Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy in the South African context

Abstract

This paper discusses the developmental history of psychoanalysis in South Africa, which stretches over almost a century. Contemporary South Africa is marred by widespread social and economic inequalities which endure in the third decade of democracy. Intergenerational trauma and grinding poverty are the remnants of the institutionalised racial oppression of the recent past. Public mental healthcare resources struggle to meet the needs of the beleaguered majority. On the other hand, private mental health services follow similar patterns to those of first world countries. Psychoanalytically informed psychotherapists have worked in the country for decades in both private and public sectors. The recent advent of an IPA accredited training, since 2011, has brought classical psychoanalysis to the country. The South African Psychoanalytic Association (SAPA) is a provisional society of the IPA.

Keywords:

• psychoanalysis
• psychoanalytic psychotherapy
• public health
• South Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.