Summary of Joint CPC-HPC Meeting on 2/11/2012

 Richard Lightbody convened the meeting (22 attendees) with some brief statements of welcome.  He mentioned that the purpose of today’s meeting, was to re-visit the feasibility of a collaboration between the Hanna Perkins Center Child Psychoanalytic Training Program and the Cleveland Psychoanalytic Center’s Child Psychoanalytic Training Program.  A related purpose was to begin to re-consider the broader Strategic Plan of the Center from 2008, which had been electronically distributed.A point was made that HPC and CPC coming together could be a benefit in the training of child analysts, and present to the larger community a united group whose members work well together, pool resources, and together can strengthen the presence of and attitude about child psychoanalysis in Cleveland. The school and commitment to early childhood education, and outpatient clinic are strengths Hanna Perkins brings.The numbers of members of the CPC have decreased, and there is a need to study resources as well as limitations and need to prioritize to do with what we have, which is to strengthen and maintain psychoanalysis in Cleveland.The point was raised that there are strong emotions involved in both organizations, and some of these are negative emotions. Several people felt there is somewhat of a mistrust of each group by the other. There appears to be a split of opinion amongst faculty at Hanna Perkins concerning current attempts to consider a collaboration with the CPC-EC. Past negative feelings about the APsaA may be influencing some faculty of Hanna Perkins. People were reminded that about 25 years ago the American began to admit non-medical candidates to the organization, and this was met by great resistance. Looking back, we see that this change actually has brought about a flourishing of the organization, and did not lessen its value nor effectiveness.Candidates from Hanna Perkins and CPC met together with the representatives from APsaA this past fall during the ACPE site visit.  It was noteworthy that this was the first time some of them had met each other. The candidates had many feelings and thoughts about their respective training organizations, much of which were positive in nature, but there were also negative feelings discussed. Many in the group today feel that it has been very difficult to get a discussion going between HPC and CPC and difficult for people to listen to each other. It was mentioned that some faculty at HPC want to take things slowly re: considering any changes, and multiple people at today’s meeting feel there is presently a crisis, and long delays may not be helpful in finding resolution. There was an expressed worry of “stepping” on toes if we urged HPC to move more quickly on this whole matter of collaboration.Some members of the CPC feel they need to move forward with developing a child-only training program as well as considering a “consortium” training, though it is acknowledged that Hanna Perkins has a great deal to offer, and the hope would be that this can be a shared benefit. There is much empathy on the part of members of the CPC concerning feelings of Members of the HPC Faculty. People are aware that currently HPC has difficulty in the number of candidates as well as patients, as does the Center also. There was discussion regarding the desirability of training as preparing candidates to learn and that an authoritarian style of training can interfere with this. There should be room for growth, progression and combining things in a curriculum.  There appears to be a lack of clarity on the part of some regarding the similarities and differences between the HPC child training program and the CPC training program.  The adult training at CPC   is heavily Freudian with an emphasis on structural theory and ego psychology, but the candidates are exposed to other theoretical perspectives over the course of the training.  Some of the Faculty at HPC believe that it is important to provide candidates with a more focused immersion in Freudian theory, the writings of Anna Freud, and a solid understanding of child development from a metapsychological perspective.The issue of teaching only one method of psychoanalysis vs. exposing candidates to more than one method was discussed. The consensus of the group was that while teaching should have a solid foundation, it is also beneficial to broaden learning by learning more than just one method. People agreed that all theories in aggregate come closer to the truth than any one by itself. It was felt to be important that teaching is not the same as indoctrination, and teaching how knowledge has evolved is crucial. Examples were made of how if not done thoughtfully, more than one theoretical method can confuse those who are learning, but that perhaps learning more than one way from the beginning may in fact be an easier way to take in new knowledge. It was mentioned that it is best to keep what is of value, and carry that forward, while perhaps separating out what may not seem to still have value. CPC faculty say that much of their curriculum has basic similar things as does HPC, but CPC but there is ongoing revision in their curriculum. There is much overlap between HPC and CPC, and curriculum from both places can be looked at and evaluated currently.The general feeling at this meeting is that there is a crisis in child analysis. The desire is that it exists and succeeds even 10 yrs. from now. The need is to teach and train younger people to be the next generation of analysts here in Cleveland. CPC doesn’t yet have a designated child program per se. One comment was the wish to try to make pathway to move from adult to child training. There could be a consortium model, with the 2 child analytic training programs in Cleveland, some would enter thru HPC and some thru CPC. This is one possibility. It was said that curriculum is not as important as analysis and supervision. There was mention of creating a 3^rd program for child psychoanalysis here in Cleveland, which would be independent of both CPC and HPC.The group very much wants to hear from those at Hanna Perkins who are not in favor of a collaboration in child analytic training programs. One comment is that it is not good for psychoanalysis in Cleveland if we can’t get together to try and resolve things. There were three HPC Board members at the meeting, and they spoke up particularly in support of the school programs at HPC. They are concerned for the future of HPC school, and the lack of candidates to work in the school. In the more recent past, new trainees were brought to HPC, but the decision to do this was made unilaterally, and proved unsuccessful. The hope is that more child analysts will be trained.  Ten years ago there were 31 active analysts at CPC and now there are 21. The question of whether CPC trained analysts can also work in HPC school. The answer was that this is the hope. Examples were given of other psychoanalytic organizations that clashed, holding firmly on to what they believed to be right, but eventually came together. An example was given in the form of a limerick:What my father uttered while I was learning how to drive: "Here lies the body of Jonathan Hay.He died defending his right of way.He was right -- dead right --As he sped along!But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong." Accompanying this message was the question of whether we are here to indoctrinate or educate. The fact that there is so much out there to explore and new sources of information. We must have an attitude of openness. This is currently relevant. A group member said the attrition of the HPC group is the real current crisis there. Additionally, there is a need to train licensed professionals. A question was if someone were not HPC trained, could they now take a case or work in the school at HPC? HPC faculty cannot act autonomously from the board. A lot of Board members don’t understand what the HPC faculty are dealing with.  David Falk, president of the CPC Board, will soon meet with the president of the HPC Board. Those from HPC not in attendance today will be invited to attend the 2-25-12 meeting, and the hope is those who are opposed to a collaboration will attend and join in the discussion. There is a strong wish to hear their points of view on this matter.Consensus was this was a very productive meeting. Next Meeting will be at HPC in Conference Room on Saturday 2-25-12, 9-11 a/m. unless notified of a change. Closing thought was that we are all in a fight to preserve psychoanalysis here in Cleveland, and fighting amongst ourselves is a distraction.  Summary by Kay Levine, reviewed with few edits by Barbara Streeter and Richard Lightbody.  Finalized 2/15/2012