PTI of NYFS : Training Institute : Information for Candidates

Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the New York Freudian Society

The Psychoanalytic Training Institute of NYFS

Psychoanalytic Training Institute of NYFS
Guidelines for Admission and Training

Programs in Adult Psychoanalysis

Application and Admission Process

Inquiries for admission can be made either to the Chair of Admission or the Director of the Institute. Upon request, an applicant will be sent a packet containing the application form and forms for letters of recommendation. There is a $50 fee for the processing of the application and the check is made out to the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the NYFS. All of the above is to be mailed to the Chair of Admissions.

Once the admission materials have been returned, the Admissions Directors will set up interviews for the applicant. Each applicant is interviewed by two or three members of the Admission Committee.

Registration

A candidate must register with the Institute twice a year, once for the spring and once for the fall semesters. Registration entails a payment to the Institute and an Updated Candidate Progress Report and Analyst Confirmation Form

Fees: All candidates, those taking classes, those who have completed the required classes but have not met all the requirements for graduation, and those on leave, need to register. A late fee of $75.00 will be charged for registration and matriculation fees files after the deadline. Candidates should speak with the Institute Director regarding a deferred payment plan or scholarship funds well in advance of the registration dead line.

Candidate Progress Forms and training Analyst Confirmation Form: The candidate needs to fill out the Candidate Progress Update Form to update and document his/her supervision hours and completed coursework. The candidate must also record the frequency of his/her training analysis and the start date, and termination date, if applicable. Registration will be considered incomplete until all parts of the packet are received.

The Training Process

Progression Committee:

A unique aspect of our training program is the Progression Committee (PC) of of the Psychoanalytic Training Institute, which was established to foster communication with the candidates and ensure that their specific training requirements are addressed. Upon admission to the Institute, each candidate is assigned a PC Liaison, who follows the candidate until completion and keeps the Progression Committee informed of the candidate's progress. This individualized attention to the candidate's needs provides the candidate with a deep understanding of the analytic case and fosters the personal and professional development of the candidate.

Training (Personal) Analysis:

Candidates are expected to begin a four-times-per-week analysis with a Training Analyst from the Psychoanalytic Training Institute when the first year classes begin. The candidate will have the opportunity to choose an analyst from a list of Training Analysts of the Institute and will also be given a list of the Training Analysts willing to conduct low fee analyses. If the candidate has been in a longstanding analysis with a Training and Supervising Analyst from another Institute, the Institute Director and Progression Committee of the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the NYFS will consider this analyst and analysis and determine if it can be an approved training analysis. If this analysis is not approved, the Progression Committee will take under consideration requests to postpone beginning a new analysis for up to one semester so the candidate can have time to terminate the present analysis.

Readiness-for-Control:

An essential part of a candidate's preparation to become a psychoanalyst is the analyses he/she conducts under supervision. To undertake control or supervised work, the candidate needs to pass a readiness for control examination (RFC). This examination is conducted by a committee of three members of The Institute and is usually scheduled during the second year of training. Candidates with substantial prior clinical experience can request an RFC earlier than their second year. For those needing additional clinical experience the RFC may be delayed.

Control Work:

Candidates must conduct a minimum of two control (supervised) analytic cases each seen in person and four times a week. These cases need to be supervised by two different Training and Supervising Analysts from the Psychoanalytic Training Institute of the NYFS. The candidate will be given a list of Training and Supervising Analysts willing to conduct a low fee supervision. Each supervision will be on a once a week basis. Double Supervision sessions are considered for a supervisee at a geographical distance from his/her supervisor.

A central educational feature of the control work or supervised experience is the Annual Case Write Up. A member of the Progression Committee and case reader support the candidate in the formulation and written expression of their understanding of the case.

Final Case Presentation:

The Final Case Presentation (FCP) represents the culmination of the candidate's training in psychoanalysis at the Institute. After conferring with the Progression Committee, the candidate initiates the request to present a final case. The candidate will submit a written report of the case to be presented to his/her Evaluation Committee. The Committee consisting of five members of the Institute will meet to listen, discuss and evaluate the candidate's work and readiness to practice independently. Issues such as transference development, analysis of resistance, counter-transference, and establishment of an analytic process are discussed in the group. Successful completion of the Final Case Presentation and approval by the Progression Committee confers on the candidate membership in the New York Freudian society and the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA). Colleagues welcome the participation of new members in peer group case discussions, reading groups dealing with theories or new ideas in psychoanalysis, and a rich and diverse menu of scientific programs as part of continuing education. New members will find opportunities to contribute to the ongoing life of the Psychoanalytic Training Institute through committee membership.

Training Policies

The policies listed below are currently in practice and may be subject to change. The progression Committee will inform advisors, training and supervising analysts and candidates of any changes.

The academic year is 30 weeks. Candidates meet on Monday evening for their coursework and take two courses per semester , unless an alternative plans has been arranged through the Progression Committee. Electives and other program options may meet at other predetermined times.

Candidates are expected to be present for all classes and will inform the instructor if unable to attend. If the candidate misses two sessions of a fifteen week course, one session of a ten week course, or any sessions of a course of shorter duration , the candidate will write a paper for the class on a topic agreed upon with the instructor.

If an instructor must miss a session, the instructor will notify the Chair of the Faculty Committee and arrange with the candidates for an appropriate make-up class.

The Psychoanalytic Training Institute's Faculty and Curriculum Committees review and evaluate course offerings and Institute faculty performance on an on-going basis. A crucial part of this evaluation is the confidential evaluation form that candidates must complete at the end of each semester.

Faculty evaluations of candidates will be submitted immediately after the semester ends. A copy will be sent to the Administrative Directors, who will forward copies to the PC Liaison and Advisor assigned to the candidate to review with the candidate. Candidates have direct access to the instructors' evaluations.

The Grievance Process: If a candidate does not agree with the recommendations of the Progression committee at the end of the Readiness-for-Control interview or at the end of the Final Case Presentation, the candidate may appeal to the Director of the Institute, who will carefully review the findings of the PC with the President of the Institute. The review may include meeting individually with each person involve in the ongoing progression of the candidate's work, reviewing all minutes of the PC, meeting with the candidate, the members of the evaluation committee responsible for the decision, and consulting with supervisors and instructors of the candidate. The Institutes President and the Institute Director's decision will be binding.

For clarification and adjustments in the candidate's ongoing evaluation of their work other than the two evaluations listed above, the candidate can contact their Progression Committee Liaison, and if not satisfied, the Progression Committee Chair.

The Progression Committee may suspend or terminate a candidate's training in the case of the candidate's failure to met standards toward reasonable progress toward graduation, or for violation of ethical precepts for the practice of psychoanalysis. Reasonable progress toward graduation shall mean continued satisfactory review by instructors and supervisors, timely completion of requirements, such as Progression Committee receipt of case summaries, as well as immersion in the practice of psychoanalysis. The candidate has the right to appeal this decision under the appeal process indicated above.

Questions regarding curriculum or faculty should be directed to the respective Chair of Faculty or Curriculum Committee of the Psychoanalytic training Institute.