In learning the art and practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, supervised clinical experience is at the core of training. The number of patients, the hours for a control case and the hours of required supervision, along with being in a two and three times a week personal analysis are all designed to maximize the candidate’s development as a psychoanalyst.
In assigning patients, the ICP Intake committee provides a diverse diagnostic caseload, taking into account the experience and training needs of each candidate.
In the beginning weeks of the first year of training, the Co-Chairs of the Intake Committee meet with the entering class. First year candidates are also encouraged to meet individually with the Intake Committee so that referrals can come with more personal knowledge about the candidate.
Individual and group supervision are integral components of the training program. Group supervision is part of the required curriculum schedule and is included with tuition. Four groups, each led by highly trained and experienced group supervisors, include a mix of candidates from each of the four years.
Candidates are required to be in twice weekly individual supervision throughout training for a total of 80 hours per year. Candidates are assigned a supervisor for their first year and can subsequently select from our roster of individual supervisors, who are all highly trained analysts. Candidates can review written statements describing each supervisor’s philosophy and orientation, and also can arrange preliminary meetings prior to selection.
The following outlines the individual supervisory requirements for candidates:
- In their 1st year, candidates see one assigned supervisor twice weekly.
- During the remaining 3 years, candidates see two supervisors for one hour each, for a total of 80 hours of supervision for the year. LP candidates must also work with one supervisor for 100 hours. (For more information, see Graduation section).
- Candidates can opt to continue with a supervisor for a maximum of 80 hours (2 years).
- If a Candidate has more than 12 patients, a 3rd supervisor is required.
View our Roster of Supervisors here.
A personal psychoanalysis is central to a candidate’s development of self-awareness and analytic introspection. This experience is essential to the candidate’s clinical work with a 3 times weekly control case.
Once accepted to the program, the candidate may choose an analyst trained at ICP or another institute that meets ICP’s eligibility requirements. If the candidate is already in analysis, the candidate may continue with the analyst if the analyst meets ICP’s eligibility requirements.
Candidates are required to be in 2 or 3 times weekly treatment throughout training. Three times per week analytic frequency is required while working with a control case. The minimum number of hours ICP required for a candidate’s analysis is 240.
A candidate’s analyst is excluded from all administrative decisions regarding the candidate to ensure the ongoing work of the analysis.
Upon graduation, a certificate of completion of the training program will be awarded in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. The following are the requirements for graduation:
- All candidates must have accumulated a minimum of 950 patient hours.
- All candidates must have met the requirement for seeing a control case, 3 times weekly for two years (240 hours).
- All candidates will have completed the supervisory requirement of 80 hours during each year of training (320 total).
- LP candidates will have completed the additional supervisory requirements needed by New York State. The LP Candidate will see one (non-control case) supervisor for a total of 100 hours and one (control) supervisor for a total of 50 hours. (New York State Department of Education, Office of the Professions website)
- Candidates will have attended all classes for 4 years, have successfully completed their Fourth Year final papers and will have been in personal analysis in compliance with the requirements.
After graduation, there are many opportunities to remain affiliated with the psychoanalytic program and the ICP community. For those alumni who continue with ICP patients, low-cost supervision with any of our supervisors is available at the rate of $50 for the fifth year and $60 for the sixth year.
Alumni can continue to be members of The Society of ICP (SICP). SICP sponsors yearly weekend conferences that offer stimulating workshops and talks, along with time for socializing. SICP also sponsors a lecture series throughout the year, which has included notable figures in the field. As a member, you can become directly involved in the SICP planning group.
In addition, the Psychoanalytic Program sponsors presentations and conferences throughout the year. The 2018 selection included Adam Phillips discussing The “Magic of Winnicott” and a conference on “Co-constructing Silence, Co-constructing Voice. Inside and Outside the Treatment Room.”
Additionally, there are opportunities for alumni to join committees in many areas of the analytic training program.
ICP has a private practice referral system designed to help candidates and graduates to build their practice. The referral schedule allows licensed candidates to take one patient from their caseload in the beginning of the 3rd year and another one at the beginning of their 4th year of training; and upon graduation they can gradually move their ICP patients into their private practice. For more details, see candidate manual.
