The Malta Depth Psychological Association was founded on the 26th of July, 2007 by Dr. Laner Cassar and Ms. Christiane Sullivan. It is a non-profit voluntary group which aims to acquire both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience of the theory and methods of analytical psychology as advocated by C. G. Jung and post-Jungian thinkers, as well as those of contemporary psychodynamic researchers.
The president of the Association is Dr. Laner Cassar, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. The Association has acquired the status of developing group within the International Association of Analytical Psychology (IAAP). The liason officer for Malta chosen by the IAAP is Dott.ssa Caterina Vezzoli (AGAP) Milan, Italy. She received her training in analytical psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, where she is also a training analyst.
The logo of the Association is made up from 4 spiral motifs with MDPA encircled in the middle. The design by Ms. Lara Manara is inspired from a sculpture in one of our Neolithic temples which indicates the process of birth and renewal. Jung mentions the spiral motifs of the Malta temples in his Collected works and he also photographed it when he was in Malta.
History:
The Malta Depth Psychological Association began with a small group of psychologists and psychotherapists who would meet in different CPD workshops on psychodynamic theory organised by CPD (Malta). The coming together of these professionals in these different workshops helped to strengthen relationships and as a result informal meetings were held in order to deepen the understanding of psychodynamic theory and practice especially that of analytical psychology. Cinema salons, study-groups and peer supervision ensued.
Eventually the group felt the need to formalise proper training in Jungian psychoanalysis. The group formally applied to become a developing group of the International Association of Analytical Psychology (IAAP) in November, 2007. On 22nd February we were informed that the first site-visit would take place on the 19th of May 2008 by the committee members of the IAAP. Following this first site-visit we were officially accepted by IAAP as a Developing Group. Given our proximity to Italy and our similarity in culture our group was linked to CIPA, Southern Italy Institute of Analytical Psychology. A small cohort of Maltese professionals (including one from Cyprus) have completed their training to become Jungian analysts. This first training was held in Malta through the European Affiliate candidate scheme with the IAAP and CIPA (Italy). The six professionals were proclaimed Jungian analysts in August, 2019 during the XXl International Congress of Analytical Psychology, at the University of Vienna.
We were honoured to have amongst us different training analysts from various countries including USA, Italy and UK such as Dr. Joe Cambray, Mr. Tom Kelly, Ms. Beverley Zabriskie, Ms. Linda Carter; Dr.Angela Connolly, Dott. Pasqualino Ancona, Dott. Francesco La Rosa, Dott. Carlo Melodia, Dott.ssa Caterina Vezzoli, amongst others. We are also grateful to the encouragement given to us by Jungian analysts who visited Malta on separate occasions before our group was formally recognised by IAAP, including Dr. Christine Driver (SAP) from WPF( Counselling & Psychotherapy) Dr. Joy Schaverien (SAP) Ms. Linda Freeman (IGAP) and Ms. Paolina Napier .
In the meantime the group is offering public programmes on analytical psychology to caring professionals including psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychiatrists amongst others.