Advanced Training Program in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

The Child and Adolescent Advanced Training Program (CAATP) is an outgrowth of the Advanced Training Program of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Inc. which was established in 1979. The goal of the CAATP is to fulfill a need for advanced training in psychoanalytically informed psychotherapy of children and adolescents. The orientation of the Program is the development, through scholarship and clinical practice, of the advanced knowledge required to conduct psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

The CAATP offers specialized training in the psychodynamic psychotherapy of children and adolescents. The primary areas of focus are:


  • Psychoanalytic theory with a developmental perspective as applied to children, adolescents, and their families.

  • Psychoanalytic concepts of technique, psychotherapy and diagnostic skills.

  • Application of psychodynamic theory and technique to working with children and adolescents with a wide range of emotional problems in varying settings.

The CAATP is open to mental health professionals who have demonstrated experience and aptitude for child psychotherapy with a developmental perspective. Training is offered on a part-time basis to clinicians from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, counseling, and psychiatric nursing. The training includes three components: seminars, supervised clinical work, and personal treatment.

Faculty includes members of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Inc., The Psychoanalytic Institute of New England East and graduates of The Advanced Training Program. Clinical and theoretical seminars will include case presentations from the students’ practices and discussions of readings.

Training Requirements

Supervised Treatment: Each student will treat two patients twice weekly for at least 18 months. Students will be required to treat one adolescent and either a pre-school or latency-aged child. Work with parents and families is expected as well. Patients are to be selected from the student’s practice. A minimum of 150 hours of supervision, of which 12 hours involve work during the termination phase, is required. A list of supervisors and faculty will be made available through BPSI.

Preceptor System: Each student is matched with a preceptor who will act as his/her advocate and advisor during the course of the Program, as well as being a representative of the CAATP. The preceptor will act as a liaison between CAATP administration and the student.

Personal Therapy: Trainees are expected to have had, or be in the process of having, either a personal psychoanalysis, or a psychoanalytically oriented therapy of at least twice weekly intensity. There will be no contact with the student’s therapist or psychoanalyst.

Admissions Procedures, Tuition, and Fees

The CAATP welcomes applications from clinicians with advanced degrees in the fields of social work, psychiatry, psychology, counseling and psychiatric nursing. Psychiatrists must have completed residency training. All clinicians are required to have at least one year of supervised clinical experience in their fields and have malpractice insurance. In the tradition of the ATP, the CAATP aims to create a diverse, multidisciplinary student community and values contributions made by trainees who bring with them many perspectives and types of clinical experience.

We request that all applications be submitted between February 1st and May 1st for the following academic year. The application fee is $25.

Tuition per academic year is $650 during the seminar years. After completion of seminars there is a yearly fee until graduation, which covers access to library facilities, scientific meetings, and mailings. Fees are subject to an annual cost of living increase.

Supervisory fees are to be arranged on an individual basis, based on the student’s ability to pay.

Limited opportunities for financial assistance are available.

Printable Application Form
(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.