Organization of the Academic Program

The School is organized into a four-year program of study, divided into two biennia, consisting of 510 annual hours of theoretical and practical training, structured as follows:

• 360 hours of coursework per year, generally scheduled over two weekends per month, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(With the exception of the annual residential event, which may take place over several days, including weekdays.)
Included in the total hours are a minimum of 20 and up to 40 hours per year of laboratory-based training in which students observe or participate in clinical activities; these laboratory sessions take place on weekdays, typically on Friday afternoons.

• 150 hours of practical training (internship) per year for all four years, to be completed in public or private accredited institutions with which the School has formal agreements.

FIRST BIENNIUM

• Provide foundational knowledge of epistemology and complexity theory, the theory of living systems, and systemic communication theory.

• Introduce students to the application of the systemic approach in understanding human relationships, the family, the group, and the individual conceived as a system.

• Teach the formulation and use of the genogram.

• Introduce students to the analysis and understanding of pathological frameworks and clinical phenomena in terms of hypothesizing, starting from context and singularity in psychotherapeutic work.

• Provide students with specific sensitivity to hospitality, relational engagement, and the therapeutic interview.

• Enable students to learn methods of gathering information that guide the formulation of clinical hypotheses: circular questions, reflective questions, and questions oriented toward tenderness and transcultural listening.

• Provide students with critical tools for qualitative research in psychotherapy.

• Offer the foundations for recognizing and understanding the main psychopathological classifications and their management within Health and Social-Health Services.

• Provide basic elements for formulating and conducting individual and/or group therapeutic interventions.

• Support the human and professional growth of students through the experience of group clinical supervision, including work based on the genogram.

SECOND BIENNIUM

• Provide knowledge of the most recent developments in complexity theory, observer theories, autopoietic systems theory, constructivist theories, and anthropo-social theories that guide the School's systemic clinical approach.

• Introduce students to the application of the theoretical principles of second-order cybernetics, observer theory, and complexity in understanding the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic process.

• Enable guided learning — through direct and indirect experiences — of clinical practice with families, groups, couples, and individuals.

• Promote professional development toward conducting practices that foster an affective and compassionate relational stance toward those engaged in therapy.