The Western New England Psychoanalytic Society And Institute

Adult Psychoanalytic Training

Requirements For Admission To Training
Admissions Procedurea
Candidate’s Manual
Fee Schedule
Program For Clinical Psychoanalytic Training
The Training Analysis
The Didactic Program
Curriculum
The Supervised Practice Of Psychoanalysis
The Psychoanalytic Essay
Progression
Graduation

Requirements For Admission To Training

Admission to training in psychoanalysis is in conformity with the Standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association. Much of what follows is cited from these standards (along with pertinent Institute criteria). It is to be understood that information gathered during admissions procedures and during the course of training is confidential and only for the use of authorized personnel of the Institute to the extent allowable under the law. Applicants, if accepted as candidates, are required to abide by the ethical and professional standards of the Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis and The American Psychoanalytic Association, and by the rules and policies of the Education Committee. Candidates are also required to join the Western New England Psychoanalytic Society and to sign the ethics pledge. The progress of candidates is determined by the Education Committee which also oversees their progression. Candidates are not permitted to represent themselves as psychoanalysts unless and until authorized to do so by the Education Committee.

Prerequisites for Training

Selection of an applicant for psychoanalytic education and clinical training involves an assessment of suitability including the possession of certain character traits and ethical values necessary to become an effective psychoanalyst. An applicant should present evidence of integrity, honesty, maturity, flexibility, and strength of character. In addition, the applicant should demonstrate a reasonable capacity for self-observation, self-monitoring, and the ability to maintain proper interpersonal and professional boundaries. It is anticipated that candidates will require personal analysis to become more effective as people and as analysts.

The selection of an applicant for psychoanalytic education and clinical training is also based on the assessment of eligibility and readiness: prior education, clinical training, clinical experience, aptitude, and potential for psychoanalytic competence. Before undertaking training in clinical psychoanalysis, post graduate mental health professional education must entail full immersion in a rigorous, organized, didactic curriculum, a portion of which includes psychodynamic seminars, all of which is accompanied by an organized and supervised clinical training experience.

Applicants in the following categories are automatically eligible to apply for admission. Applicants who are not in these categories do not have automatic eligibility; such applicant may receive clinical training if the Institute supports this course and the applicant receives a waiver from the Board on Professional Standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association. The Education Committee has discretionary authority to determine which categories of applicants it will accept for training.

Doctors of Medicine or of Osteopathic Medicine who have graduated from an accredited medical school or osteopathic medical school, and are in or have completed a psychiatry residency program and are licensed by the State of Connecticut in the displine in which they practice. Psychiatry residency must be completed before Institute graduation.
Mental health professionals who have completed a doctoral level degree from an accredited mental health clinical program who are licensed by the State of Connecticut in the discipline in which they practice, or practice in a displine in which their practices are not regulated by licensure.
Mental health professionals who have graduated from an accredited mental health degree program with a clinical master’s degree. This must be a degree generally recognized as the highest clinical degree within the specific mental health profession (masters in social work, in marriage and family therapy, and in psychiatric nursing). These individuals must also have completed at least two additional post masters degree years or didactic and clinical training including 3000 hours of clinical experience as well as 1) 60 hours post masters of psychodynamic psychotherapy supervision and 60 hours of post masters of psychodynamic oriented courses and clinical seminars or, 2) a two-year organized post masters psychodynamic psychotherapy program including supervised clinical experience. They must be licensed in the discipline in which they practice, or practice in a discipline in which their practices are not regulated by licensure.
Applicants who are accepted as candidates shall obtain appropriate licensure or certification and malpractice insurance necessary for the practice of psychoanalysis in the discipline in which they intend to practice.

Waiver of Eligibility Standards

Mental Health Clinicians: The Committee on Preparedness and Progress (COPAP) of the Board on Professional Standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association receives requests for waivers of eligibility requirements for full clinical training from Institutes wishing to train mental health clinicians who, on assessment, appear to be suitable to become psychoanalytic clinicians but do not fully meet the above eligibility criteria.

Included are: Individuals whose mental health graduate degree is not at the highest educational level generally obtained to practice clinically within their profession (masters in clinical psychology, in counseling, in education, in pastoral counseling, etc.), but who nevertheless have satisfactorily completed at least two additional post masters degree years of didactic and clinical training including 3000 hours of clinical experience as well as 1) 60 hours post masters of psychodynamic psychotherapy supervision and 60 hours post masters of psychodynamically oriented courses and clinical seminars or, 2) a two-year organized post masters psychodynamic psychotherapy program including supervised clinical experience. They must be licensed by the State of Connecticut in the displine in which they practice, or practice in a discipline in which their practices are not regulated by licensure.
Non-Mental Health Clinicians: The Committee on Preparedness and Progress (COPAP) of the Board on Professional Standards of The American Psychoanalytic Association receives requests for waivers of eligibility requirements for full clinical training from non-mental health clinicians who plan to make psychoanalysis their primary career and become psychoanalytic clinicians, but who have not fulfilled all of the eligibility requirements.

Included are: individuals who have satisfactorily completed the degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, but who are not planning to complete a residency training program in psychiatry; individuals who do not possess the highest recognized clinical degree but who are in the later stages of completing the expected educational and clinical prerequisites, such as a medical student or Ph.D. candidate; individuals who are assessed by the Institute to be suitable, but for reasons other than those listed above do not meet all of the formal criteria and are not automatically eligible.
Scholars, Researchers, and Administrators: The Committee on Research and Special Training (CORST) of The American Psychoanalytic Association receives applications from Institutes wishing to offer psychoanalytic education and clinical training to scientists, academics, scholars, administrators, and others for whom psychoanalysis is a relevant discipline as an enhancement of their primary field. Applicants may be individuals who have distinguished themselves in their primary field; applicants may also include post-master’s graduate students of unusual potential who have not yet attained the highest degree in their area of specialization. This waver is for full clinical training as a psychoanalyst. The Institute does not offer partial training in psychoanalysis except as detailed in the “Psychoanalysis for Scholars Program”.

Admissions Procedures

Application forms may be obtained by writing to the Institute (255 Bradley Street, New Haven, CT 06510 ; phone: 203-562-2103; fax: 203-562-0563). A non-refundable application fee of $230 is due with each formal application. Applications will be accepted at any time during the year. After the application is received, a series of interviews with the applicant may be conducted by members of the Education Committee, occasionally assisted by other members of the Institute. The applicant will be notified about the decision of the Education Committee regarding his/her application as soon as possible after the admissions procedure is completed.

Transfer Applications

Candidates in any Institute accredited by The American Psychoanalytic Association may apply for admission to The Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis. Applicants will arrange, at the time of receiving the application form from the Institute, that their credentials and a summary of the training for which they have received credit be forwarded by the psychoanalytic institute in which they are candidates to the Administrator of this institute. The procedure described above, “Evaluation of Applicants,” is then followed.

Candidate’s Manual

Upon acceptance, each candidate is provided with a Candidates’ Manual which contains the administrative procedures of the Institute. The Manual answers many of the procedural questions which arise in the course of the candidate’s study in the Institute and therefore should be read carefully and referred to often. Other clarifications or changes in the proceedings are frequently communicated by the Education Committee in the form of letters and announcements. Questions or concerns which may arise during the course of training should be discussed with the candidate’s advisor for training who is appointed when the applicant is accepted. The advisor can remain the same over the course of training or can be changed by petitioning the Education Committee.

Fee Schedule

Application Fee: $230 to be included with application form; nonrefundable.
Transfer Fee: $230 payable upon application; nonrefundable
Matriculation Fee: $115 payable upon acceptance
Registration Fee: $150 due at beginning of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years
$260 due at the beginning of the 5th year and each year of study thereafter
Tuition Fee: $525 per course, payable on the first day of the trimester
Graduation Fee: $115 is due upon notification of graduation by the Education Committee
Please note, all fees are subject to change without notice.
Fees for the personal psychoanalysis and for supervision of non-Clinic cases are arranged individually.

Program For Clinical Psychoanalytic Training

The candidate participates in a coordinated tripartite program which includes the following:

Personal Analysis: referred to as the training analysis, with a training analyst of the Institute so designated by the Education Committee with 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.
Didactic Program: five years of seminars and case conferences, as described under the “Curriculum for Training.”
Supervised Clinical Practice of Psychoanalysis: A minimum of three cases will be required. One case should be seen through completion. In the conduct of these supervised analyses, competence as an analyst should be demonstrated.
Completion of a Psychoanalytic Essay.

The Training Analysis

The personal psychoanalysis is the foundation for training in psychoanalysis. A personal psychoanalysis cannot be conducted satisfactorily with fewer than four hours per week. 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, ongoing self-analysis which are necessary for the capacity to maintain a basic psychoanalytic stance. All newly admitted candidates are required to undertake psychoanalysis with a training analyst of this Institute. Therapeutic psychoanalysis prior to psychoanalytic training does not waive the requirement for the training analysand. A period of personal analysis is required at some point during the candidate’s supervised analytic work. A personal analysis need not be completed before graduation.

To be eligible to enter first-year classes in September, a candidate should have been in analysis with a training analyst for at least a year. In special circumstances, permission by the Education Committee may be obtained to modify this requirement. For individuals in an advanced stage of training who transfer from other Institutes, the question of further training analysis will be addressed by the Education Committee on an individual basis. When candidates think they are ready to begin seminars, they should discuss it with their Faculty Advisors. Candidates may then request permission of the Education Committee to begin coursework. In the event that the personal psychoanalysis is not proceeding satisfactorily, the training psychoanalyst will inform the candidate and the Education Committee of this fact. The Education Committee may grant the candidate a second attempt with another training psychoanalyst. If the second analysis is not completed, the training is terminated.

The Didactic Program

The curriculum is designed to be integrated with ongoing personal analysis and supervised clinical work. 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. The didactic curriculum is a scheduled series of seminars and electives over a period of five years for a minimum of 450 hours. All candidates are expected to complete all assigned courses. After completion of the core curriculum, all candidates are expected to participate in at least two elective seminars per year until graduation. Candidates may not repeat electives they have already successfully completed for credit.
Classes are usually scheduled on Wednesday evenings during the academic year from September through June. An average trimester includes two 1-1/2 hour seminars per week. Elective courses will will be offerred to advanced candidates. Candidates of six years or more will complete two electives per year until graduation.

Didactic Courses and Seminars

The program includes a twenty-eight course curriculum of required and elective courses, approximately five years, focusing on candidate participation and presentation. There are three categories of courses:

Psychoanalytic Theory: Courses and seminars centered on the study of the conceptual framework of psychoanalysis from its beginning to current contributions, including courses on development.
Clinical Psychoanalysis: A group of courses dealing with clinical theory of psychoanalysis and seminars on the theory of technique, including clinical conferences and continuous case seminars. The clinical conferences deal with general and special psychopathology, problems of dream interpretation, and special problems of technique.
Applied and Research Uses of Psychoanalysis: Among these courses are those dealing with advanced psychoanalytic theory and with selected and applied uses of psychoanalysis.

Curriculum

Registrant: Introduction to Ethics
Year 1
Freud I: 1893-1909 Technique Ia
Freud II: 1910-1917 Technique Ib
Interpretation of Dreams
Psychopathology I
Year 2
Psychoanalysis and Human Development I
Freud III: 1919-1930
Psychoanalysis and Human Development II
Psychoanalytic Theory I
Psychoanalysis and Human Development III
Continuous Case I
Year 3
Psychopathology II
Continuous Case II
Elective
Continuous Child Case
Technique II
Continuous Case III
Year 4
Psychopathology III
Continuous Case IV
Psychoanalytic Theory II
Elective
Psychoanalytic Writing I
Continuous Case V
Year 5
Ethics II
Psychoanalytic Writing II
Technique III
Continuous Case VI
Year 6 and above
Elective
Elective

The Supervised Practice Of Psychoanalysis

Supervised clinical work ordinarily begins at the end of the second trimester of the first year, after discussion with the faculty advisor and with the authorization of the Education Committee. The minimum supervision requirement for graduation from the Adult Psychoanalysis Program of the Institute is 150 hours of supervision on three supervised cases with at least three supervising analysts, none of whom has been the candidate’s personal psychoanalyst. For people in the Child Analysis program, one child case may be substituted for one adult case. The actual requirements for each candidate are determined by the Education Committee in the course of his or her training. The time required to satisfy this aspect of training is quite individual and is predicated on the demonstration of the candidate’s ability to do psychoanalysis independently.

Candidates who are not enrolled in the Child Analysis program are also encouraged to apply for permission to undertake the supervised analysis of a child or adolescent as part of their general training.

Patients are to be seen not less than four times a week. Initially supervision will be once per week. One case is to be supervised to termination. It is expected that every candidate will have a period of personal analysis while conducting analysis under supervision. The opportunity for an analyst to explore his or her responses to the analytic situation while analyzing a patient may be essential to his or her own development as an analyst. When a candidate has demonstrated a basic grasp of psychoanalytic principles and the ability to utilize them effectively in the treatment of the first psychoanalytic case, he or she may request authorization from the Education Committee to start a second case under supervision.

If a candidate’s work is unsatisfactory, the circumstances will be reported to the Education Committee. The Education Committee will review the candidate’s progress and may then assign another supervising psychoanalyst for supervision, or, if indicated, suggest resumption of the personal analysis if this has been terminated, or may interrupt or discontinue his or her training.

Each candidate is required to analyze two Clinic patients. Both sexes should be represented in the caseload. All patients will be seen in the candidates’ offices. Arrangements for supervision, including fees, are the responsibility of the candidate. Supervisory fees for clinic patients are paid by the Institute, not the candidate. Both clinic and private case fees are to be paid directly to the candidate. The candidate will endorse all clinic fees over to the Institute.

The candidate is required to advise the Administrator in writing of the dates of the beginning and ending of all cases in analysis (both clinic and private) under the supervision of the Institute. An initial summary of a beginning case will be due to the supervising analyst within one month of starting the analysis. The candidate shall provide an annual case summary (June) to his/her supervisor for each supervised analytic case until graduation. Permission to start a new control case will be granted only when all reports due on previous cases have been received. Senior candidates authorized by the Education Committee to do psychoanaly sis without supervision are still required to furnish annual case summaries and keep their supervisor informed periodically about the progress of such cases.

The Psychoanalytic Essay

A completed psychoanalytic essay is expected within one year of the completion of fifth year course work. The nature of this essay will be decided by the candidate in consultation with his/her Faculty Advisor. While candidates may look to their Faculty Advisors for guidance in this scholarly work, the Education Committee may authorize a different senior faculty member to serve as essay advisor on the basis of particular interest or expertise in the area in which the candidate has chosen to work. The candidate-advisor relationship is envisioned as a tutorial one through which candidates can become familiar with systematic clinical and theoretical scholarship; be capable of assessing critically their own efforts and those of others; learn the importance of distinguishing trivial from significant problems and the criteria for making such distinctions; and experience the satisfaction associated with expanding the boundaries of psychoanalytic knowledge. The essay must deal with a psychoanalytic subject and may be a clinical essay utilizing the analytic data derived from psychoanalytic treatment or a thorough critical review of a psychoanalytic concept that represents excellent scholarship.

Twelve copies of the essay should be submitted to the attention of the Chairman of the Education Committee for review by the committee. The faculty or essay advisor will notify the candidate of the committee’s decision. The Administrator will send written confirmation.

Progression

At the end of each trimester, course instructors will submit written evaluations of each candidate’s work. Supervising analysts will submit written evaluations of the candidate’s clinical progress in December and June. The Education Committee devotes two of its meetings per year, usually in January and July, to evaluate and review the progress of each candidate. The candidate and his or her advisor are responsible for arranging at least one conference annually to review the candidate’s work in the Institute.

The Education Committee may suspend or terminate a candidate’s training if it determines that competence as a psychoanalyst is not developing as anticipated. Reasons for interrupting training include, but are not limited to, failure to meet standards for reasonable progress towards graduation, or for violations of ethical precepts for the practice of psychoanalysis. When termination or suspension of training occurs, conditions, if any, for readmission are stipulated by the Education Committee.

A leave of absence may be granted by the Education Committee upon written request by the candidate. The maximum duration of a leave of absence is two years. Exceptions to the two-year limit may be made for medical leaves of absence at the discretion of the Education Committee. A candidate who for any reason extends a leave of absence beyond two years may be terminated from training without prejudice. If reinstatement is desired, re-application must be made through the Education Committee.

Graduation

Consideration of a candidate for graduation may be initiated by the candidate in consultation with her/his advisor upon satisfactorily completing the required work of the curriculum, including the supervised clinical work and the essay. The Education Committee will schedule a review of all relevant data coordinated and presented by the candidate’s advisor. If, in the opinion of the Education Committee, the candidate has demonstrated personal and professional maturity and have acquired a fundamental understanding of psychoanalytic theory and method, he/she will be graduated. Graduates who continue analyses started as supervised cases are advised to report semi-annually to their former supervisor on the continuation of these analyses and on problems of termination during that phase of treatment. In some instances these post-graduate conferences will be of assistance to the Education Committee in formulating its recommendations to the Committee on Certification of The American Psychoanalytic Association at the time the graduat applies for certification and full membership.

Graduates of the Institute are eligible to apply for full membership in The Western New England Psychoanalytic Society, and thereafter in The Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis, or other affiliate societies of The American Psychoanalytic Association.

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