Foundations in Psychoanalysis

Introduction to Psychoanalysis within the Freudian field of Psychoanalysis in the Lacanian orientation.

One Semester Course / August 2026 – November 2026

Registrations are now being accepted – please email secretary@lacan.org.nz

Foundations in Psychoanalysis is a one-semester course comprising eight Seminars and eight Clinical Thinking Workshops. Offering an introduction to a Lacanian approach to psychoanalysis, grounded in the Freudian tradition, it is designed to explore the clinical application of psychoanalytic theory. Participants engage with core concepts such as repetition, repression, the drive, transference, and the unconscious.

Led by experienced psychoanalysts, the Seminars provide a strong theoretical foundation, while the Clinical Thinking Workshops offer a focused forum for discussing clinical material and developing psychoanalytic thinking. These workshops are particularly valuable for those interested in the psychoanalytic clinic. Foundations in Psychoanalysis serves as an entry point for those considering the Clinical Training in Psychoanalysis programme, as well as for individuals with a broader interest in the field.

This course is suited to those wishing to deepen their understanding of psychoanalytic theory, whether to complement academic study, to enrich clinical experience through their own psychoanalysis, or as preparation for the three-year Clinical Training in Psychoanalysis programme. Places are limited and we welcome your enquiry.

1. Theory of the Unconscious
Participants are introduced to the foundational concepts of Freud’s work, their elaboration by Jacques Lacan, and their application in clinical practice. This involves a comprehensive study of the formations of the unconscious and the epistemological, philosophical, and clinical questions they give rise to.

2. Theory of the Drive and Sexuality
The theory of the drive and the infantile sexuality. This subject includes a close study of the structure of the drive, Lacan’s unique theory of the object, and the complex topic of sexual identity.

3. Theory of Discourse and Repetition
Freud’s theory of repetition and Lacan’s extension, which situates it as the effect of language on the speaking being. Lacan gives the name “Discourse” to the particular social bonds that are possible as a result of this effect, arguing the “Analyst’s Discourse” marks a new form of social bond possible for the speaking-being.

4. Transference
This area of study involves a close examination of Freud and Lacan’s theory of transference, which is fundamental to the appearance of repetition compulsion in psychoanalytic practice.