ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

BPSI welcomes applications from licensed clinicians in the mental health fields for full clinical training. Opportunities for Partial Training are described below.


ELIGIBILTY and READINESS

At BPSI we welcome applications for training from all mental health disciplines.  We offer a wide range of educational programs which are often pathways into analytic training and work with interested clinicians to match them with the program that best fits their professional needs, developmental trajectory, and interests at a given time.  Psychoanalytic training is one trajectory available to licensed mental health professionals with an established base of knowledge and experience within the field.

Prior to psychoanalytic training, applicants should possess the clinical immersion and didactic and personal treatment experience described below.

We understand there are different educational pathways in the mental health field, and your training and experience may differ from the criteria listed below. The Admissions Chairs and the Training Outreach Chair are available to discuss your didactic and clinical immersion, your individual interests and professional trajectory, and your readiness for psychoanalytic training. Their contact information can be found below.

Clinical Immersion

  1. A minimum of 3000 hours or the equivalent of two years full-time mental-health clinical experience under weekly individual supervision. Although this experience may be gained primarily from out-patient care situations, it should ideally include at least some experience with other settings such as inpatient and emergency care settings that offer exposure to the full range of mental disorders, and should include experience with psychodiagnostic assessment and differential diagnosis.
  2. A minimum of 60 hours of individual supervision in the practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy such that you have begun to develop the capacity to establish a clinical process with patients, basic to future psychoanalytic clinical competence.

Didactic Experience

Should generally include the following:

  1. Human Development across the lifespan from infancy into adulthood.
  2. Psychopathology – allowing for a theoretical and clinical understanding of mental disorders including neurotic, characterological, psychotic, affective, anxiety, attentional and learning disorders as well as disorders related to substance abuse and those at the medical-psychiatric interface.
  3. Major psychological theories such as behavioral, cognitive, learning theories, in addition to basics of psychoanalytic theories of the mind.
  4. At least 60 hours participation in psychodynamically oriented courses and clinical seminars from which you have gained understanding of basic psychoanalytic concepts as well as the basics of a psychotherapeutic clinical process.
  5. Therapeutic approaches to mental disorders that would enable a theoretical and clinical understanding of the different indications for psychopharmacology, supportive, psycho-dynamic and other psychotherapeutic treatments.
  6. Interviewing techniques, history taking, information gathering and report writing.
  7. Techniques of psychotherapy including a theoretical understanding and clinical experience with a range of psychotherapeutic techniques.
  8. The principles of clinical and professional ethical conduct.

Personal Treatment Experience

Applicants are strongly encouraged to have begun their own personal psychoanalysis or intensive psychotherapy prior to applying to BPSI.

Thank you for your interest in psychoanalytic training at BPSI. Please know that applicants are evaluated on the basis of their education, interest and experience relevant to the field, psychological aptitude, and certain personality factors. 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 is directed toward helping the psychoanalytic Candidate further develop and integrate these characteristics.

Contact Information

Lisa Citrin, LICSW, Co-Chair Admissions Committee (Psychoanalytic Training Program): lisacitrinlicsw@gmail.com or 617-852-5774

Stephanie Schechter, PsyD, Co-Chair Admissions Committee (Psychoanalytic Training Program): stephschechter@aol.com or 617-875-8196.

Alison Phillips, MD, Chair of the Training Outreach Committee: alisonphillips4@mac.com or 781-237-2335

For administrative questions please contact Karen Smolens, Senior Administrator for Admissions in the BPSI office at ksmolens@bpsi.org or 617-266-0953 x103.

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REQUISITES

  • In order to apply for psychoanalytic training at BPSI, a clinical applicant must be licensed in the state in which s/he practices and in good standing in her or his field, and carry malpractice insurance.
  • Applicants are evaluated on the basis of their education, interest and experience relevant to the field, psychological aptitude, and certain personality factors. 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 is directed toward helping the psychoanalytic Candidate further develop and integrate these characteristics.

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ACADEMICS

  • BPSI welcomes Academics to participate in the psychoanalytic training program as Affiliate Scholars.
  • Affiliate Scholars are scholars with established academic credentials who wish to learn more about psychoanalysis to enhance knowledge and research endeavors in their own field.

Click here to learn more about applying to train as an Affiliate Scholar.

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HOW TO APPLY

BPSI will accept applications from December 1, 2023 – April 1, 2024.

  • Complete the application form and return via email to admissions@bpsi.org.
  • There is a non-refundable application fee of $75. This may be paid online, or by check payable to Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, which may be mailed to 141 Herrick Rd, Newton Centre, MA 02459.
  • All applicants are responsible for requesting four letters of reference. Letters may be from any supervisors or colleagues who know your clinical work well.
  • Following receipt of an application, BPSI will contact the applicant for interviews with three faculty members. Our goal is for these interviews to be a mutually informative experience in which you will learn more about our training program and community, and we can discuss your professional experience and goals.
  • At the time of receipt of the application, the Chair of Admissions will link each applicant with an Admissions Committee Liaison, an advanced Candidate or recent graduate who is available as an informal consultant, both about BPSI and about the application process. Liaisons will arrange for a Candidate currently enrolled in classes to host the applicant for an evening of visiting classes.

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TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER INSTITUTE

  • Candidates in training at other psychoanalytic institutes may apply for transfer of candidacy. Credit for training analysis, supervised analysis and theoretical and clinical courses will be decided on an individual basis.
  • BPSI also considers guest candidacy for Candidates in good standing from other psychoanalytic institutes affiliated with the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) who are temporarily in Boston. Guest Candidates may take courses appropriate to their level of training with the approval of instructors.

For more information about the process of applying for psychoanalytic training and any questions you might have, including those about eligibility, please contact:

Lisa Citrin, LICSW, Co-Chair Admissions Committee (Psychoanalytic Training Program): lisacitrinlicsw@gmail.com or 617-852-5774

Stephanie Schechter, PsyD, Co-Chair Admissions Committee (Psychoanalytic Training Program): stephschechter@aol.com or 617-875-8196.

Dov Fogel, MD, Co-Chair, Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis Training Program: dov.fogel@gmail.com or (617) 547-6776.

Anthony Bram, PhD, Co-Chair, Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis Training Program: anthony_bram@hms.harvard.edu or (781) 862-4984.

Alison Phillips, MD, Chair of the Training Outreach Committee: alisonphillips4@mac.com or 781-237-2335

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TUITION

  • Enrollment Fee – $450.00.
  • 2023-2024 Tuition for seminars: $3,990, billed in July.
  • 2024-2025 Tuition for seminars: $4,120, billed in July.
  • There is a small annual increase in tuition and dues. 2025-2026 tuition and dues will be available March 1, 2025.
  • Our Financial Office can set up a payment plan for your tuition. Please email Drew Brydon-Cardoso, Accounting & Operations Specialist, or call him at 617-266-0953 ext. 105.
  • The following are included in tuition:
    • Case Referral Service
    • Mentors including clinical practice tutor and individual advisor
    • PEP Web
    • CMEs & CEUs
    • Use of our extensive Library and resource librarian
    • Candidate Membership dues

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SUPERVISORY FEES

  • Usual supervisory fees are reduced, and maximum fee for supervision is $100.
  • Fees are arranged directly with each supervisor. Sometimes reduced fees are available, dependent on financial circumstances.

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PERSONAL PSYCHOANALYSIS FEES

  • Personal psychoanalysis fees are arranged privately with the approved personal psychoanalyst.
  • Adjusted fee training analysis is available, dependent on financial circumstances.
  • All training costs, including personal psychoanalysis (unless used as a medical expense) may be tax-deductible, please check with your accountant or tax advisor.

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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS

  • BPSI offers several possible options for scholarships and is committed to supporting training for those applicants with limited financial resources. Scholarship funds are limited and distributed based on financial need. Upon acceptance, all Candidates are eligible to apply for these to help finance their psychoanalytic training. There are loans available to Candidates through the American Psychoanalytic Association and the International Psychoanalytic Association.

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