There are several components to psychoanalytic training:
- Personal Analysis – Our premise is that experience in a personal analysis is an important element in psychoanalytic training. Some candidates are already in a personal analysis when they apply for training at the Institute. Once the candidate begins to treat his/her first psychoanalytic case, a personal analysis with a Supervising and Training Analyst is required. This is so, regardless of past personal analysis experience. In special cases, the Training Committee can approve continuation of a personal analysis prior to the analyst’s becoming a Supervising and Training Analyst.
- Theoretical and Clinical Courses – Courses of study and curriculum will be included in the future in this website
- Clinical Psychoanalytic Practice – The candidate must treat at least three people, both male and female, in psychoanalysis. This must be under the supervision of three Supervising and Training Analysts. One of the three cases can be a child or an adolescent. Each treatment case must be seen a minimum of 4 times per week and continue for at least two years. Supervision for each case is to be one hour weekly. The candidate needs to obtain permission from the Training Committee before beginning each case, including cases above the minimum three required. In addition, the candidate is required to have weekly supervision on any cases above the minimum three required, until he or she gains formal acceptance as a member of the Society.
- Completion of Training – Upon completion of the formal educational requirements as determined by the Training Committee, the candidate submits a written clinical case study describing one of the treatment cases. The written paper combines theoretical and clinical material. The Training Committee then appoints a subcommittee, a Reading Committee, comprised of three members who are psychoanalysts but who are not part of the Training Committee. This Reading Committee discusses the case with the candidate and offers suggestions. After the paper is approved by the Reading Committee, the candidate makes a formal oral presentation under the aegis of the Institute. After the presentation by the candidate, the Training Committee informs the Committee of the Society that the candidate has completed the psychoanalytic training and can be admitted as an Associate Member of the Israel Psychoanalytic Society and of the International Psychoanalytical Association. The candidate promises not to present himself as a psychoanalyst until acceptance to the Society.