About
About ARPA
The Armenian Psychoanalytic Association promotes a scientific approach to psychoanalysis and strives to facilitate the dissemination of psychoanalytic thought. The Armenian Psychoanalytic Association promotes the dissemination of psychoanalytic theory and practice in Armenia. We bring together mental health professionals committed to clinical excellence and continuous professional development․
1994
Founded
46
Members
30+
Years of Excellence
Our Mission
The Armenian Psychoanalytical Association is dedicated to promoting the understanding and practice of psychoanalysis in Armenia. We strive to provide excellent training for mental health professionals, conduct meaningful research, and serve our community through education and outreach programs.
Our Programs
The Armenian Psychoanalytic Association promotes a scientific approach to psychoanalysis and fosters the continuous professional development of its members through high-level seminars and clinical training programs.
Fundamentals of Psychoanalysis
This seminar is based on the study of Sigmund Freud's foundational works and systematically presents the core principles and tenets of psychoanalytic theory. It allows participants to trace the creation and evolution of Freud's thought, as well as the continuous revision and reinterpretation of concepts as evidenced throughout his writings.
Led by: Arus Ghazaryan
Child Psychoanalysis
This seminar explores the historical development, theoretical foundations, and clinical practice of child psychoanalysis. The nuances of working with children are discussed from the perspective of direct clinical material.
Led by: Anzhela Vardanyan
Initial Consultation
This seminar explores different psychoanalytic approaches to conducting an initial consultation, providing participants with a comparative understanding of various ways of organizing and assessing the first clinical encounter.
Led by: Arthur Tonoyan
Psychopathology of the Child and Adolescent
This seminar offers an in-depth analysis of childhood and adolescent disorders, ranging from the specifics of clinical characteristics to the nuances of symptomatic manifestations.
Led by: Siranush Hakobyan
Transference and Countertransference in the Psychoanalytic Process
Transference and countertransference are fundamental concepts in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Initially regarded by Freud as obstacles to the analytic process, these concepts have continuously evolved and been refined. What are transference and countertransference today?
Led by: Maria Tevosyan
Collective Reflection
Collective reflection is a structured group process in which participants jointly explore a concrete case, identifying the mechanisms of action, perception, and interaction in order to review and develop professional practice.
Led by: Various specialists
The Texts That Accompany Us
In this seminar, which will take place over two years, a selection of psychoanalytic articles that have shaped the development of our discipline will be presented. The approach will involve assessing the impact of certain psychoanalytic texts on the analyst's listening and on their capacity to work through transference-countertransference dynamics in treatment. Theoretical readings will alternate with clinical presentations given by participants.
Led by: Irène Nigolian
Specifics of the Initial Consultation Across Different Age Groups
This seminar is devoted to the clinical nuances and techniques of the first encounter. We will examine how to establish an effective dialogue and choose appropriate approaches, taking into account the patient's age-related and psychological particularities.
Led by: Anahit Dasseux Ter Mesropian
Study of the Work of André Green
This seminar offers an in-depth analysis of the theoretical legacy of André Green, a major figure of the French psychoanalytic school. The focus will be on his key ideas and their practical application in contemporary clinical practice. Phenomena such as narcissism, masochism, splitting, sublimation, and negative hallucination will be examined, as well as the concept of the negative, presenting severe personality disorders and non-neurotic functioning.
Led by: Gilbert Diatkine
Organizational Details
The seminars take place monthly (10 sessions per year); classic and contemporary psychoanalytic texts will be provided to participants for prior reading (sent by email). At the end of the training, a certificate of participation will be issued, indicating the number of hours.
Our Members
Our History
Founded in 1994 on the initiative of Andrey Khachatryan and Anzhela Vardanyan, the Armenian Psychoanalytic Association has become the main pillar of psychoanalysis in Armenia over its three decades of existence. What began as a bold vision of its founders has today transformed into a stable, rigorous, and well-structured professional community. We ensure the continuity of fundamental knowledge while actively opening our doors to a new generation of practitioners. Today, the Association brings together 46 members at various stages of their professional journey: qualified psychoanalysts and candidates, also affiliated with international associations and societies, as well as members currently in training.
The Association's training model is based on a rigorous curriculum in accordance with the standards of the International Psychoanalytic Association. It includes training analysis, structured theoretical instruction, and clinical supervision by international experts, thereby ensuring excellence and consistency in professional development.
Beyond its training mission, the Association maintains an active international presence. Having organized 11 international conferences, it serves as a platform for exchange and collaboration among practitioners from around the world, while also engaging in global clinical and social initiatives. A major pillar of our commitment lies in the dissemination of knowledge: members of the Association have translated foundational psychoanalytic texts into Armenian and Russian. This work makes essential sources accessible and provides lasting support for the development of the discipline.
We are currently working actively to integrate psychoanalysis into the state postgraduate curriculum. At the same time, this ongoing growth has led to a new stage of structural development: a group of four psychoanalysts from the Association recently founded a dedicated society, bringing together qualified practitioners as well as a training analyst from Switzerland. This development reflects an ongoing process of structural differentiation and professional consolidation at the highest level of our standards.