The training program of the Institute consists of; a) curriculum comprised of theoretical and clinical seminars; b) supervised clinical work; and c) preparation of a psychoanalytic paper.

A.  CURRICULUM

Basic to the curriculum is the fostering of an analytic attitude to understanding the mind.  The content of the curriculum encompasses basic psychoanalytic concepts, theories, and psychoanalytic techniques.  The historical underpinnings of psychoanalysis are related to contemporary viewpoints.  Integrated throughout the entire curriculum is a developmental and a child perspective. 

Additionally, the courses are organized and numerically coded into by conceptual tracks.  The three digit code found in front of each class gives three key pieces of information.

The first number refers to the candidate class level that the class is offered to (e.g.  The number 1 at the beginning of the digits means it is offered to first year candidates.  The number “5” is used to designate a class offered to a mix of years and “S” indicates a course which may be electively selected by a candidate.

The second digit refers to the conceptual track that the course is primarily identified with.  These are:

1.  Basic Concepts
2.  Development
3.  Technique
4.  Psychopathology
5.  Major Schools of Psychoanalysis
6.  Studies in Gender, Sexuality and Sexual Differences
7.  Contemporary and Special Topics
8.  Psychoanalytic Writing

The final digit refers to the sequence of that course, within both its conceptual track and the teaching year.  (e.g., “172” would refer to the second special topic course offered to the first year students.)

B.  SUPERVISED PSYCHOANALYTIC TREATMENT OF PATIENTS

A candidate will be required to do sufficient supervised clinical work to attain a competence adequate for the practice of psychoanalysis. It is expected that each candidate will work with three patients, each case being supervised by a different supervisor, and that each of these cases will continue until there is mutual agreement for termination between candidate and supervisor. One of these cases is required to be a low fee case.  Candidates will be provided cases by the Treatment Clinic or may obtain them through their private practice.  This supervised work may commence at midpoint of the first year of seminars, upon approval by the CPC.  Additional supervised analyses of private patients will be arranged.  Summaries of the analytic work of supervised analyses are required to be written and submitted every six months.  Since initial immersion in the clinical practice of psychoanalysis inevitably evokes countertransference reactions, candidates are required to be in personal analysis during a significant period of their supervised work.  Six month summaries of each case are to be presented and discussed with the case supervisor on a timely basis.  Progression cannot occur without this.

C.  PREPARATION OF A PSYCHOANALYTIC PAPER

Every candidate is required, before graduation can be approved, to write a paper.  This is most often done during the third or fourth year.  In keeping with the candidate's own special interests, the subject could be primarily theoretical, clinical, or on applied psychoanalysis. The candidate is encouraged to request any member of the faculty to assist him/her in this endeavor.  Courses, designed to assist the candidate, are also offered.