Certificate Program
Training to be a Psychoanalyst
Levels of Training
The Center's program in psychoanalysis has three training levels: Matriculation, which includes pre-clinical coursework, Certificate Candidacy, which entails a clinical internship at the Center's Referral Service, and Research Candidacy, which involves supervised research of a control case. Advancement to the second level is made by written application in conjunction with advisement when formal requirements are met at the preceding level. Students advance to the third level when they have made a successful oral presentation of their Consultation and Referral Service cases before the Faculty Council.
Matriculation
Students admitted to the Center's program who are fulfilling the training analysis requirements may register for a full or part-time program. (In the first semester a full-time student would choose one course from each of the first four categories listed below. In the second semester supervision is added. The Research sequence begins in the second year.)
- Human Development: Maturational Process
- Psychoanalytic Theory
- Psychoanalytic History
- Clinical Studies
- Research
- Clinical Supervision
When accepted for matriculation, students register for core courses in the fundamentals of psychoanalysis. These courses introduce the student to the history and scientific background of psychoanalysis; the development of its language; drive theory and its relation to object relations theory; developmental theory; and revisions to Freudian theory developed between 1895 and the present. Courses in human sciences and research introduce the student to other approaches to human motivation.
Certificate Candidacy
Admission to certificate candidacy requires completion of all courses comprising the first two years of the program.
After a minimum of four semesters of approved training analysis, which may include group analytic sessions, successful completion of the Level I coursework, a student in good standing is eligible to apply for certificate candidacy.
Clinical Studies Internship: Referral Service
Students approved for certificate candidacy are eligible to begin supervised clinical training at the CMPS Referral Service in conjunction with relevant course work. The Case Management Clinical Practicum (PT 2610) is a forum for the discussion of issues arising particularly in the early phases of doing treatment at the Referral Service. An advanced Case Management Clinical Practicum (PT 2611) is for candidates who have mastered the relationship destructive resistances.
Students meet with fellows weekly to give an ongoing account of the progress of their cases, and to discuss administrative procedures and academic requirements.
All Referral Service cases seen by students must be in Center-approved clinical supervisions. After two semesters of psychoanalytic practice in small group supervision (PT 211), clinically experienced students may apply to begin individual supervision (PT 311). Procedures and readiness for beginning PT 311 and PT 411 (control analysis) are discussed with the student's Fellow. PT 311 and PT 411 are taken with different supervisors. Students may not receive credit for supervision taken with their analysts.
Research Candidacy
Students who have made a successful presentation of cases to the Faculty Council and who have had at least 25 hours of PT 411 register for either PT 524, Psychoanalytic Writing Practicum, or PT 527, Research Supervision, and PT 2612, Advanced Case Practicum. The student submits 3 to 5 pages on an area of research interest and possibly a research question to the Research Committee. When the project is approved, the student begins the research project. The case selected for research is studied in PT 411, Control Analysis. The control analyst supervises the case and verifies the clinical data in the final written research project.
NYGSP
BGSP
ACAP
NAAP
SMP
New Books in Psychoanalysis