The course work consists of two years of clinical and theoretical seminars, along with group supervision and case conferences. Classes will be held at Rockland Mansion, East Fairmount Park, 3810 Mt. Pleasant Drive, Philadelphia, PA. First year classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:40 P.M.—second year classes will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. The year begins in September and is divided into three eleven-week trimesters.
Students are required to have weekly individual supervision and will be encouraged to see at least two cases in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Students are expected to have two supervisors during the course of the program. Supervisors must be selected from the faculty in consultation with the program director. All supervisors are experienced clinicians who are members of the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. Supervisory fees are additional and are arranged privately. Supervision at reduced fees is available if needed.
Personal psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis is essential for a full understanding of the therapeutic process. It is preferable for students to be in personal treatment while participating in the program. This requirement may be waived (e.g., for applicants who have had a sufficient prior therapy experience) by approval of the director. Students will otherwise be expected to begin treatment with a member of our faculty soon after the start of classes. The program director is available to assist in this matter.
An academic track is offered to non-clinicians who do not intend to practice psychotherapy, but to whose work the program is pertinent. Examples include, but are not limited to, clergy, organizational counselors, school counselors, physicians, mediators, attorneys and academicians. The academic track is the same as the clinical track, except that clinical supervision and personal therapy are not required. Instead, the student may benefit from having a mentor, also selected from the list of supervisors and approved by the director.
Post-graduate education is available to students who have graduated from the training program. Topics vary from year to year, and include classes in both theory and clinical technique. In addition to classes, students have the choice of either continuing in individual supervision or undertaking a research project with the assistance of a faculty advisor. Please contact the program director for information on the offerings for 2011. Programs in previous years have focused on trauma, psychodynamic couples therapy, etc.