Suitable For

• Teachers and educators.

• Speech and language therapists.
• Social workers.
• NGO professionals and community workers.
• Employees of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Education.
• Special educators.
• Physicians and nurses.
• Counselors.
• Psychology students.
• Parents.
• Professionals interested in child development and mental health.

No prior background in psychology is required. The program is designed for both professionals and parents seeking a deeper understanding of children’s psychological development.

Trainers

Dr. Elie Abou Chacra

Dr. Alyne Husseini Assaf

Overview
PEEK 2 is an introductory program designed to provide participants with a solid foundation in child psychology and child development. The program aims to make psychological knowledge accessible to professionals from various disciplines, as well as parents seeking a deeper understanding of children’s emotional, cognitive, and psychological development.

Through psychoanalytic, developmental, educational, and clinical perspectives, participants will explore major theories of child development, childhood psychopathology, trauma, educational environments, and the contributions of key psychoanalytic thinkers. The program offers practical insights that can be applied in educational, clinical, healthcare, and family settings.

Whether participants work directly with children or simply wish to better understand childhood development, PEEK 2 provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the psychological world of children.

Teaching Methods

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Clinical and developmental case discussions.
• Psychoeducational content.
• Reflective learning and group discussions.
• Integration of theoretical and practical perspectives.
• Question-and-answer sessions.

Training Duration & Schedule

Total Duration: 18 Hours

Child Development in Psychoanalytic Theory

• The child in psychoanalytic theory.
• Early psychological development.
• Psychoanalytic perspectives on childhood.

Understanding Childhood Behavioral Disorders

• Hyperactivity.
• Attention deficits.
• Eating disorders.
• Common behavioral difficulties in childhood.

Major Theories of Child Development

• Freud’s Psychosexual Theory.
• Bowlby’s Attachment Theory.
• Winnicott’s Theory of the Good-Enough Mother.

Childhood Trauma

• Psychological trauma during childhood.
• Impact of trauma on emotional development.
• Clinical understanding of childhood trauma.

Normality and Pathology in Childhood

• Typical developmental processes.
• Distinguishing normal development from psychopathology.
• Clinical perspectives on childhood mental health.

Educational Environments and Child Development

• The influence of classroom environments on development.
• Emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of learning environments.

Françoise Dolto and the Psychology of Childhood

• Understanding the language of childhood.
• Body image and psychological development.
• Desire and subjectivity in childhood.

Clinical Discussion and Questions

• Integration of concepts and theoretical perspectives.
• Questions and answers.
• Clinical reflections and practical applications.

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand major theories of child development.
• Recognize the psychological and emotional needs of children.
• Identify common behavioral and developmental difficulties in childhood.
• Understand the impact of trauma on child development.
• Differentiate between normal developmental processes and childhood psychopathology.
• Understand the role of attachment, family relationships, and educational environments in development.
• Apply psychological knowledge to educational, clinical, healthcare, and family contexts.
• Develop greater confidence in supporting children and communicating with parents and caregivers.
• Build a stronger foundation for further study in child psychology and child mental health.