Psychoanalytic Training

The Psychoanalytic Training program was founded in 1943 by the internationally renowned scholars and clinicians Erich Fromm, Ph.D., Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, M.D., Harry Stack Sullivan, M.D., David Rioch, M.D., Janet M. Rioch, M.D., and Clara Thompson, M.D.

Candidates are required to undergo personal psychoanalysis as a means of attaining freedom from personality factors that would interfere with the ability to conduct effective psychoanalytic treatment. Analysts are not assigned by the Institute, but chosend by candidates from a roster of Training Analysts. Applicants who are already engaged in an ongoing, productive treatment with an Institute graduate (with at least five years of post-graduate experience) may apply to the Training Committee for permission to continue their personal analysis with their analyst. In addition, in some cases, applicants may continue treatment with Training Analysts of other institutes with vetting procedures similar to ours. The Institute reserves the right to review the qualifications of a personal analyst selected by a candidate admitted to training.

Because personal analysis is an integral part of training it is expected that candidates will remain in analysis for the duration of their training. Analysis should be conducted at the rate of at least three sessions per week for the first 300 hours and begin no later than October 1st of the first academic year. In order to preserve the integrity of the analysis, candidates’ analysts are expressly excluded from participation in administrative decisions regarding their analysands.

In certain situations the Training Committee may make a determination about the progress of a candidate’s training analysis.

The Institute is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, (SEVIS), which is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Upon acceptance to our program, our Designated School Officer, Meghana Giridhar (m.giridhar@wawhite.org) will complete the initial SEVIS forms and issue a signed Form I-20. After receiving the form from the Institute, the student applies to the United States Consulate or Embassy for an F-1 Visa. Students must enroll and enter the country within 30 days of the program start date. If a student does not report within the 30-day period, their SEVIS record is cancelled. An F1 student can maintain their status for as long as they continue to be enrolled in a full-time educational program. For questions regarding curricular practical training (CPT) or optional practical training (OPT) status or other questions regarding SEVIS eligibility, please contact Richard Herman (r.herman@wawhite.org). Applicants need to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English, which will allow them to work with English-speaking patients. Applicants whose undergraduate and/or professional training was acquired outside of the United States, must submit their educational credentials to the New York State Department of Education, Office of the Professionals, Division of Professional Licensing Services, Psychoanalytic Unit., 89 Washington Avenue, Albany New York, 12234-1000. The Institute uses no other service for the purpose of certifying equivalence to American degree programs.

Psychoanalytic clinical work under the supervision of an Institute-trained Supervising Analyst is a central feature of a candidate’s training experience. At a minimum, candidates work with four patients, each seen at least three times per week in psychoanalysis. In addition, beginning in the third year of training, candidates are required to conduct supervised psychoanalytic psychotherapy for a minimum of 80 hours. Candidates in the Certificate Program in psychoanalysis who participate in the optional Clinic Fellowship may begin work with patients under supervision once they begin their training at the Institute. This highly regarded program provides a means for candidates to develop a private practice and defray a portion of their training expenses.

Each of these three clinical training experiences is described below. (Candidates in the Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis are not eligible to participate in the Clinic Fellowship Program because they are not licensed in New York State.)

Psychoanalysis Under Supervision:

Candidates are required to work with four psychoanalytic patients. Each of the four cases is conducted under the direction of at least three Supervising Analysts or Training and Supervising Analysts from the Institute for a minimum of 200 supervision hours in total.

Candidates will work with their first psychoanalytic patient for at least 240 sessions and the three other psychoanalytic cases for at least one year each; all supervision is on a weekly basis. Candidates work with at least three supervisors for at least 40 hours each; a total of 200 hours of supervised psychoanalysis is required.

Candidates incur expenses for tuition, supervision of analytic cases, and their personal psychoanalysis. For candidates in the Certificate Program in Psychoanalysis, all tuition payments are made to the Institute while the other fees are payable directly to the Supervising Analyst (where applicable) and the Training Analyst. A portion of these expenses made be paid for with the credits earned in the optional clinic fellowship. For candidates in the Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis, tuition payments will also include payment of fees for supervision to the Institute.
Tuition: For both psychoanalytic training programs tuition is currently $6,300 per academic year, payable in three installments prior to the beginning of each trimester. This fee covers all required courses and required electives for each of the first twelve trimesters. Candidates may also enroll in one additional elective course each semester without payment of additional fees. Candidates are also charged $175 per year by the Registrar for reserve library fees and course materials.
Tuition and fees are payable in advance, except for any fees for supervision, which are billed monthly in arrears. Admission to courses will be authorized only when fees and previous indebtedness are paid, unless arrangements are made with the Business Manager. Students who do not notify the Registrar of inability to attend a course prior to its first session will be charged one-half the fee for the course. After the second session of the course the full tuition fee will be charged. Candidates who extend their training past four years of full tuition payment pay reduced tuition during the fifth and six years as described below.
Supervision: For candidates in the Certificate Program in Psychoanalysis, fees for psychoanalysis under supervision are determined by mutual arrangement between the candidate and their Training or Supervising Analyst and are paid directly by the candidate to the Training or Supervising Analyst. For candidates in the Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis, fees will be billed by the Institute monthly in arrears and must be paid directly by the candidate to the Institute. However, in both programs, fees for psychoanalytic supervision are not to exceed $75 per session. Over the course of four years, candidates will incur at a minimum, $15,000 in supervisory expenses (200 hours at $75 per hour.) If a typical schedule is followed by the candidate, supervisory expenses will total approximately $1,850 during the first year of training. The remaining supervision expenses will be payable over the second through fourth years of training, with the greatest expenses occurring during the third year.
No fees are charged for the 40 hours of supervision that candidates receive pursuant to the Psychotherapy Requirement. In addition, candidates who participate in the Clinic Fellowship receive free supervision for the duration of their tenure in that program.
Personal Psychoanalysis: Fees for one’s personal psychoanalysis are determined by mutual arrangement between the candidate and their Training Analyst. The Institute maintains a list of Training Analysts who have agreed to work with candidates whose financial situation requires an adjustment in their usual fees; these arrangements are made on a private and confidential basis.
Leave of Absence: Candidates may be granted a full or partial leave of absence for one academic year. The Institute will consider a leave of absence upon written application to the Director of Training and the leave of absence will only take effect once it is granted in writing. Renewal or extension of such leaves must be requested separately and will not be renewed automatically without written request.
A full leave of absence means the candidate will not attend any courses nor will they receive credit for any supervision or personal psychoanalysis that they engage in during the period on leave. The annual fee for a leave of absence is $500.
A partial leave of absence allows a student to curtail fulfillment of academic requirements while continuing clinical requirements. A student granted a partial leave of absence will be responsible for 50% of the usual tuition for that trimester or academic year. During the period on leave, the candidate will continue to incur the usual fees for supervision and personal psychoanalysis, if any.
All candidates who are not granted full or partial leaves of absence will be responsible for timely payment of full tuition, unless a formal arrangement for deferred payment is made with the Business Manager of the Institute in advance.

Please view our scholarships, fellowships, and loans.

Learn More

The Institute is committed to offering psychoanalytic training to highly motivated, exceptional individuals from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. The Institute offers two psychoanalytic training programs that foster study of the depths of human experience, focusing on the person as a social being and on human behavior as interpersonal communication. Candidates in the LQP program take courses with candidates in the Certificate Program and are reauired to take additional coursework to satisfy New York State requirements.

Certificate Program in Psychoanalysis

Psychiatrists

Admission Requirements: Matriculation is open to graduates of medical schools accredited by the American Medical Association who have completed at least one year of psychiatric residency in a hospital approved by the American Medical Association.

Concurrent Requirements: Four years of approved psychiatry residency must be completed prior to graduation. This must include at least three months experience in an out-patient department or mental health clinic. Successful completion of this program provides eligibility for the Fellowship in the American Academy of Psychoanalysis.

Upon admission, psychiatrists will be required to present evidence of New York State licensure as a physician, and evidence of current professional liability insurance, in order to be granted permission to conduct supervised work with patients.

Psychologists

Admission Requirements: Matriculation is open to applicants with a doctoral level degree from an American Psychological Association-approved training program. In addition, the applicant must have completed a one-year psychology internship. Additional supervised clinical work will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Upon admission, psychologists will be required to present a New York State license or limited permit as a psychologist, and evidence of current professional liability insurance, in order to be granted permission to conduct supervised work with patients.

Doctoral Level Social Workers and Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Admission Requirements: Matriculation is open to doctoral level social workers (D.S.W. or Ph.D.) and to New York State Licensed Clinical Social Workers (L.C.S.W.) who have a degree from an accredited program that included a two-year internship.

Upon admission, clinical social workers will be required to present evidence of a New York State license (L.C.S.W.) and current registration, as well as current professional liability insurance in order to be granted permission to conduct supervised work with patients.

Licensed Master Social Workers

Admission Requirements: Matriculation is open to New York State Licensed Master Social Workers (L.M.S.W.), subject to clinical training regulations of the New York State Education Department.

Upon admission, Licensed Master Social Workers (L.M.S.W.) will be required to present evidence of a New York State license (L.M.S.W.) and current registration, as well as current professional liability insurance in order to be granted permission to conduct supervised work with patients. Supervisors will assume legal and professional responsibility for all patients seen in the Institute clinic by L.M.S.W. candidates.

Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis

Admission Requirements: Matriculation is available to highly-qualified applicants who have earned a master’s degree or higher from an accredited university program registered with the New York State Education Department or who are licensed by New York State in a mental health field that does not include psychoanalysis in its scope of practice. This program is intended to offer an intensive training program in psychoanalysis to applicants trained in related fields who wish to obtain full clinical and academic training in psychoanalysis and to obtain a New York State license (“Licensed Psychoanalyst”) that permits them to engage in independent clinical practice.

The Institute’s Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis has been registered as “license qualifying” by the New York State Education Department. Moreover, our curriculum meets (and exceeds) educational requirements set by the department in order for graduates to sit for the licensing examination to become a Licensed Psychoanalyst. The Institute does not award licenses, but certifies graduation from the program to those who are seeking licensure from New York State.

Upon admission, candidates in the Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis will be required to present evidence of current professional liability insurance in order to be granted permission to conduct supervised work with patients. Supervisors will assume legal and professional responsibility for all patients seen in the Institute clinic by candidates in the Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis..

Application forms for enrollment in either of the Institute’s psychoanalytic training programs may be completed by downloading a hard copy and mailing it to Meghana Giridhar, Registrar, The William Alanson White Institute, 20 West 74th St., New York, NY, 10023 with a $100 nonrefundable application fee. (Ms. Giridhar can also be reached at m.giridhar@wawhite.org.) We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, but no later than May 1st preceding the start of the academic year. Please feel free to direct any inquiries or deadline extension requests to Seth Aronson, Psy.D., Director of Training at s.aronson@wawhite.org.

Prospective students are required to submit two letters of recommendation with their application, as well as requested proof of credentials. Several personal interviews with Institute faculty will also be scheduled as part of the admissions process.

Several courses in the regular curriculum are, under special circumstances, open to qualified non-matriculated professionals upon approval by the Executive Committee. Tuition is $400 per course. Interested students should contact the Director of Training at s.aronson@wawhite.org.

Upon admission, candidates are required to sign a pledge to be bound by the provisions of the Institute’s Code of Conduct, and not to represent themselves as trained in the practice of psychoanalysis until they are awarded the Certificate in Psychoanalysis upon graduation.

The Clinic Fellowship offers candidates in the Certificate Program in Psychoanalysis an opportunity to earn financial credits toward their training expenses while providing affordable treatment to patients. Eventually, these patients may become part of the candidates’ own clinical practices.

Clinic Fellows are assigned cases through the clinic and can carry five to 20 patient-hours per week. Fellows are credited $25 per treatment session which can be used to help defray training costs including: Tuition and a portion (up to $35/session) of the candidate’s supervision sessions and personal psychoanalysis. Thus, the Clinic Fellowship is often an important component in financing analytic training.

Additional requirements include attending the clinic seminar on Tuesday afternoons and, if possible, the Tuesday morning clinic conference. Fellows are also required to make a Psychotherapy Service case presentation at a Clinical Services Meeting. The case should have been seen for at least one year and the presentation should emphasize the therapeutic relationship with the patient and the exploration of psychodynamic themes. This presentation may be made at any time during training, however, it should be scheduled in a different academic year than the required Psychoanalytic Service presentation.

Additional Benefits of the Fellowship

Practice Development: Upon completion of 40 weeks of clinic treatment, patients may be transferred into the candidate’s private practice. After two years as a clinic fellow, candidates usually have developed a fairly substantial private practice from their clinic patients.

Office Space: If space is available, the clinic may provide up to five free, off-peak hours per week for the candidate to treat their former clinic patients and private patients. Candidates must maintain their own private malpractice insurance for this option.

Free Supervision: Fellows receive free supervision for clinic psychotherapy patients. Clinic psychotherapy supervisors are assigned to the candidate by the Director of Clinical Services.

Licensing Hours: Psychologists may use the clinic fellowship to fulfill the New York State licensing requirement of postdoctoral training. LMSWs may use the clinic fellowship to fulfill hours for the LCSW.

Application Procedures: Prospective candidates interested in the clinic fellowship should contact: Stacey Nathan-Virga, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Services at (212) 873-0725, ext. 25, s.nathan-virga@wawhite.org.

Candidates agree to comply with the ethical guidelines of their constituent professional organizations (whether or not they are members of that professional organization) and the Code of Conduct of the William Alanson White Institute.

Students in the program are invited to participate in all facets of Institute life, including the Tuesday morning Clinical Education meetings, and special interest groups.

Study Groups

The License-Qualifying Program (LQP) in Psychoanalysis (Division 1B) provides access to the rich and rigorous tripartite training model (didactics, clinical work, and personal analysis) of the traditional Psychoanalytic Training Program (Division 1) for those who do not have previous mental health training (or who need an additional license to practice psychoanalysis). The WAWI tradition of diversity of perspectives and curiosity creates an environment in which those in the LQP can thrive and contribute significantly. Candidates join the same cohort as those in Division 1 for their classes; in addition, they complete foundational courses to augment their knowledge of psychology and treatment, explored through a psychoanalytic lens. There are also additional clinical and supervisory hours required to complete the program and be eligible for the License in Psychoanalysis (LP), as well as the NYS licensing exam. In general, the program requirements take 6 years to complete. Candidates in the past have come from diverse academic and career backgrounds, enriching class dialogue and contributing meaningfully to the institute community through their creativity and knowledge from other disciplines. These include (but are not limited to): philosophy, art, theater, literature, history, law, and pastoral services. A minimum of a Master’s degree is required for eligibility for NYS licensing and acceptance in the program.