|
Contents
|
||
The New Center for Psychoanalysis (NCP) has established a tradition of excellence as a training and research institution that dates back to the mid twentieth century.
In 2005, the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (LAPSI) and the Southern California Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (SCPSI) merged into one organization under new bylaws to form the Center. From its inception, the Training School has been dedicated to the study and exploration of the entire spectrum of psychoanalytic theory and practice. NCP’s educational principles are based upon the conviction that psychoanalysis as originated by Sigmund Freud, and further developed by subsequent psychoanalytic innovators, is an ever-evolving science.
The Center is affiliated with the American Psychoanalytic Association as well as the International Psychoanalytic Association, a testimony to its high educational standards. Clinical associates are encouraged to participate in these organizations which allow for national and international educational experiences.
The Center is a non-profit organization that awards both a Doctor of Philosophy Degree and Doctor of Psychology Degree in Psychoanalysis. The Center provides a Certificate of Completion for those who complete all requirements, with the exception of the writing of a doctoral thesis, including participating in the Colloquium.
While beginning on the firm foundation of a historical and critical review of the works of Sigmund Freud, NCP encourages clinical associates to approach their studies with a spirit of disciplined yet flexible intellectual inquiry.
No single theory or technical approach is presented as an idealized talisman guaranteed to secure full psychoanalytic understanding or competence. NCP's aim is to produce graduate psychoanalysts who will regard their learning experience as merely the first phase of a life-long career devoted to receptivity toward, and critical examination of, new and existing developments in this growing field.
To this end, an attitude of critical inquiry, coupled with experience in clear scientific writing, reaches its culmination in a graduation thesis leading to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy degree or a Doctor of Psychology degree in Psychoanalysis.
In addition to its primary purpose of training clinical associates to become skilled practitioners of psychoanalysis, as well as contributors to the corpus of psychoanalytic knowledge, the Center sponsors the following: a low-fee psychoanalytic clinic; an extensive psychoanalytic library open to investigators and students in the community; an Extension Division which offers a wide variety of psychoanalytic meetings, seminars, and courses for mental health professionals; and a program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for mental health professionals motivated to enhance their theoretical knowledge about psychodynamic theory and treatment.
- Educating and training qualified applicants in the theory and practice of psychoanalysis or analytic psychotherapy
- Conducting research on the functioning of the human mind
- Promoting the application of psychoanalysis in mental health professions and in academia
- Providing psychoanalytic treatment on a low fee basis
- Cooperating with other organizations in serving the community in matters of mental health, awareness and education
The New Center for Psychoanalysis expects the highest standards and qualifications from all of its applicants. We look for excellence in educational and clinical backgrounds; the aptitude and personality traits considered suitable for the learning and practice of psychoanalysis; qualities of maturity, integrity, reliability, and intellectual honesty; and the highest of references.
NCP does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. NCP has a policy of non-discrimination for persons with disabilities otherwise qualified in accordance with California and Federal law.
Download applications:
Training for Clinicians
Training for Academicians
The American Psychoanalytic Association has established minimum requirements which guide the New Center for Psychoanalysis in selection of clinical associates. These requirements for clinicians include the following:
To be eligible to undertake psychoanalytic training, the applicant must possess the highest academic degree associated with the licensure of that profession. Proof of a valid license and appropriate malpractice insurance are required prior to matriculation.
Psychiatrists must hold an M.D. degree from a medical school accredited by ACGME, a license to practice medicine in the State of California and completion of the second year of full-time psychiatric residency.
Psychologists must hold a Ph.D. or Psy.D. from a doctoral program accredited by the American Psychological Association and a license to practice clinical psychology in the State of California.
Social Workers must hold a Ph.D., DSW, or MSW degree in social work from a GADE accredited program and a California license to practice clinical social work.
Marriage and Family Therapists must hold an M.A. from an accredited graduate program and a license to practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Individuals who have graduated with a clinical master’s degree that is generally recognized as the highest clinical degree within a specific mental health profession must subsequently complete at least two additional years of didactic and clinical training involving immersion in a rigorous program such as our Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program.
Psychotherapy training, preferably with both in- and outpatient populations, with adequate, close supervision is required. Some supervision of psychotherapy by psychoanalysts is recommended.
It is desirable that applicants have had didactic and/or practical experiences that would provide a broad understanding of the cultural, economic, ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds of the rich diversity of patients in the American population.
The Research Training Program is designed for those who are not primarily clinical practitioners and plan to maintain their professional identity as academic researchers after graduation.
Our aim is to equip such individuals with a thorough knowledge of the theory and clinical technique of psychoanalysis so that they may use psychoanalytic perspectives and insights to enrich their contributions in their primary field of research and to allow them to bring the expertise from their own field to bear on the investigation of psychoanalytic issues. The requirements for academicians are:
• Applicants should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree or be postmasters-graduate students of unusual potential in their field from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Office of Education.
• Applicants must have a full-time faculty appointment at a university.
• Applicants must exhibit a record of scholarly originality and accomplishment. They should have a serious interest in psychoanalysis, see its relevance to their own field of endeavor, and have some specific ideas as to how they can utilize psychoanalytic training to advance their research interests.
• The Center may provide educational and clinical experiences prior to or during the candidacy of any applicants who do not fully meet any of the above requirements.
Continued training in supervised clinical psychoanalysis requires the granting of a waiver of the mental health profession requirement by the American Psychoanalytic Association. This step is conditional upon the applicants having obtained clinical experience deemed adequate by the Institute and the American Psychoanalytic Association.
The Institute awards a limited number of research fellowships to help offset the cost of psychoanalytic training. For further information please contact the Executive Director.
Graduate Program in Psychoanalytic Education
The Program in Psychoanalytic Education follows the established tripartite model which provides for a configuration of personal analysis, psychoanalytic work under supervision, and a minimum of four years of didactic and clinical seminars.
The program consists of:
- The clinical associate's personal or training analysis.
- A curriculum of theoretical and clinical seminars.
- Supervision of the clinical associate's psychoanalytic work.
- The Colloquium or the writing of a graduation thesis.
The foundation of the training is the personal or training analysis. The educational goals of the training analysis include the understanding and mastering of personality problems and freedom from unconscious attitudes that might interfere with the ability to conduct psychoanalytic treatment independently. The analysis should provide first-hand experience of unconscious forces and resistances, free association, transference, working through, and termination, and it should assist in developing self-analytic skills. Four or five analytic sessions per week constitute the optimum condition for the continuity of analysis. Most training analyses extend over a period of four years. Its duration is left to a mutual decision of the training analyst and the clinical associate, depending upon the needs and progress of the individual.
In accordance with the Minimum Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association:
- It is recommended that a clinical associate begin personal analysis prior to the beginning of classes, ideally a year or more before.
- The clinical associate must be in analysis with a training analyst for a substantial period of time that overlaps the supervised casework.
- The personal analysis of candidates are conducted in person at a frequency of five times a week or four at a minimum through termination except when special circumstances require a temporary change of frequency.
The clinical associate selects a training analyst from the Center roster. Guidance is available upon request.
The analyst does not participate in the educational and committee discussion of the analysand nor does the analyst communicate with the Center about his/her analysand except to report the number of analytic sessions and the interruption or termination of analysis.
If either the training analyst or clinical associate is dissatisfied with the analytic progress, either has the right to request another training analyst.
The psychoanalytic training program curriculum encompasses a four-year period; completion of the requirements for supervised and independent clinical work usually requires more time.
The academic year consists of two semesters encompassing approximately nine months. The majority of classes take place in small seminar groups on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Center. Students must attend all seminars each semester unless other arrangements have been made in writing and approved by the Progression Committee.
Theoretical courses and those focusing on clinical material and on technique are given concurrently throughout the four-year period. The curriculum is based on the presentation of multiple paradigms, including ego psychology, object relations, intersubjectivity, self psychology, Kleinian and classical theory; the role of trauma and anxiety, defense, symptom formation; the genesis of character traits, dreams; the phenomenon of transference; and the techniques of therapeutic intervention. These basic issues are reconsidered throughout the four-year period in the light of the clinical associate's increasing experience and theoretical insights and deal progressively with their specific application to the problems of psychopathology and psychoanalytic technique.
Under the supervision of the Curriculum Committee, the clinical associates plan the classes of the fourth year and part of the third year. They select topics and instructors that complement and further explore the topics covered during the preceding years of seminars or new topics the curriculum has not previously addressed. Until graduation, candidates are required to take two courses yearly after completion of the four core years of theoretical work, one theoretical course and one case conference.
The Center's curriculum is scrutinized and evaluated on an ongoing basis and changes are made to reflect new developments in psychoanalysis and the evaluative feedback of clinical associates and faculty.
Participation in the Institute Analysis Conference (IAC) and the Infant Observation Course, both which occur outside of regular seminar hours, is also required.
The clinical associate undertakes supervised clinical work upon authorization by the Education Committee. A clinical associate may be authorized to do supervised psychoanalysis after completion of the first semester of courses. Authorization to begin supervised clinical work is dependent upon the clinical associate's total progress in training, as determined by the Progression Committee. The Progression Committee reviews the clinical associate's progress to determine his/her readiness before granting permission to begin supervision of a second and a third clinical case. A clinical associate should have six months supervision on a case before seeking permission to start the next case.
The student must demonstrate the capacity to work analytically through at least three supervised cases, including both genders, for a minimum of 50 hours supervision per case. The hours may be counted after the associate presents the case at the Institute Analysis Conference (IAC). A minimum of 200 total hours of supervision is required for graduation. At least one of the cases should move to the advanced phase analysis or to successful termination of treatment. Each case will have a different supervisor; selection is accomplished in consultation with the student's Advisor. Students must analyze at least one patient through the Clinic.
As the student progresses with supervisory work and approaches graduation, s/he should pursue the experience of conducting psychoanalysis without supervision in consultation with the Faculty Advisor.
The Center's requirements for graduation are in accordance with those established by the Board of Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association. They include:
- Successful completion of all required courses and seminars
- Undergoing a personal training analysis
- Conducting psychoanalysis with a minimum of three control cases as specified above
- Presenting case reports deemed satisfactory by supervisors and the Progression Committee
- Successful completion of the requirements for the Ph.D., Psy.D., or the Colloquium
The Center advises the American Psychoanalytic Association of the completion of training, and all graduates of the Center are eligible to apply for full membership in the American and the International Psychoanalytic Associations.
NCP offers a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Psychoanalysis. Candidates for the degree must complete the full curriculum, including clinical seminars, with a high degree of excellence and special courses in psychoanalytic research methodology. They must also write a thesis that passes the rigorous scrutiny of the doctoral committee.
NCP offers the Ph.D. for candidates who wish to develop research skills required for the advancement of psychoanalytic knowledge. Through course work and guided independent study, students become familiar with the epistemological foundations of psychoanalytic thought as they learn to apply research techniques to the study of the mind.
The thesis may be on a problem in theoretical, applied or clinical psychoanalysis. It must demonstrate a broad knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and must be of a quality suitable for publication in a psychoanalytic journal. The thesis should demonstrate knowledge of psychoanalysis in the form of a scientific contribution of publishable quality.
The clinical associate will have instructional and consultative assistance in determining and organizing an approach to a topic of interest as early as possible in the training experience. In addition, each student will select a thesis advisor, who along with two additional thesis readers, will be available for discussion of the projected paper and for consultation as progress on the paper proceeds. The ultimate step in the education of psychoanalytic scholars involves the public defense of the ideas, methods, findings and implications of the candidate's doctoral research project at an NCP forum, directed by the chair of the doctoral research committee.
NCP also offers a Doctor of Psychology in Psychoanalysis. Candidates for the degree must complete the full curriculum, including clinical seminars, with a high degree of excellence. Candidates must also write a thesis that passes the scrutiny of the doctoral committee; however, the standards of research are more flexible than those of the Ph.D. and the research methodology course requirement is waived.
NCP’s Psy.D. and Ph.D. have historically have been approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Vocational Education (BPPVE) of California. BPPVE legislation has expired, and the State Legislature has not yet passed a replacement bill. Thousands of schools throughout the State are affected by this situation, including all other degree-granting psychoanalytic institutes. We expect this will be remediated within the coming year. You may consult the website www.bppve.gov for the most current updates of the situation.
The Colloquium is an oral examination to evaluate the clinical associate's grasp of p
The Colloquium is an oral examination to evaluate the clinical associate's grasp of psychoanalytic theory and technique for clinical associates who do not wish to write a Psy.D. or Ph.D. thesis. Those clinical associates are expected to take the Colloquium in the year following the fourth year of seminars. Two active analytic cases are required to take the Colloquium. The Progression Committee will consider on an individual basis Clinical Colloquia for clinical associates with only one active analytic case.
Materials to aid in preparation for the Colloquium are available in the NCP office. Should the Colloquium reveal educational deficiencies or other problems, remedial steps will be offered and/or arranged.
Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Training
The Center's Child Analytic Program offers a didactic and clinical course of study. The curriculum includes a series of clinical seminars, including seminars in child development, continuous case seminars, a child analytic study group and carefully supervised work with young children and adolescents in psychoanalysis. The faculty consists of experienced child and adolescent analysts from NCP and other child analytic centers. The course is not only designed to train child analysts but also to help members of the Center who work with children in psychotherapy become more knowledgeable and effective clinicians. The Child Analytic Program is open to all analysts who recognize that a deeper understanding of children and child development will help them in their work with patients.
Any candidate or Institute member may apply to the program. Candidates from the adult program should submit written request to co-directors of child program and a formal request to and permission from progression the committee via the advisor. Those who have graduated from the adult program wishing to become a child program candidate should submit a written request to the co-chairmen of the program.
Requirements for Graduation: The candidate must have had at least three supervised child cases in analysis. One case must be an adolescent, one a latency child, and the third preferably a pre-latency child but may be either a latency or adolescent child. Cases must be in treatment for at least a year with a frequency during most of that time of four times per week. If the candidate does not plan to seek certification by the American in Child Analysis, the frequency may be three times per week. Cases must be in supervision for at least a year or until the supervisor feels the candidate has shown a good command of the analytic process. Case write-ups must be submitted to the supervisor once a year and there must be a final summary. There should be at least two different supervisors. The cases must be presented to the IAC.
The candidate must attend the continuous case conference seminar for a total of two academic years. A candidate must attend the following seminars: Introduction to child analysis (often taken during the regular adult analytic seminar course); analytic technique in pre-latency, latency, and adolescence (three separate courses); and working with parents of children in analysis. Analytic technique for children with borderline states and/or PDD is an elective. It is desirable that the candidates will avail themselves of the opportunity to attend a once a month child analytic study group as regularly as possible.
A limited amount of money is available to help a few candidates who are seeing very low fee cases. Application can be made by contacting one of the co-directors. Candidates are encouraged to choose any faculty member as their advisor in the child program.
Clinical Associates Organization
The Clinical Associate Organization (CAO) represents the student's perspective to the Center and plays a valuable role in every aspect of its activities. Clinical associates provide feedback about the quality of instruction and content of the courses and participate as members of the Board of Directors, the Education Committee, and selected ad hoc committees.
The CAO strives to be receptive to comments and proposals from its members and invites all clinical associates to join and become active. Clinical associates select a president and a board. The organization sponsors programs throughout the year, such as the end-of-the-year faculty party; confers the annual faculty teaching award; and holds a series of informal gatherings with faculty whom the candidates have identified as having a particular area of psychoanalytic interest or expertise to share.
The clinical associate becomes a voting member of the New Center for Psychoanalysis upon completion of the first year of training.
Download Application (pdf file)
Application Fee (non-refundable): $100
Registration Fee (non-refundable), $50 per semester throughout four years of didactic seminars.
Annual Tuition (Years 1-4): $2,200
$50 per semester class materials preparation fee (non-refundable).
Total: $2400
Annual Post-Seminar Tuition (Year 5-graduation): $900
Leave of Absence Semi-Annual Fee: $100
Library privileges are included in the tuition fee.
Fees are subject to periodic review and alteration. Please check fee structure when applying for training.
Fees for training analysis are set and/or negotiated between the student and training analyst, as are fees for supervision. The supervising analyst donates clinic supervision until the patient is transferred to private status. The clinical associate should ask for reasonable treatment fees as determined by the patient’s resources. The clinical associate pays for supervision.
Students who wish to pay tuition in installments may do so provided their tuition is paid in full by the mid-point of the second semester for that academic year. A minimal finance charge will be added with the payment plan. If tuition fees are not paid on time, a late charge may be assessed, and progression may be interrupted. Tuition must be paid in full to qualify for graduation.
The Board of Directors awards loans and fellowships based on need, merit, and available funds.
- Student Loan Fund
The Student Loan Fund was established to assist clinical associates who need help meeting the expenses of training. Students may request a loan application by contacting the administrative office.
- Research Fellowship Fund
There are a limited number of fellowships and tuition scholarships available for research clinical associates and clinical associates in the Child Analysis Program. Clinical associates must complete an application available at the Center office.
Study Centers are an extension of the study group concept, but go beyond in that they provide opportunities for members and clinical associates to work together in a field of special interest, and to make contributions to the community through teaching and research. Study Centers now established are concerned with such topics as Intersubjectivity and Creativity and the Arts.
The aim of the Alexander-Simmel Library is to provide NCP members and students with a useful and complete collection of psychoanalytic research material that includes books, audio and visual tapes, and computer software. In addition to important journals and serials, the library houses basic works, both retrospective and current, on psychoanalytic theory and technique.
The library collection includes all basic readings required by clinical associates for participation in their seminar courses. It also maintains a reference collection for use in individual research. An important function of the Center staff is to assist students and members locate articles and books and to perform searches in the field of psychoanalysis.
In the history of the various mental health professions (psychiatry, clinical social work, psychology, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nursing) that now comprise the APsaA membership, there has been a tradition of community service.
In accordance with the Center's philosophy of providing education and services to a broad spectrum of the public, the Clinic's mandate is to provide psychoanalysis to persons of limited financial means, and to utilize these cases for training and research.
Co-directors, assisted by the Clinic Administrator who performs administrative and clinical duties, administer the Clinic. Members and clinical associates of the Center, mental health professionals in the community, internship programs, and community health and welfare agencies refer patients to the Clinic.
Each clinical associate is obligated to contribute a minimum of 200 hours of free treatment to the Clinic; therefore, one of the supervised control cases must come from the Clinic. If the assigned case is not carried for that length of time as a clinic case, an additional case will be assigned to fulfill this obligation. The clinical associate receives no fee for the treatment of the Clinic case as long as it remains a clinic case, and a supervising analyst consults with the clinical associate without cost. A Clinic patient may be transferred to private status, following discussion with the supervising analyst and the Clinic, after the minimum numbers of hours and other change of status requirements have been fulfilled.