The Institute of Classical Psychoanalysis was founded in 1998 in Athens with its main aim to study classical psychoanalysis and its clinical applications as well as the so called “psychoanalytic-psychotherapy”. The Institute’s main aim which determines all its educational and other activities is the in-depth study of Sigmund Freud and other classical analysts’ works. Thus, by building knowledge upon them a satisfactory comprehension of psychoanalytical theory and technique could be achieved for the benefit of clinical practice.
The functional definition of the Institute is to be found: a) in the understanding of psychoanalytical terminology, b) in the differences of classical psychoanalysis from other scientific endeavors (e.g. developmental psychology, philosophy, sociology) even if at a first glance it appears to bear relationship with them and c) in the creation of a genuine identity for the future analyst which will be based on his/her inner function, instinctual life and human subjectivity.
Ιt is well appreciated that lack of psychoanalytical identity which often appears as being unaccountable it is in fact the result of inherent difficulties that characterize the nature of classical psychoanalysis and its study. However, those difficulties are not necessary insurmountable and to a large extent could be overcome provided that careful consideration is paid to what is called “psychoanalytical setting” and “meta-psychological” understanding.
The historical occurrence of the move of psychoanalysis towards the management of psychological disorders and their inclusion within the field of academic psychology as the result of the debarment of the meaning of “the unconscious” gave prominence to sciences like “Cognitive Psychoanalysis”, “Neuro Psychoanalysis”, “Ego Psychology”, “Self Psychology”, “Object Relations Psychoanalysis”, “Existential Psychoanalysis”, “Independent Psychoanalysis” and other orientations. Today it is important to try a re-definition of psychoanalysis. A careful review at Freud’s Works can lead us to the safe conclusion that a unifying definition of psychoanalysis could only be achieved with the help of the meta-psychological principles that determine the most inner functions of the mental apparatus.
The re-examination of the above mentioned issues are considered of primary importance in regards to the accomplishment of the Institute’s goals. The Institute applies a systematic study of all these in an effort to establish psychoanalysis as the main bearer of knowledge of the unconscious and of the therapeutic advancements that alleviate relevant human suffering.