DALLAS PSYCHOANALYTIC INSTITUTE

General Description of the Program

The curriculum is comprised of three interrelated and synergistic components, 1) the training analysis, 2) the academic program, and 3) supervised clinical work.  The Progression Committee of the Institute evaluates the candidate in all three areas and makes recommendations for each successive step in the program.  Graduation requires successful completion of the curriculum in all three areas.

Training Analysis:  The training analysis is the foundation on which expertise as a psychoanalyst is built.  A minimum of 300 analytic sessions are required for graduation; but because experience has shown that many more sessions are generally necessary to meet the Candidate's educational and personal goals, no rule as to length can be set.  This analysis should be concurrent with the other components of the candidate's training.  Usually a year of training analysis is required before the candidate begins the academic program.  A training analysis does not differ from a personal analysis except for the additional purpose of resolving personality traits that would interfere with being a psychoanalyst and that the candidate is required to arrange for analysis with a training analyst from the faculty.  The frequency of the sessions is optimally five times per week although four times per week is acceptable.  The fee is set between the analyst and candidate.

Academic Program:  The formal academic program is given over five years and predominantly takes the form of seminars.  Theoretical and clinical subjects are considered in depth, and preparatory reading is required.  After completion of the classes, advanced candidates continue to meet in a study group.  In addition, on a few weekends distinguished analysts from other institutes meet with the candidates from all years;  each seminar may address one of a variety of relevant topics or may focus on a particular theme for the year.  Candidates are also encouraged to attend the open meetings of the Dallas Psychoanalytic Society.

Class Hours: Tuesday evenings from 6:30-9:45 pm
Two 1 1/2 hour sessions/week
Thirty two weeks/academic year

Supervised Clinical Work: With satisfactory completion of the first semester of classes and the recommendation of the Progression Committee, the candidate may begin the first analytic case.  Upon finding a patient who might be appropriate for analysis, the candidate discusses the case with a supervising analyst of the Institute.  If the case is suitable, the candidate receives approval to recommend analysis to the patient.  Initially one hour of supervision per week is recommended.  The candidate and the patient set the fee for the analysis; often early cases are accepted for a low fee.  The candidate and the supervisor set the fee for the supervision.  Eligibility for subsequent cases is determined by the candidate's current supervisor(s) and the Progression Committee.  The candidate submits an initial case write-up and a progress summary every six months for each case.  Graduation requires a minimum of three supervised adults cases providing work with both sexes, at least fifty hours supervision on each case, and one case well into the termination phase of analysis.

Currently the Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute does not offer full training in Child Analysis.  However, in addition to the required adult cases, candidates may analyze child cases under supervision.

The Ethics Committee of the American Psychoanalytic Association requires that no candidates hold themselves out to be psychoanalysts or to do psychoanalysis without the permission of the Institute until graduation.

Advisor Program

Each new candidate chooses a faculty advisor who generally meets with the candidate twice per year to share feedback from and to the Progression Committee about the candidate's progress.  It is also an opportunity to communicate about special problems and gain assistance.  The faculty advisor can be one of the candidate's supervisors.  An ombudsman is assigned to each class to facilitate communication between its class and the faculty.

Course of Instruction

The Curriculum for classes that began in 2000 follows.  The curriculum is subject to ongoing revisions.

Pre-Class

New candidates, depending on their needs, may meet up to four times in the Pre-Class year to discuss general aspects of psychoanalytic theory, technique and practice with emphasis on analytic process.  Concepts such as transference, resistance and countertransference are discussed, utilizing various readings selected by the Instructor.  The purpose of the meetings is to introduce the candidates to each other and ensure a level of comfort in discussion of various topics so as to prepare them for the intensive work to come.

(Click on links below to view course information)

• Year One

• Year Two

• Year Three

• Year Four

• Year Five

Graduation

Upon meeting each of the criteria described above (training analysis, completion of the course curriculum, and analytic clinical experience) the Candidate requests consideration for graduation in writing to the Chair of the Progression Committee.  The Progression Committee will make that decision when it feels that the Candidate is ready for graduation.  The final step is that the Candidate for graduation needs to pass a colloquium with designated members of the Education Committee (see manual for Candidates for further details).

Certification

Upon graduation, Candidates are encouraged to apply for certification in psychoanalysis with the American Psychoanalytic Association.  This is not mandatory for graduation from the Institute nor for active membership in the American Psychoanalytic Association, but it is an opportunity to consolidate the graduate's educational experience and profession identity as a nationally recognized psychoanalyst.

Society Membership

Candidates who have completed their training analysis are eligible to apply for membership in the Dallas Psychoanalytic Society.  All graduates are encouraged to become active members of the Society.  The Dallas Psychoanalytic Society was established to promote the science and art of analysis, to conduct scientific meetings, and to develop relationships with other disciplines.  It is also an excellent opportunity to stay in personal and professional contact with one's psychoanalytic colleagues.

American Psychoanalytic Association Membership

Candidates are eligible to apply for affiliate membership in the American Psychoanalytic Association.  Upon Graduation they are eligible to apply for active membership.

American Psychoanalytic Association
309 East 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 752-0450

None at this time

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UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas Psychoanalytic Institute
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75390-9070
214- 648-7486