Training Guidelines

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.

A. Academic Schedule.

1. DC Program: The academic schedule in the DC program is based upon a semester system. Classes are held on six Saturdays per semester.  DC Program candidates take three courses per semester, unless an alternative plan has been arranged through the Progression Committee. Electives and other program options may meet at other predetermined times.
2. NY Program: The academic schedule in the NY program is based upon a trimester system. NY Program candidates take two courses per trimester, unless an alternative plan has been arranged through the Progression Committee.  Classes meet on Monday evenings. Electives and other program options may meet at other predetermined times.

B. Candidates are expected to be present for all classes and will inform the instructor if unable to attend. If the candidate misses more than one class of a six session course (or courses of a shorter duration), the candidate must write a paper for the class on a topic agreed upon with the instructor. If more than two classes of a six session course (or course of a shorter duration) are missed, then a tutorial session will be arranged by the Chair of Faculty.

C. 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.

D. 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.

E. Faculty evaluations of candidates will be submitted immediately after the semester ends. Copies are sent to the Administrative Director, who will forward to the PC Liaison to the candidate to review with the candidate. Candidates have direct access to instructor evaluations.

F. 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 involved 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 decision of the President and the Director of the Institute 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 meet standards toward reasonable progress toward graduation, or for violation of ethical standards in 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.

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