ABSTRACT
The history of the Venezuelan Psychoanalytic Association, in common with many other Latin American psychoanalytic societies, is a challenging history of individuals, convinced that the struggle to first become psychoanalysts, and then to establish an accredited Society and Institute, is a worthy endeavour. As J. Fuenmayor has pointed out, however, the growth of psychoanalysis in Venezuela has also depended on individuals whose knowledge of psychoanalysis was superficial and inexact being willing to take advantage of the psychoanalytic expertise of the returning founders. The reputation of the Venezuelan Psychoanalytic Association, the oldest Institute in our country, is that of a serious, solid group. Many of our psychoanalysts are or have been professors at Venezuelan universities, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Since 1999, a two-year psychoanalytic psychotherapy programme has been established and is offered to clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who want to improve their technical expertise.
