Academic Associate Program

The Academic Associate Program in psychoanalytic studies offers interested professionals the opportunity to study psychoanalysis alongside candidates in the Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program, but without the clinical work with patients. As such, this option might be of particular interest to professionals in non-mental health disciplines, or mental health professionals who would like to study psychoanalysis without the extra demands involved in working with control cases.

Academic Associates take the same first two years of adult psychoanalytic training coursework as clinical candidates. Upon completion of these two years of coursework, associates wishing to receive a “Certificate of Psychoanalytic Studies” write a paper integrating psychoanalysis with their relevant professional disciplines. As non-clinical students, academic associates do not treat patients in psychoanalysis or engaging in clinical supervision.

Although Academic Associate are not required to be in their own psychoanalytic treatment, it is strongly recommended to pursue psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with a psychoanalyst. At the Contemporary Freudian Society, we believe with great conviction that personal experience in a psychoanalytically-oriented treatment of one’s own is an important component of learning about psychoanalysis.

At any point during the course of training, Academic Associates may apply for a change in status to the Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program. Academic Associates who pursue Adult Psychoanalytic Training will be required, in addition to the requirements of the Academic Associate Program, to complete the final two years of coursework as well as the clinical requirements for control cases and supervision, and to engage a personal training analysis.

To learn more about this training program, please contact either Ellen Klosson, PhD, DC Chair of Admissions (eklosson@prodigy.net) or Marie Murphy, MSW, BCPsa, DC Institute Director (mmurphy@mamurphy.net).

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