Shuttle Analysis, Shuttle Supervision, and Shuttle Life—Some Facts, Experiences, and Questions

Abstract

Tremendous effort supported the spreading of psychoanalysis in what was formerly known as “Eastern Europe.” Since 2002, the Han Groen Prakken Psychoanalytic Institute of Eastern Europe has integrated this work. In many cases, training components had to be provided in “shuttle format.” Shuttle analysis can be considered as an experimental domain in psychoanalytical education. The discussions on shuttle analysis have brought into the foreground some of the aspects of the process: high variation of setting; handling of unavoidable cultural clash; special shaping of defenses; the repetitive separation; shuttle life as a consequence—periodically interrupted practice, combination with shuttle supervision; high investment.

Training with shuttle components is always a project, never a routine, because of the demand on extra organizational investment. We discuss shuttling from the point of the analyst, of the candidate, of the supervisor, and of the developing organization. Questions include special defense mechanisms, observations on transference-countertransference, “shuttle reality” often resembling a “dream-like reality,” and special problems of supervision. The question of evaluation is an especially difficult one. The evaluation is as traditional as in regular education. At the end, we face the question: What makes shuttle analysis/shuttle training work?

Notes

¹The institute set up guidelines about requirements of shuttle analysis and shuttle supervision: http://www.hgp-piee.org/ index.html

²We express our special gratitude to Paolo Fonda and Ursula Volz for their tremendous work at the EPF conference workshops and retreats.

³The workshop on shuttle analysis, EPF Conference, Prague, 2002, was convened by Ursula Volz, with support of Paolo Fonda. Presenters included Gertie Bögels, Gilbert Diatkine, and Paolo Fonda.

⁴The Workshop on shuttle analysis at the EPF Conference, Sorrento, 2003, was convened by Ursula Volz. Presenters included Tamara Štajner-Popović and Gábor Szönyi.

⁵Workshop on shuttle analysis and shuttle life at the EPF Conference, Helsinki, 2004, convened by Ursula Volz and Gábor Szönyi. Presenters included Nina Asanova and Katya Kalmikova.

⁶Workshop on shuttle supervision and shuttle life at the EPF Conference, Vilamoura, 2005, convened by Gábor Szönyi. Presenters included Tamara Štajner-Popović, Marina Arutunyan, Anna Kazanskaya, and Gábor Szönyi.