Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (NSW Branch)

The Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychotherapy (ANZAP) was established in 1988 by psychotherapists associated with the Department of Psychiatry at Westmead Hospital, who had an interest in contemporary “models of self” in psychotherapy.

In 1990 ANZAP (NSW) established a 3-year training program leading to a Diploma of Psychotherapy. Trainees provide therapy to patients with Disorders of the Self ranging across a spectrum from Personality Disorders and Eating Disorders to chronic Depression and low self-esteem. Published research has demonstrated the benefit of this therapeutic approach. The therapy is informed primarily by Self-psychology based in Empathy, Transference and Intersubjectivity; also by other recent theory and research in Infant Development, Attachment, Affect and Trauma. Some members of ANZAP have come through the training programs while others have satisfied ANZAP standards for psychotherapy training and practice.

ANZAP (NSW) members are qualified professionals who work in psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy. The membership includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and medical practitioners.

ANZAP (NSW) members offer psychotherapeutic treatment suitable for the many forms of Self-disorder. These disorders are regarded as the product of developmental disruption by trauma. The trauma may be “macro” as in physical, sexual or emotional abuse or “micro” as in chronic misattunement by caregivers. This “conversational” psychotherapy allows a gradual elaboration of the inner world moving towards an increased sense of self with ownership of one’s thoughts and feeling. Exploring the therapeutic relationship and understanding influences of the past and transference provides context and containment for this therapy process.

PACFA Section Integrative Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Website link www.anzapweb.com