Training Programs
The New York Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology training program was
developed with the premise that self psychology offers a comprehensive framework
for understanding and treating all levels of personality organization. It is
within this context that the Institute provides an educational program of
classes, clinical supervision, and personal analysis.
Training is divided into two programs:
A Four Year Program in Psychoanalysis
A Three Year Program in
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Training Analysis
The New York Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology makes no distinction between a "therapeutic" analysis and a "didactic" analysis. The assumption is that all candidates entering the program require an in-depth analytic experience for personal as well as training purposes. Therefore, it is recommended that a four times a week psychoanalysis be undertaken by the candidate. However, a minimum frequency of three times a week will be required. This minimum frequency needs to be reached no later than the beginning of the second year of training. However, since the training analysis is essential for promoting the overall learning process, the Institute encourages candidates to begin analysis as soon as possible upon entering into the program. Completion of the analysis will be mutually determined by the training analyst and the candidate. Training analysis will be conducted by members of the Institute who have been approved as training analysts and by approved analysts outside the Institute.
The Institute recognizes the importance of strict confidentialaity in the conduct of analysis. For this reason a training analyst is prohibited both from reporting to the Institute on any aspect of the treatment other than number and frequency of sessions completed as well as from participating in the ongoing evaluation of a candidate who is his or her analysand.
Supervision
Clinical supervision is essential for the candidate in integrating the theory of self psychology with clinical practice. Therefore, a candidate is required to be in individual supervision with an approved supervisor upon entering the program and until the candidate reaches the Readiness for Control level.
Control Analysis
In the final phase of training, the candidate will undertake two psychoanalytic cases under the supervision of two different control analysts. Both cases will be seen by the candidate at a minimum frequency of three days per week -- one case for a minimum of one year, and the second case for a minimum of two years. Control supervision will be at a frequency of once a week for a minimum of one hundred and fifty hours, to be divided between the two cases.
Supervisors for the control level may be chosen from those analysts designated by the Institute as "Control Analysts." Personal analysts may not serve as a candidate's control analyst.
Evaluations
The integration of theory with clinical practice is an ongoing process throughout the entire training program. In order to assess the student's progress the following evaluations will take place:
I. Readiness for Control Evaluation
This evaluation will take place at the conclusion of the second year of the program and will consist of two parts:
1) A written examination that will be, in part, in essay form, and cover the major theoretical and clinical areas of study during the preceding two years.
2) An oral examination will assess the candidate's development in personal growth and clinical practice. The purpose of this examination will be to determine a student's readiness to begin a psychoanalytic case under supervision.
In order to qualify for the Readiness for Control Evaluation, the candidate must have completed:
1) the initial two years of the coursework
2) one and a half years of personal analysis
The candidate, having fulfilled the above requirements, will then request to be evaluated for Readiness for Control. This request will be made by letter and to the Chair of the Training Committee.
II. Final Case Presentation
At the conclusion of the four years of training, a candidate will present one of his or her control cases to a committee in order to demonstrate competence as a psychoanalyst. The candidate will be expected to discuss the theoretical and technical aspects of psychoanalysis and to demonstrate competence as a psychoanalyst. The candidate will be expected to discuss the theory that guided the analytic process and to demonstrate awareness and mastery of countertransference issues.
In order to qualify for the Final Case Presentation, the student must have completed:
1) all required courses in the analytic program
2) control analysis requirements
3) minimum of three and a half years of personal analysis
The candidate, having met the requirement for Final Case Presentation will request to be evaluated. This request will be made by letter to the Chair of the Training Committee.
Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
The New York Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology offers an additional training program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The psychoanalytic psychotherapy program is designed for those candidates who desire training in psychoanalytic self psychology but who do not wish to undertake the program in psychoanalysis. This program is also designed so that a candidate may choose to continue in the psychoanalysis program at any time during his or her training. Completed courses, hours of personal analysis (if at a minimum of three times weekly), and supervision accumulated during the psychoanalytic psychotherapy program will be credited towards the program in psychoanalysis.
The curriculum for the psychoanalytic psychotherapy program is the same as the curriculum for the first three years of the psychoanalysis program. Students are required to take a minimum of two courses per semester.
Students are also required to be engaged in a personal psychoanalytic self psychology psychotherapy at a minimum frequency of twice weekly with a psychoanalyst approved by the Institute. Treatment must begin within the first six months of the program. Although there is no fixed time frame in which psychotherapy can be considered complete, candidates are required to be in treatment at a twice weekly basis for the duration of the program, and for a minimum of two hundred and fifty hours. Acceptability of a current or previous psychotherapy will be determined by the Institute.
Candidates are expected to be actively engaged in individual supervision of their clinical work with two different Institute-approved supervisors for a minimum of fifty hours with each supervisor during the course of the three year program.
Satisfactory completion of the program will include a written examination covering course material. In addition, candidates will be asked to demonstrate an integration of theoretical and clinical issues in an oral presentation of a case before a committee of psychoanalysts.