SEARCH
SideBar
 
MEMBER SECTION
   
LOGGED IN AS:
 
 You are here: ABOUT PSYCHOANALYSIS * ASK A PSYCHOANALYST! * ABOUT THE PROFESSION
 The Profession
Q.  Psychoanalysis as a Profession
I am currently working on my oral report on the career of a psychoanalyst: what they make, what they do on an everyday basis, and what type of education is needed?
Q.  The Analyst's Office
How important is the physical environment in which psychoanalysis takes place, considered to be? What are the important characteristics? Why are they important? I'm especially interested if silence is considered important.
Q.  How Many Psychoanalysts?
I am a psychology student from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Here, we have a strong psychoanalytic tradition, however, we're almost completely isolated from the research world. I would be glad if you answer one simple question: Are there many psychoanalysts working? Here, it's depressing!!! Is it a global phenomenon?
Q.  Quitting Therapy
How do therapists feel when a patient quits on them?
Q.  Training
What factors make an M.D., who has finished his psychiatric residency (or Ph.D. in psychology or M.S.W.) competitive for psychoanalytic training? How difficult is it to obtain admission to a training program?
Q.  Adolescent Psychoanalysis
Does the American Psychoanalytic Association have any set guidelines on adolescent psychoanalysis?
Q.  The Aging Analyst
When a patient has been in extensive analysis for a number of years; and the analyst becomes old and/or notably more ill or even disoriented. Or when the analyst has been suffering from a illness for months and that affects his patients and becomes suddenly unavailable for months, attempts to return to private practice is difficult at best, what would be the best way for the analyst to handle such a delicate situation.
Q.  A Future Psychoanalyst
I am an undergraduate sophomore. I am currently a Psychology major with Pre-med emphasis. As of lately though, I have been debating whether or not to continue my pre-med studies. My interests do not lie so much in the medical and research part of the profession of psychology as do my interests in psychoanalysis. I am very fond of Freudian theories and other notable psychiatrists, and have read a considerable number of their books. Although, I am greatly interested in the studies of psychoanalysis, USC does not offer classes that deal with such things. One of my questions is whether or not discontinuing my study of the pre-meds will significantly decrease my opportunities of becoming a psychoanalyst? My other question is: Which Universities have a Psychoanalytic Program? I would like to begin gathering data on which colleges would be best for my specific interests so that I can make the decision of what I am going to do after I graduate from USC. Finally, I would like to become more involved in the field of psychoanalysis (I am undergoing my own personal psychoanalysis), and I was wondering what I could do to attain that goal?
Q.  "Midwife"
I wonder if you might know the reference for Freud's analogy of the analyst as midwife?
Q.  Becoming a Psychoanalyst
I am a recent college graduate, and would like to become a psychoanalyst. I am now deciding whether to become a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker before going into psychoanalytical training. Does one field better prepare students for psychoanalytic practice? Are social work graduates, because of the shorter duration of their education, less-prepared for psychoanalytical practice than their colleagues who graduated with M.D.'s or Psychology Ph.D.'s? Are job prospects more bleak for MSW psychoanalysts than for Ph.D. or MD psychoanalysts?
Q.  A Career in Psychoanalysis
For my English term paper I am to write about a career that I would like to be in. I have chosen Psychoanalysis. I have been having a really hard time finding information that I need. I was wondering if you could help me out in these areas: history of the job; education and schooling to get into the job; nature of the work; physical and mental demand; hours; benefits; related occupations.
Q.  A Career in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy or Psychoanalysis
I'm interested in pursuing a career in Psychoanalytic therapy. However all information that I have so far gathered indicates that either a medical degree with specialization in Psychiatry or a doctorate in Psychology would be sufficient to apply for training. I would like to know if any of the two is preferred over the other. As psychiatry tends to focus on the use of drugs in therapy while psychology adopts methods more in line with those practiced by Psychoanalysts. Also, on the American Psychoanalytic Association website it indicates that training is conducted over a period of 10-12 years. Is this full-time training, and, if so, would a person not require substantial financial resources in order to follow through with this training?
Q.  Confidentiality
I know that confidence is one of the basics in psychoanalysis. Here is my question: May a psychoanalyst use the knowledge he gets from a patient (about scientific or political news), although if he doesn't mention the person's name he got the news from ? And if he may do so, which effect does this have on the analysis?
Q.  The Use of the Couch
What are the advantages in psychotherapy of lying on a couch? If a patient already avoids the gaze of the psychiatrist when talking about issues of deep importance, what might be gained by switching from face-to-face conversations to having the patient lie in a recumbent position? Please name some instances where it could be preferable for the patient to be lying down
Q.  Credentials
I am looking at psychoanalysts but do not understand the initials after their names. What does LCSW, M.D. and Psy. D. mean? 
Q.  APsaA Code of Ethics
Does APsaA have a code of ethics? Thanks for your response.
Q.  Disclosure of a Therapy Session
Are there circumstances where it is permissible for a therapist to disclose what a patient has told him? And to whom? Can you recommend an article on this?
Q.  Double Doors
How and why did the practice of having an inner and an outer door to a psychoanalyst's consulting room develop? Is this design still standard?
Q.  Feelings for the Analyst (Transference)
Why is important for an analysand to discuss his/her feelings for the analyst?
Q.  Illness in the Analyst
I am researching the effects on the patient of the illness and/or death of an analyst while the patient is in treatment. I am especially interested in any research done on the effect of an analyst's illness on a child patient.
Q.  Licensure and Training
I have two questions. First, do you foresee states passing laws allowing for the licensure of psychoanalysts in the near future? Second, is it necessary to possess an advanced degree in a mental health field, in addition to a certificate in psychoanalysis, in order to practice psychoanalysis, or is a graduate degree in other fields acceptable?
Q.  Online Psychoanalysis and Narcissism
I live in Argentina. I wonder whether you could help me with two matters: 1) Can I do a psychoanalytical treatment through email? 2)Do you know of any recognized psychoanalyst or organization that would?
Q.  Peer Review
Should a patient be told in advance that the psychotherapist will be discussing his/her case with other mental health professionals in "peer review"? Does/should the patient have the right to prohibit such discussions? Does the patient have the right to know the names of the mental health professionals participating in the peer review group? (For example, the patient might want to know the names so that he/she can check their credentials and determine whether there are any disciplinary actions pending.)
Q.  Psychoanalysis for the Foreigner
I am interested in knowing how effective it would be for a patient whose native language is not the one the psychoanalysis is conducted in (let's say English). Isn't the unconscious something that is deeply related to your native language? Even if the speaker has an acceptable command of English, would the therapy be as effective as it would be in a native speaker of the language? My concern has to do with the fact that there are many Spanish speakers in this country and very few psychoanalysts who speak Spanish. What happens to the people who want to be in a psychoanalytical treatment and do not know if a good level of English is enough for this particular type of treatment?
Q.  Personality of a Psychoanalyst
I am interested in exploring whether there exists a "type" of person who becomes a psychoanalyst. By type I mean any of the variety of classifications: gender, race, religion, class, ethnicity and so on. As well as a personality type. Is there any literature available or any studies?
Q.  Psychoanalytic Practice
I am working on an article for a professional journal and am trying to pin down the prevalence of actual psychoanalytic practice nowadays. I have located various surveys concerning the percentages of various professionals who adhere to behavioral or psychodynamic frameworks, for example, but I cannot find data concerning what proportion of practicing therapists offer, or what proportion of psychotherapy patients actually receive, four or five day a week psychoanalysis.
Q.  Psychoanalytic Journals
I am looking for a psychoanalytic journal to subscribe to. I am specially interested in psychoanalytic group-process, object relation theory and self psychology. Could you please recommend a journal.
Q.  Psychoanalytic Studies Programs
I know you have a list of affiliated institutions for those interested in becoming practicing psychoanalysts. But, what I am looking for are U.S. graduate programs in psychoanalytic theory. I have an M.A. in women's studies and I am interested in studying connections between psychoanalytic theory and culture (I do not want to become a practicing analyst). Do any such programs exist? Where can I find them?
Q.  Psychoanalytic Training
Could you provide or refer me to a list of the top 30 or so graduate programs in psychoanalysis in the US? I cannot seem to find any such list on the internet.
Q.  Psychoanalytic Training
I was wondering if you could give me some direction in finding information about becoming a psychoanalyst. Specifically, are there any schools in Canada and if not which schools teach psychoanalysis in the US? I am interested in schools that teach psychoanalysis as a medical or psychological practice rather than its application in the humanities.
Q.  Psychoanalytic Training Institutes
Is there a list of psychoanalytic training institutes in the U.S.?
Q.  Psychotherapy Training
I am interested in training and working as a psychotherapist in the United States. I do not have a medical background; I have actually been working as a university lecturer in political theory. Could you tell me whether there are nationally accepted qualifications for psychotherapists in this country? Where are the best places to work and study?
Q.  "Shrinks"
Why are psychiatrists and particularly psychoanalysts called headshrinkers or shrinks?
Q.  Termination
Are there any good articles or books on termination? I am particularly interested in writings on how analysands cope with termination. I am also interested in writings on long-term success/failure of analysis from the analysand's perspective.
Q.  Therapists' Dreams
I have been thinking about an article regarding the dreams that therapists/analysts have of their patients and have just begun writing a possible survey that I would distribute by regular mail and e-mail. I am wondering if you might know how much this area has been explored. I did see the title "Review of Shrink Dreams: Tales from the Hidden Side of Psychiatry" Psychoanalytic Books, 6:436-440, 1995, by E.W. Cotlove, but I have not as yet obtained the article. Any suggestions you can make will be appreciated.
Q.  Training in Psychoanalysis
I am interested in training in psychoanalysis. I do not have M.D., Ph.D., or Psy.D., though. I have a Master's Degree in Psychology/Psychotherapy (3 Ph.D. courses, including psychoanalysis) and four years experience at a psychotherapeutic agency as a psychotherapist. Is there a psychoanalytic training program in New York where I could start studying with a Master's level degree? Is there any accredited program in different state where I can study through the Internet, and after graduation get a License as a psychoanalyst?
Q.  Training in psychoanalytic theory
I know you have a list of affiliated institutions for those interested in becoming practicing psychoanalysts. But what I am looking for are U.S. graduate programs in psychoanalytic theory. I have an M.A. in women's studies and I am interested in studying connections between psychoanalytic theory and culture (I do not want to become a practicing analyst). Do any such programs exist? Where can I find them?
Q.  Video on Psychoanalysis
I am giving a presentation on psychoanalytic theory. Do you know where I could get a video that shows a patient being interviewed using this theory. I am a MSW grad student. I would prefer to borrow one. I would buy one if it was what I wanted for around $20.
Q.  Women Psychoanalysts
I am looking for some information for my dissertation and was wondering if you could help. I have conducted an interview study with five female psychoanalysts, and need some information about women currently practicing analysis in the U.S. Could you tell me how many female members your association has, and what percentage they are of the total membership?
Q.  Answers to many of the questions posted on "Ask a Psychoanalyst" can be easily obtained by using the PEP (Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing) Archive CD-ROM. For more information on how to obtain one, click here.
Q.  Why become a psychoanalyst?
My understanding of psychoanalysis involves a patient attending treatment several times a week. Yet, most insurance providers will not pay for such extensive visits, nor are the majority of individuals able to pay a thousand dollars each month out of pocket. In light of this, why would I (as a clinician) want to pursue such training?
Q. 

A Psychologist considering Psychoanalytic Training
I am a relatively new psychologist with a diverse training background. I am interested in possibly pursuing advanced post-graduate training in psychoanalysis both for professional and personal reasons. My questions are these:

How and why is having personal analysis so very important in becoming an analyst? I know this is a broad question but my reservations come from the two varied types of answers depending on whom you speak to; those who have gone through the process (obviously in favor of it) and those who have not (obviously those who practice other orientations and not in favor for a variety or reasons and biases). Therefore, I am left with a question with only those who can answer standing on two sides of a clearly drawn line.

Second: what is confidentiality in psychoanalysis? I live in a moderate sized city with a small psychoanalytic community and therefore am wondering how training including personal analysis is kept confidential.


 
  Login | Privacy Statement | Copyright 2006 APsaA