children with physical disadvantages.
The Horniman Circle Therapy Centre is currently
in the process of putting in place a Young People’s Counselling
Service (YPCS). This service will offer 4-6 confidential counselling
sessions at a low cost to people aged 16-30 years, who may need
help with their personal, emotional difficulties.
Enquiries to Clinic Director: Banu Ismail. Tel:
22813735 or 56219992
The Mumbai Marathon Venture
For the first time this year, The PTRC participated
in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. This was our first,
concerted attempt to try and raise funds in a systematic manner
for the Centre. We were touched and encouraged by the tremendous
response we received from our friends and well-wishers. A total
of 202 participants ran or walked in the Marathon as representatives
of the PTRC, wearing our distinctive T-shirts. Fifteen of them
ran the Half Marathon. Dr. Percy Chibber, Consultant Urologist
at Jaslok Hospital, ran the Full Marathon, claiming second position
in his age group. Four people represented PTRC in the Dream
Team and the rest in the Dream Run. PTRC was given an award
by the organizers for being the NGO to collect the second highest
donations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each
and every person who helped us in so many different ways in
this venture. We hope that all of them – and many more
– will extend their help once more in the next Mumbai
Marathon!
Fund Raising initiatives for PTRC coordinated
by: Mrs Micky Bhatia
Tel.No.: 23538089
Board of Trustees
Mr. Navroze Seervai (Advocate, Bombay High Court)
Mrs. Falguni Desai (Solicitor, Partner, Kanga and Co.)
Mr. Anurag Kanoria (Businessman)
Mr. Hormuzd Madan (General Manager, Accenture, IT Department)
Mr. Pervez Mandroina (Retired)
The PTRC is a Registered Charitable Trust (No.
E-4971) under Section 80G of the Income Tax (Exemptions)
