Adult Psychoanalytic Training

Referred to as the training analysis, with a training analyst of the Institute so designated by the Education Committee with the concurrent approval of the American Psychoanalytic Association.  The candidate may select his/her analyst from those in the Institute who are qualified as Training Analysts and currently designated to begin training analyses.

The personal analysis is the foundation for training in psychoanalysis.  A personal psychoanalysis must be conducted at a frequency of at least four hours per week, on separate days, for a minimum of forty weeks during a year, and for a minimum of three hundred hours.  The total duration is an individual matter determined in the course of that psychoanalysis.  The goal of the personal psychoanalysis is essentially that of a therapeutic psychoanalysis with particular attention, however, to the realization by the candidate of his or her optimum potential as a psychoanalyst.  It is essential that the candidate develop the capacities for self-observation, self-reflection, and ultimately, on-going self-analysis, which are necessary for the capacity to maintain a basic psychoanalytic stance.

There is the possibility that some candidates, in specific circumstances, may proceed with analytic training while in analysis with non-training analysts.  This will require a waiver from the Education Committee.

Five years of seminars and case conferences.  The program is planned to give the candidate a thorough grounding in psychoanalytic theory, psychoanalytic method, and the relationship of psychoanalytic knowledge to related fields.  After completion of the core curriculum, all candidates are expected to participate in at least two elective seminars per year until graduation.  Classes are usually scheduled on Wednesday evenings during the academic year.  An average trimester includes two 1 and half hour seminars per week for ten weeks.

A minimum of three cases will be required with three supervising analysts.  One case should be seen through completion.  The cases must include at least one male and one female analysand.  In the conduct of these supervised analyses, competence as an analyst should be demonstrated.  Supervised clinical work ordinarily begins at the end of the second trimester of the first year.  Patients are to be seen not less than four times per week.  Initially, supervision will be once per week.  Each candidate is required to analyze two clinic cases.