École de la cause freudienne

The École de la cause freudienne (ECF) is a French association of psychoanalysts of Lacanian orientation, founded in 1981 by Jacques Lacan. Its statutes were filed and approved during Lacan's lifetime, and he served as its first president. The school's purpose is the study and transmission of psychoanalysis, as well as the formation of psychoanalysts. In 2006, the ECF obtained the Reconnaissance d'Utilité publique (RUP), a formal recognition of public utility by the French state. Since 2009, it has held special consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC). The ECF emerged from the dissolution of the École freudienne de Paris, which Lacan had founded in June 1964. On 5 January 1980, Lacan initiated the dissolution of that earlier school, and on 21 February 1980 he announced the foundation of the Cause freudienne, entrusting its direction to Solange Faladé, Charles Melman, and Jacques-Alain Miller, his son-in-law. Internal conflicts led to the departures of Charles Melman and Solange Faladé. The École de la Cause freudienne was subsequently developed by Jacques-Alain Miller, who at one time served as its president. In 1992, Jacques-Alain Miller founded the Association mondiale de psychanalyse (AMP), which brings together psychoanalytic associations organized on the same principle as the ECF. The ECF joined the AMP in 1992; the AMP currently groups seven Schools in Europe and the Americas. The ECF and the AMP keep alive the practice of 'la passe' instituted by Lacan to illuminate the becoming of a psychoanalyst. The association includes several categories of members: active members (divided into 'analystes praticiens' and 'analystes membres de l'École'), honorary members, and emeritus members. It is administered by a Conseil d'administration of 12 members elected at the general assembly. The Council elects from among its members a Bureau of four: a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Recent presidents include Philippe La Sagna (2002–2003), Lilia Mahjoub (2003–2005), Hugo Freda (2008–2009), Jean-Daniel Matet (2010–2013), Patricia Bosquin-Caroz (2014–2015), Christiane Alberti (2016–2017), Gil Caroz (2018–2019), Laurent Dupont (2020–2021), Éric Zuliani (2022–2023), Anaëlle Lebovits-Quenehen (2024–2025), and Laura Sokolowsky (2026–2027). In the regions, the ECF operates through the Association de la Cause freudienne (ACF), a non-profit association under the French law of 1901, present in French regions via 15 regional and local delegations. The ECF includes the ACF in Belgium, an entity governed by Belgian law. It works closely with another 1901-law association, l'Envers de Paris, which promotes the circulation of analytic discourse in the capital. The formation of analysts within the ECF rests on three axes defined by Lacan's founding texts: the experience of the cure and the procedure of 'la passe'; the control of practice (supervision); and theoretical teaching in the modality of the cartel. The cartel, introduced by Lacan in 1964, is a small-group work structure of four people plus a fifth (the 'plus-un') responsible for animating and sustaining the work, devoted to the study of theoretical or clinical texts over a given period, generally one to two years. The ECF publishes several periodicals, including La Cause du désir, Ornicar?, Forum des psys, and Quarto. It also maintains an active online presence through Lacan Web Télévision (LWTV), Miller TV, and Studio Lacan, and organizes regular Journées and a Campus. Upcoming events include the 56es journées de l'ECF on 7–8 November 2026 in Paris on the theme 'Le sentiment de la vie', and the Campus de l'ECF during the week of 28 September 2026 in Paris.

The École de la cause freudienne (ECF) traces its origins to the École freudienne de Paris, founded by Jacques Lacan in June 1964. On 5 January 1980, Lacan initiated the dissolution of that school, and on 21 February 1980 he announced the foundation of the Cause freudienne, entrusting its direction to Solange Faladé, Charles Melman, and Jacques-Alain Miller, his son-in-law. Internal conflicts within this new association led to the departures of Charles Melman and Solange Faladé. The École de la Cause freudienne was subsequently developed by Jacques-Alain Miller, who at one time served as its president. The school was formally created in 1981, with its statutes filed and approved during Lacan's lifetime; Lacan was its founder and first president. In 1992, Jacques-Alain Miller founded the Association mondiale de psychanalyse (AMP), which brings together psychoanalytic associations organized on the same principle as the ECF. The ECF joined the AMP in 1992. The AMP currently groups seven Schools in Europe and the Americas and has held a congress every two years since 1998. The ECF and the AMP maintain the practice of 'la passe' instituted by Lacan to illuminate the becoming of a psychoanalyst. In 2006, the École de la cause freudienne obtained the Reconnaissance d'Utilité publique (RUP), a formal recognition of public utility by the French state. Since 2009, it has benefited from special consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC). The school has been led by a series of presidents, including Philippe La Sagna (2002–2003), Lilia Mahjoub (2003–2005), Hugo Freda (2008–2009), Jean-Daniel Matet (2010–2013), Patricia Bosquin-Caroz (2014–2015), Christiane Alberti (2016–2017), Gil Caroz (2018–2019), Laurent Dupont (2020–2021), Éric Zuliani (2022–2023), Anaëlle Lebovits-Quenehen (2024–2025), and Laura Sokolowsky (2026–2027). In the regions, the ECF operates through the Association de la Cause freudienne (ACF), a non-profit association under the French law of 1901, present in French regions via 15 regional and local delegations. The ECF includes the ACF in Belgium, an entity governed by Belgian law. It works closely with another 1901-law association, l'Envers de Paris, which promotes the circulation of analytic discourse in the capital. The formation of analysts within the ECF rests on three axes defined by Lacan's founding texts: the experience of the cure and the procedure of 'la passe'; the control of practice (supervision); and theoretical teaching in the modality of the cartel. The cartel, introduced by Lacan in 1964, is a small-group work structure of four people plus a fifth (the 'plus-un') responsible for animating and sustaining the work, devoted to the study of theoretical or clinical texts over a given period, generally one to two years. The ECF publishes several periodicals, including La Cause du désir, Ornicar?, Forum des psys, and Quarto. It also maintains an active online presence through Lacan Web Télévision (LWTV), Miller TV, and Studio Lacan, and organizes regular Journées and a Campus. Upcoming events include the 56es journées de l'ECF on 7–8 November 2026 in Paris on the theme 'Le sentiment de la vie', and the Campus de l'ECF during the week of 28 September 2026 in Paris.

• 2026

  The 56th Journées de l'ECF are scheduled for 7–8 November 2026 in Paris on the theme 'Le sentiment de la vie'.

• 2009

  The ECF obtains special consultative status with the United Nations (ECOSOC).

• 2006

  The ECF obtains the Reconnaissance d'Utilité publique (RUP).

• 1998

  The AMP begins holding a congress every two years.

• 1992

  Jacques-Alain Miller founds the Association mondiale de psychanalyse (AMP); the ECF joins the AMP.

• 1981

  The École de la cause freudienne is created; its statutes are filed and approved during Lacan's lifetime, and Lacan serves as first president.

• 1980

  On 5 January, Lacan initiates the dissolution of the École freudienne de Paris; on 21 February, he announces the foundation of the Cause freudienne, entrusting its direction to Solange Faladé, Charles Melman, and Jacques-Alain Miller.

• 1964

  Jacques Lacan founds the École freudienne de Paris in June.

Lacanian-oriented psychoanalytic school and professional association, recognized as a public utility in France and holding UN consultative status.

• La Cause du désir

• Ornicar?

• Forum des psys

• Quarto

• Lacan Web Télévision (LWTV)

• Miller TV

• Studio Lacan

1. 1Accueil - Ecole de la Cause freudiennecausefreudienne.org
2. 2École de la cause freudiennewikidata.org
3. 3École de la cause freudiennefr.wikipedia.org