Program in Adult Psychoanalysis

Year One

In the first year, classes focus on two broad topics:

• the development of psychic structure
• the evolution of Freud’s work.

In the development series, emphasis is placed on:

• attachment theory
• separation-individuation
• evolving theories of narcissistic regulatory processes.

In the Freud sequence, the four courses illustrate how Freud’s writings, no matter how much they have undergone revision, have been the reference point in the framing of psychoanalytic inquiry for successive generations of psychoanalysts. The concurrent courses cover the psychic development of the person from many perspectives.

Year Two

In the second year, courses focus on:

• major theoretical developments in Freudian psychoanalysis growing from Freud's writings.
• the process of psychoanalytic diagnosis and psychoanalytic understandings of the major diagnostic conditions

In the first sequence, topics to be covered include:

• the evolution of structural theory
• modern conflict theory
• the ways in which concepts of structural development, object relations, and self-esteem regulation have been developed within a Freudian framework.
• the work of Klein and Winnicott.

In the second sequence, attention is centered on:

• diagnosis.
• analyzability.
• the psychoanalytic situation.

This second year's work continues to lay the ground work for being an analyst. Extending the previous year's work on developing Freudian concepts, now with more contemporary elaborations, emphasis is on dynamic and structural variables that affect the diagnosis, analyzability, psychoanalytic frame, prognosis and treatment.

Year Three

The previous years’ work focused on how to think like an analyst; this year’s courses focus on how to work like an analyst. The nature of the analytic frame is examined in greater detail. Emphasis is on flexibility of analytic treatment with patients manifesting mild to severe psychopathology. This clinically-focused year brings together all the candidate has learned about analytic thinking and work over the preceding three years and prepares them to begin analyses with their patients.

Third year courses:

• Contemporary Structural Approaches to Technique I and II
• Contemporary Integrative Approaches to Psychoanalytic Technique I and II
• Rotating Case Seminar: The Dream in Psychoanalysis
• Continuous Case Seminar: Classical Technique with the "Classical" Patient

Year Four

In this year, candidates are given the opportunity to integrate the many complex, and at times conflicting, theories of mental functioning and approaches to analytic work they have studied. In this year there is heightened involvement in one’s own clinical work. The particular challenges of working with the more disturbed patient, integrating new thinking about gender, and confronting countertransference issues are emphasized.

Fourth year courses:

• Comparative Models I and II
• Non-Interpretive Mutative Factors in Analysis
• Rotating Case Seminar: Gender in the Clinical Situation
• Rotating Case Seminar: Transference and Countertransference in Working with the Borderline Patient
• Rotating Case Seminar: Transference and Countertransference in Working with the Narcissistic Patient
• Continuous Case Seminar: Application of Classical Technique with the "Non-Classical" Patient

Beyond the Basic Curriculum

Each year, elective seminars are offered to advanced candidates (and members) on topics not covered in the basic curriculum or topics which candidates wish to pursue in greater depth. Candidates who have completed the required four year curriculum, are required to take one 8-week course per year until they graduate. These courses are also open to Advanced IPTAR candidates (who have completed, or are close to completing, their course requirements) as well as IPTAR members.