Our Education and Training

Licensed Psychoanalyst

For those who seek a comprehensive understanding of emotional life, The Institute at the Psychoanalytic Association of New York offers training programs in child and adult treatment that provide insight into core human dilemmas.
Curriculum
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  • Philosophy

    The Program is designed for clinicians with experience in psychotherapy seeking greater expertise in treating those whose psychological conflicts interfere with their ability to find satisfaction in work, love, and life.

     

    While clinical work in psychoanalysis requires specific technical skills, it also comprises an attitude of intellectual and emotional openness toward the full range of human experience. This attitude includes a spirit of curiosity about the accumulated and emerging body of psychoanalytic knowledge, and a deep, lasting commitment to patient care.

     

    The Institute emphasizes a modern conflict model of psychoanalysis grounded in the continuing revisions in theory and technique from Freud's pioneering discoveries to the present day. The curriculum pays close attention to all major schools of psychoanalytic thought, both early and contemporary, as they pertain to the wide range of patients and clinical problems encountered in psychoanalysis. Candidates and faculty work together in a spirit of open and critical inquiry to explore the development of this complex field. We study the many valuable contributions of diverse psychoanalytic thinkers and schools. PANY trains candidates in developing a knowledge base and a way of thinking, preparing graduates for the lifelong process of clinical improvement and the pursuit of excellence as practicing psychoanalysts.

     

    We encourage a smooth and progressive transition from candidate status to graduate-teacher. Most graduates become active faculty members. Senior candidates and recent graduates interested in teaching may obtain experience in the Institute's psychotherapy programs and in NYU School of Medicine's instruction of medical students and psychiatric residents and fellows. They may then move on to co-teach in the psychoanalytic curriculum with a more senior faculty member. Mentored co-teaching, a mainstay of the Institute since our founding in 1949, generates new and diverse psychoanalytic teaching perspectives.

     

  • Admissions

    Eligibility

    PANY is authorized by New York State to offer clinical training to qualify for a license as a “Licensed Psychoanalyst” (LP) to individuals whose license does not already permit psychoanalysis. The PANY NYS Licensure-Qualifying Psychoanalysis Program (NYS-LQP) track is directed at individuals holding any Master's degree, or higher than Master's degree, acceptable to PANY and NYS. This includes mental health professionals such as LMHC, LMFT, and LCAT. Professionals who anticipate obtaining a license to practice psychoanalysis during training may also apply, including LMSWs, and MDs awaiting green cards. LP candidates train in the same program as post-licensure candidates but must take several additional short courses mandated by NY State.

     

    All applicants, regardless of degree, must meet experience requirements 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.

     

    Personal Suitability
    Applicants are accepted on the basis of their education and experience, scientific interest in the field, psychological aptitude, and certain character attributes. These include personal integrity, maturity, and an abiding interest in the vicissitudes of human experience and psychological growth; a capacity for psychological understanding and sensitivity; the ability to listen and communicate empathically; the desire to make observations non-judgmentally in an inherently subjective field; and a tolerance for complexity, ambiguity, and frustration. Psychoanalytic training helps the student (candidate) develop and integrate these characteristics and capacities.

     

    Application Process
    The application form consists of biographical information, requests for letters of recommendation (that PANY will request on your behalf), and transcripts of previous educational experience. A non-refundable fee of $125 must accompany the application. Completed applications are processed throughout the year; the latest date for submitting an application is June 1 for classes beginning the following September. The written application is supplemented by a series of interviews by two or three faculty members once the application is received.

     

    Applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision as soon as possible following completion of the interview process. At the time of matriculation, each candidate contracts not to conduct psychoanalytic treatment or to represent himself/herself as a practitioner of psychoanalysis until authorized by the Institute to do so.

  • Candidate Progression

    Candidates usually begin the first year of classes in the September following admission, although some candidates may attend a pre-class year while beginning their personal psychoanalysis and obtaining more clinical experience.

    The coursework is the most structured component of psychoanalytic training, but progression through classes is approached on an individual basis. Meeting the demands of professional life, family life, and psychoanalytic training can be difficult; candidates may tailor their training to best accommodate such individual factors. Each candidate is assigned a Student Progression Committee (SPC) advisor for the duration of training. Meetings with one’s advisor are on an as-needed basis, but occur at least once or twice a year. Course instructors and supervisors provide written assessments of candidates' performance that are discussed by advisors with candidates and reviewed by the SPC. A candidate's learning process and personal needs are considered by the SPC in determining each candidate’s pace of training.

    Progression to each successive year of classes is determined by the SPC, as is the candidate's readiness to proceed with supervised clinical work. The first case is begun during the first year of classes, and having an active psychoanalytic case is a requirement for progression to the second year of classes. Candidates are required to have two cases underway to be promoted to the third and fourth year of classes. Candidates must submit written summaries of their clinical work to their supervisors on an annual basis.

    After completing four years of classes, candidates are promoted to senior status, and supervised clinical work continues. Senior candidates who have had three cases well along in supervision may be approved to take on additional cases without ongoing supervision.

  • Personal Psychoanalysis

    Candidates begin a personal psychoanalysis as soon as possible after admission. This increases a candidate's sensitivity to the workings of unconscious mental life and begins the process of recognizing difficulties that might impede one's development as a psychoanalyst. Candidates not already in psychoanalysis consult with the Admissions Committee Chair for referral to a training analyst on the faculty of the Institute. Under certain circumstances, applicants who have already begun an analysis with a training analyst from another training institute accredited by the American Psychoanalytic Association may continue with that analyst while training at the Institute.

    A candidate's analysis is expected to continue for the majority of one’s training and supervised clinical work. Training analyses are conducted at a frequency of at least four times weekly. Treatment fees are arranged privately by the candidate and his/her training analyst. One's analysis is completely confidential and is not reported to any committee. Candidates are requested to inform their SPC Advisors annually only whether they continue or have completed the analysis.

  • Didactic Seminars

    The curriculum consists of four years of required classes, taught on Saturday mornings, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, September through May. In the first year and the first trimester of the second year, there is also a class on Tuesday evenings, usually 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Classes are held at 1 Park Avenue (at 33rd Street). After promotion to senior candidate status, candidates attend an ongoing continuous case seminar, and are encouraged to participate in elective seminars. Candidates may apply at any time to begin classes in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis.

    For an overview of the curriculum and descriptions of the individual courses, click here.

  • Supervised Clinical Work

    Immersion in psychoanalytic work is a central feature of psychoanalytic training. Candidates begin their first analytic case during their first year of classes. Supervised patients are seen three to five times per week. Psychoanalytic patients may be developed from the candidate's private practice or referred by PANY’s Consultation and Treatment Service. Treatment is conducted privately, usually in the candidate's own office. Fees are arranged privately between the candidate and the patient. Patients must be informed that the candidate is in training at PANY.

    Special considerations regarding providing informed consent, patient fees, and other requirements apply to candidates on the licensed psychoanalyst track (see Admissions Eligibility, above): these patients, under New York State law, are designated as PANY’s patients and legally cannot be considered to be the individual LP candidate’s patients (details of these important policies are available in the Candidate Manual and can also be discussed with the Admissions Chair).

    The Student Progression Committee (SPC, see above under Candidate Progression) assists candidates in obtaining a supervising analyst for each case. Candidates may change supervisors at any time with the approval of the SPC. Candidates work with a minimum of three supervised patients, of different genders. Demonstration of the capacity to develop a psychoanalytic process is required for graduation.

  • Graduation Requirements

    Graduation from PANY is based on a candidate's achievement of analytic maturity and the capacity for independent analytic work. This includes the successful completion of four years of classes and the demonstration of analytic competence in supervised and unsupervised clinical work, as evidenced by supervisors' written evaluations and the candidate's own written case summaries. A terminated case is not required, but demonstration of the candidate's ability to work towards a satisfactory termination is essential. Details of graduation requirements are found in our Candidate Manual, which is provided to all candidates at the start of each academic year.

  • Tuition, Fees, Financial Aid

    The cost of training includes tuition, supervision fees, and fees for personal psychoanalysis. PANY is sensitive to financial circumstances has kept tuition and other expenses as low as possible. Payment plans are available through the Institute office.

    ALL FEES/TUITION FOR THE 2023-2024 ACADEMIC YEAR ARE SUBJECT TO AN INCREASE UP TO 10%

    • Application Fee: $125
    • Annual Registration Fee: In-class candidates $750; Seniors $3000
    • Annual Tuition (class years 1-4, Senior-level candidates pay no tuition): $4400
    • Annual Subscription to PEP (Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing Database): $120

     

    Payment plans are available through the Institute office.

     

    Financial Aid

    Student loans are available to help defray costs incurred during training. The PANY Society Committee provides no-interest loans to qualified candidates through its Student Aid Program.

  • CME/CE

    ACCME Accreditation Statement

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and Psychoanalytic Association of New York. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    AMA Credit Designation Statement

    The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this live activity for a maximum of 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Disclosure Statement

    The APsA CE Committee has reviewed the materials for accredited continuing education and has determined that this activity is not related to the product line of ineligible companies and therefore, the activity meets the exception outlined in Standard 3: ACCME's identification, mitigation and disclosure of relevant financial relationship. This activity does not have any known commercial support. 

    Psychoanalytic Association New York, affiliated with NYU Langone Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0124.

    Psychoanalytic Association of New York (affiliated with NYU Grossman School of Medicine) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0112.

    Psychoanalytic Association of New York is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts #P0064.


    Psychoanalytic Association of New York is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0304.

    NOTE: PANY is not yet approved for CE's for LMFT/LCAT. 

Psychoanalytic Association of New York
NYU Department of Psychiatry
One Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10016

Telephone: 646-754-4870
Fax: 646-754-9540
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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