Advanced Training Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

The Advanced Training Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (ATP), offered by the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (BPSI), is designed to help clinicians become skilled psychoanalytic psychotherapists. The program consists of several integrated components:


  • Seminars
  • Supervision
  • Mentorship
  • Writing
  • Personal Psychotherapy

BPSI is a vibrant multidisciplinary community of clinicians and scholars, with diverse perspectives and experiences. Students are actively welcomed into our community, where an extensive array of clinical and educational programs augments the formal ATP curriculum.

Program Components

Seminars and Schedule
Theoretical and clinical seminars, led by outstanding teachers, comprise a three-year curriculum. A fourth seminar year is optional. Theoretical seminars provide intensive study of theories of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, from classical concepts, ego and self psychology, through object relations theories and current relational perspectives. Clinical seminars provide intimate group settings where students discuss their clinical work under the guidance of senior faculty. The seminars are held at BPSI on Thursday evenings, at 5:30 and 8:00, during three ten-week semesters through the academic year.

Fellowship/ATP I Schedule 2011-2012
ATP III Schedule 2011-2012

Mentorship
Each student’s professional and educational needs are unique and evolving. BPSI’s priority is to support the individual developmental trajectories of its students, at all levels throughout their training. A spirit of mentorship pervades the program. In addition, each ATP student is matched with a faculty advisor to discuss individual training goals and options. Each class also has a class advisor, to discuss issues of common concern.

Supervision
Supervision of one’s psychotherapy work is a profoundly important aspect of a therapist’s education. ATP students are provided individual psychotherapy supervision, with a wide choice of experienced supervisors from the BPSI community. The relationships formed with supervisors regularly become cherished aspects of the student’s experience. Students treat two patients in twice weekly psychotherapy, each for at least two years. Patients are selected from the student’s practice, and a limited number of patients are referred to students by the ATP referral committee. The fees for supervision are on a sliding scale fee system, ensuring that all students have equal access to high quality supervision, irrespective of their financial means.

Writing
Clinical writing is an important means of developing and clarifying one’s thinking. The program provides guidance and support for writing, including elective workshops and individual writing mentors. After completion of seminars, each student writes a clinical report on one of their supervised ATP cases, or a paper on a topic of clinical or theoretical interest.

Personal Psychotherapy
Self-analytic capacity is essential for therapists. Therefore, the program requires personal psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, of at least twice weekly intensity. The personal psychotherapy may run concurrently with ATP studies, or may have preceded matriculation.

Other BPSI Resources Available to ATP Students
BPSI offers many clinical and educational programs beyond our formal training programs, from small workshops and discussion groups to large symposia and lectures. The BPSI library is a superb resource for scholars, staffed by a professional librarian eager to help students. Students receive a subscription to the online psychoanalytic resource PEP-Web, which includes the complete contents of all major psychoanalytic journals.

Admissions Procedures, Tuition, and Fees

Clinicians with advanced degrees in psychiatry, psychology, social work or nursing are encouraged to apply to the ATP. Students completing BPSI’s Fellowship program may apply for entry into the ATP Year Two. ATP students must be either independently licensed, or be practicing under the auspices of a clinical institution. BPSI itself is not a treatment facility. Thus, supervision is an educational opportunity, and legal responsibility for the treatments discussed remains with the individual students or with the institutions at which the students practice. Malpractice coverage is required.

Application material and information may be obtained by contacting BPSI at 617.266.0953 or at www.bostonpsychoanalytic.org.

Please submit the application with an application fee of $25 made out to BPSI. We request all applications be submitted by May 15 for the following academic year to 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116. Two application interviews will be scheduled. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that letters of reference are sent.

Tuition for 2011-2012 will be $1,876.00, and is adjusted annually. Supervisory fees are arranged on an individual basis, based on the student’s ability to pay. After completion of seminars, there is a yearly fee until graduation. Limited opportunities for financial assistance are available.

Printable Application Form
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Printable ATP Brochure
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

For further information, contact the Administrative Office

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of this CME activity. The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 hours per session in Category I Credit towards the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute maintains responsibility for this program. Please contact the BPSI Administrative Office about continuing education for social workers. The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Inc. (BPSI) does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, or sexual preference in admissions, administration of its education programs, scholarship and loan programs, and employment.