The Red Book

A handbook about EPF

The "Red Book" contains the basic information about the EPF, its structure and activities. It is called and known to member as the "Red Book" just because it was originally produced in a red folder.

CONTENTS

• Introduction
• EPF Constitution and by-laws
• EPF regular events
• Practical information for Society Presidents and IPA Eurorepresentatives on meetings - what, where, when

Introduction

The "Red Book" contains the basic information about the EPF, its structure and activities. It is called and known to member as the "Red Book" just because it was originally produced in a red folder. The basic information provided is:

• the general scientific schedule of events of the EPF
• the general scientific schedule of National European Societies
• the EPF's constitution and Bye-Laws
• the EPF's basic financial regulations
• information about the EPF's activities:
  • Council Meetings
  • Main Conference
  • Seminar for Newly Qualified Analysts
  • New Qualified Training Analysts Meeting
  • Forum on Education
  • European Psychoanalytic Conference for University Students

A general outline for each scientific activity is provided together with a summary of the S.O.P. (Standard Operational Procedure) for the organization of the event.

The EPF Secretary is responsible for updating the "Red Book".

The Treasurer is responsible for information on financial issues.

The Liaison Member of the Executive provides any update on the event, which is his/her responsibility.

EPF Annual Conference

EPF Annual Conference is usually held on the last weekend before Easter - from Friday morning to Sunday noon. The Preconference workshops usually take place on Wednesday and/or Thursday before the opening of the annual conference on Friday morning. Details can be found on the EPF website.

A change of this date can be made one year in advance by the EPF Executive if there is a clash with the Passover holiday.

NQAS - NEWLY QUALIFIED ANALYSTS SEMINAR

This seminar meets annually during the second weekend of June.

It was recently known as the New Member Seminar, but has now evolved to the description for which it is the Newly Qualified Analyst Seminar (NQAS). The Seminar takes place in the EPF House in Brussels. It begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday late morning.

Each analyst brings clinical analytic work to present to a group of colleagues from other associations, and to the supervising training analyst. Each group, whose participants remain the same during the seminar, works in turn with a different supervisor. The work consists of listening to the work of one analyst, in each session, starting with a brief history and then a detailed description of two sessions of patient analysis. The language of the seminar is English. Even if one feels that one's knowledge of English is less than others, the atmosphere is such that there are many ready interpreters among colleagues. Each participant can take part in the seminar only once.

This process is less about supervision and more about listening to how colleagues from different training, analytic models and cultures understand and discuss psychoanalysis. This can allow for a significant moment of experience that a familiar teaching model is only one of many.

This EPF tradition has enabled many colleagues from all over Europe to meet and form friendships, some of which can last for years.

There is some financial support available for colleagues who work in societies and cultures that require charging low fees.

NQTAM - NEWLY QUALIFIED TRAINING ANALYSTS MEETING

This seminar meets annually during the first weekend of September.

It takes place in the EPF House in Brussels, and begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday noon. The language is English.

Three Training Analysts moderate three groups of participants, who work throughout the meeting with the same moderator. The aim of this meeting is to allow newly qualified training analysts to share their experiences at this moment of their analytical life. At this time, they may feel uncomfortable, whether they will have to do training analysis in the Eitingon model, or supervision in both models. Being able to talk about it freely, in a neutral place, outside their society, helps them to overcome these difficulties. The group and the exchanges with their peers also allow them to create links with other colleagues, whom they may have previously thought distant from their own concerns. As with the NMS groups, the group of young Training Analysts can continue by itself, sometimes for years.

Each participant can attend only once to this meeting.

FORUM ON EDUCATION

This is the oldest meeting, preceding even the creation of the EPF.

This meeting takes place annually during the first weekend of December, in the EPF House in Brussels; it begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday noon. The language is English.

This meeting of Training Analysts is intended to work on training issues. Each year, a different theme is covered. Two lectures are given during the Saturday plenary session, and on Saturday afternoon and the beginning of Sunday morning, small groups discuss a clinical situation brought by one of the participants. That work in small groups allows a joint reflection on confidential issues.

The Forum on Education is an annual meeting for many colleagues, who come together to exchange experiences and deepen the foundations of their training methods.

EPCUS - European Psychoanalytic Conference for University Students

The European Psychoanalytic Conference for University Students was initiated to introduce basic psychoanalytic concepts to students, recognizing the importance of links between psychoanalysis and university studies.

Since 2016, EPCUS has taken place every first weekend of October at the EPF House in Brussels, hosting undergraduate and post-graduate students (especially those studying medicine, psychology,  and humanities) from more than twenty European countries, and offering them a unique opportunity to approach the psychoanalytic way of thinking by listening to prominent psychoanalysts, by meeting colleagues, and forming networks. In this way, EPCUS provides perspectives into various aspects of personal development in a distinct atmosphere of learning, exchange, and enthusiasm, for which it has started to be known and looked forward to every year.

EPCUS is structured as a three-day event of lectures with discussions, discussion groups, a joint evening of presenting a film, a film or musical extracts, with discussion afterwards, enhanced with informal talks during coffee breaks, dinner or lunch pauses, and all happening in the EPF House in Brussels for a very low, “student’s adapted” fee. All presentations are in English.

From 2019 onwards, all registered participants receive a “Reading List & Suggested Reading Material” for preparation before the Conference and, on request by participants, all presentations (without case material) are sent to them after the Conference. Also, EPCUS students have the possibility to participate in other conferences with a reduced fee, as well as continuously being informed of events and news via mailing lists and the EPCUS Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/epcus/ or Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/epcus_epf/

 

COUNCIL MEETINGS

The Council, a meeting of all presidents, is usually held twice a year.

1. One meeting is usually held on the first weekend in November (or late October/early November). This meeting takes place at EPF house in Brussels and runs from Friday from 2 p.m. to Sunday until 12 a.m. On Thursday evening around 7-7.30 p.m., a welcome drink is organised for those who have already arrived. This is an opportunity to meet informally and get to know each other.
   On Saturday evening, the EPF Executive organises a dinner for all Council participants, including the IPA Eurorepresentatives.
   Sunday morning is dedicated to the meeting of the EPF Council with the IPA Eurorepresentatives. Usually issues concerning the relationship between the societies and the IPA are discussed.
   Administrative Assistant to the EPF Executive, Frank Goderniaux, is responsible for hotel reservations and on-site organisational matters.
   The EPF reimburses travel expenses and two nights' accommodation after the meeting. Reimbursement is made by completing a claim form and sending it to the  treasurer.
2. The second Council has no fixed date and is held just before and at the venue of the EPF Annual Conference. The Council meets on Wednesday from 9am to 6pm.
   Usually part of the afternoon session is devoted to meeting IPA officers and sometimes to meeting regional representatives from North and South America.
   In the evening, there is a President's Dinner, which is organised by the society or societies hosting the conference in cooperation with the EPF Executive.
   After the meeting, the EPF reimburses travel expenses and one night's accommodation on the basis of a completed claim form.
   Organisational matters for the conference and part of the Council Meeting are provided by CSI Hamburg, with which EPF has been cooperating for some time.