ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

BPSI welcomes applications from licensed clinicians in the mental health fields for full clinical training in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis. There are various points of entry into our program. For those beginning psychoanalytic training one may apply to the Joint Training Program, where adult and child psychoanalytic studies are pursued simultaneously. Additionally, those who are already candidates or graduates of BPSI, MIP, or other IPA institutes may apply for training in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis.


ELIGIBILITY 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. This should include at least one year of training specific to child and adolescent mental health from a recognized treatment center.

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. This should include experience with children, adolescents and adults. 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 of children, adolescents, and adults 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 experience in their own personal treatment, in psychoanalysis or intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

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

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

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 FOR ACCEPTANCE 

  • In order to be accepted for child training at BPSI, Independent licensure and individual liability insurance are required.
  • Eligibility is also based in part on prior experience with children and adolescents. This can be met by one year of full-time child training, with supervision, in a licensed children’s treatment center and subsequent supervised treatment of children and adolescents, or its equivalent.
  • Applicants must be a in good standing at his/her psychoanalytic institute and must have a letter to that effect from the institute.
  • There must be no ethical complaints outstanding against the applicant.
  • Applicants are responsible for requesting four letters of reference. Letters may be from any supervisors or colleagues who know your clinical work well. At least two letters must be from supervisors or colleagues who know your work with children/adolescents.
  • Several admissions interviews with two different interviewers will be part of the evaluation process.

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THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

How to Apply

Potential applicants can request an application form at the BPSI administrative office at 617-266-0953 or can download an application form from the BPSI website.

BPSI will accept applications from December 1, 2022 – April 1, 2023.

  • There is non-refundable application fee of $100.00. This may be paid online, or by check payable to Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, which may be mailed to the same address.
  • The completed application form, together with supporting materials requested therein (CV, description of child/adolescent case load, list of courses taken in adult psychoanalytic training, list of analytic supervisors, brief description of each adult analytic case) and application fee of $100 should be returned to Karen Smolens  via email or to Karen Smolens at BPSI, 141 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA 02459.
  • Applicants are responsible for requesting four letters of reference. Letters may be from any supervisors or colleagues who know your clinical work well. At least two letters must be from supervisors or colleagues who know your work with children/adolescents.
  • Once these materials are received, applicants will be scheduled for interviews and may expect, as part of the interview process, to discuss their clinical work with children. All applications are processed for rolling admission.

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

Allen Palmer, MD, Child Analyst Liaison to the Admissions Committee: 617-278-9410.

Sarah Birss, MD, Co-Chair Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis Training Program: sarah.birss@gmail.com or (978) 369-5400.

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TUITION

  • 2023-2024 Tuition for seminars: $1,820.00 per year, for Candidates taking seminars. Tuition will be $1,280.00 for Candidates in post seminar years.
  • 2024-2025 Tuition for seminars: $1,880.00 per year, for Candidates taking seminars. Tuition will be $1,320.00 for Candidates in post seminar years.
  • There is a small annual increase in tuition and dues. 2025-2026 tuition and dues will be available March 1, 2025.
  • BPSI Adult Candidates, Members, and Adjunct Members: Child Psychoanalytic Training is included in Tuition and Membership Fee.
  • 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 x 105.
  • The following are included in tuition:
    • Access to The Referral Service: BPSI’s Referral Service, can be an excellent source for referrals. The committee provides information and assistance to individuals who are considering psychoanalysis and/or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Committee members meet in consultation with adults, adolescents and children and, whenever possible, provide referrals.
  • When appropriate, committee members work to facilitate analytic referrals to Child Candidates who are willing to take a reduced fee for training purposes.
    • PEP Web (Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing on the WEB – Gives the Candidate online access to psychoanalytic journals and books).
    • CMEs, CEs, & CEUs for psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers are available for select Child and Adolescent Training program seminars.
    • Use of our extensive library and resource librarian.

SUPERVISORY FEES

  • Fees are arranged directly with each supervisor. Reduced fees are sometimes available, dependent on financial circumstances.
  • Adult Candidates also in child training pay a reduced supervisory cost of $100.00.

PERSONAL PSYCHOANALYSIS FEES

  • Personal analysis fees are arranged privately with the personal psychoanalyst
  • Reduced fee training analysis is available, dependent upon 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.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS

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