American Board of Psychoanalysis PublicNews

Congratulations To Our New Fellows

Office ABPsa — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:57:38 GMT

The January 2026 examination was held in-person in San Francisco, CA.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Kelly Crim - Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis

Mead Goedert – Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute

Manuela Menendez – Florida Psychoanalytic Center

Desiree Santos – Psychoanalytic Association of New York

Gretchen Suarez – Florida Psychoanalytic Center

Brigitte Zakari – Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

Reduced Exam Fees for Recent Graduates

Office ABPsa — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:08:11 GMT

Effective February 2, 2025, ABPsa is pleased to announce that recent graduates (within three years of graduation) can take advantage of newly reduced exam fees. Save $250 off the regular fee of $900 starting with the 2026 exams!

Congratulations To Our New Fellows

Office ABPsa — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:42:21 GMT

The June 2024 examination was held online with 5 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 4 passed for a 80% pass rate and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Erika Homann, PhD – Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute

Sureyya Iscan, PhD - Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute

Nicole Nelson, PsyD, LMFT, LPCC - The Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis

Adrian Sanchez, PsyD, ABPP – The Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis

Child & Adolescence Certification

Laura Whitman, MD – Psychoanalytic Association of New York (PANY)

Groundbreaking Research Results

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:52:33 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Anastasia (Stacey) C. Keller, MD, FABP, Competencies Committee Chair, American Board of Psychoanalysis, 501 S. Cherry Street, #1100, Denver, CO 80246. Email: StaceyKellerMD@abpsa.org Mobile: 303-229-3529

American Board of Psychoanalysis (ABPsa) Releases Results of Groundbreaking Research Study: What constitutes competent psychoanalytic work?

Inclusive, multi-year study reveals surprising consensus across theoretical orientations, training, age, ethnicity and gender.

Denver, CO, March 12, 2024 – On February 7, 2024, the American Board of Psychoanalysis (ABPsa) announced an updated set of core competencies essential to the practice of psychoanalysis. The updated competency list is the result of a multi-year research initiative that ultimately gathered feedback from over 100 psychoanalysts, including the 65 who participated in one of twelve structured, online research focus group discussions. The intentionally diverse focus groups spanned theoretical orientations, training, age, ethnicity and gender, and explored what psychoanalysts believe constitutes competent psychoanalytic work today. The recordings and transcripts from those research groups were analyzed and categorized and serve as the basis of the research results.

Carmela M. Perez, PhD, FABP, President and CEO of the ABPsa Board of Directors, notes the unanticipated consensus: “The perception among focus group participants themselves was that analysts in other groups would differ as to what is required for competent psychoanalytic work. However, the recordings and transcripts revealed that although different language may have been used, participants in all the groups were really saying the same thing.”

Along with new competency domains, the key changes in the updated competencies list include thematically-related groupings of the competencies; elevating competencies that were previously implied or subsumed under another competency into their own domains; integrating previously separate diversity competencies throughout the competency list; and fulfilling the long-requested addition of a set of competencies specific to child analysis

Both an abridged version of the competency domains with a brief description of each competency and a detailed version for use by examiners and applicants that can also be a valuable resource for teachers and supervisors are available at https://abpsa.org/Core_Competencies.

Stacey Keller, MD, FABP, Competencies Committee Chair adds: “The essence of the core competencies at the heart of the practice of psychoanalysis endure. That said, the updated competencies, which are intentionally expressed without using technical language specific to any one theoretical model, reflect the advent of remote work and shifts in emphasis within the profession. We look forward to sharing these findings and to analyzing the data from other perspectives to see what else we can learn about the practice of psychoanalysis today.”

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About the American Board of Psychoanalysis (ABPsa):

Celebrating its 10^th Anniversary in 2024, the ABPsa is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides national Board Certification in Psychoanalysis to the benefit of the public and the psychoanalytic profession. For more detailed versions of the core competencies and additional information about Board Certification in Psychoanalysis, please visit www.abpsa.org. For inquiries about the competencies research, please contact Stacey Keller, MD, FABP. Email: StaceyKellerMD@abpsa.org.

Key Research Findings Presented at APSA 2024 Poster session

Office ABPsa — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:49:47 GMT

At APSA’s Feb 2024 Annual Research Poster Session, the ABPsa presented the results from our targeted Focus Group Research Project. For context, the poster described the intensive focus group research process, the centerpiece of the final phase of the multi-year research initiative which culminated in an updated core competencies list.

What was studied? Using a descriptive, phenomenological qualitative study, we aimed to learn what psychoanalysts believe constitutes competent psychoanalytic work today.

How was it studied? 12 focus groups whose participants included a variety of career stages, theoretical orientations, type of psychoanalytic training, and areas of special expertise including child analysis and diversity met for two-hour virtual semi-structured interviews. The participants responded to questions such as, “How can you tell when you are hearing the work of a competent analyst?” and “What thing you hear which cause you to think analytic work is seriously flawed?”

How was the data analyzed? A thematic data analysis was then conducted on the transcripts of these recorded meetings.

Key Findings from the Research:

Significant uniformity in terms of what psychoanalysts view essential as competencies for analytic work despite the different identity of each focus group.
Four main thematic categories: Analyst’s Approach to Analytic Work, Knowledge, Assessment, and Elements of Treatment - What the Analyst Does—which would ultimately be grouped into competencies
Categories made up of themes based on the data. Most themes were endorsed by all 12 groups, and included:
- Capacity to work with the frame
- Having a thoughtful approach to the patient (especially in regard to diversity issues such as gender/sexuality/race/culture)
- The ability to create an intimate complex relationship
- The ability to work with countertransference and transference
- The analyst’s ability to tolerate affect and not knowing
- An ability for self-reflection
- A focus on the unconscious of the patient and the analyst, and their subjective experiences
The addition of child competencies.
The incorporation of diversity aspects within all theme or competency categories

In summary, there are new competency items and numerous shifts of emphasis, with competencies that were previously implied or subsumed now taking center stage. At the same time, the findings also corroborated the previous list of competencies. The key tenets of psychoanalysis endure!

Post-the poster: What happened after the Focus Group Data Analysis? Following a secondary? review of findings by participants, experts and examiners, the themes in each category were further grouped or clarified so Board Certification examiners and examinees, as well as anyone else using the competencies, would be clear as to their meaning. The final list of competencies, including the new child competencies, can be found on the ABPsa website.

Where do we go from here? ABPsa was pleased with the excitement these findings created amongst our colleagues. Questions and ideas were raised that the ABPsa plans to explore in its ongoing research, e.g., what is the impact of remote work on the practice of psychoanalysis, as we further operationalize the competencies, explore external validation studies, and continue to follow changes in the practice of psychoanalysis.

The ABPsa celebrates its ten year anniversary and releases the updated core competencies

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:17:39 GMT

The ABPsa celebrated its ten year anniversary by releasing the updated psychoanalytic core competencies.

The multi-year research initiative, a descriptive, qualitative study, looked at what psychoanalysts believe constitutes competent psychoanalytic work today. Begun in 2017, the targeted focus group-oriented research project culminated in the Spring of 2022, when the data analysis process began and the research results were developed into an examination tool.

Read more in the special edition newsletter.

Thank you to the research participants, funders, and data analysts who made the Competencies Initiative possible.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:11:55 GMT

The February 2024 examination was held in-person with 5 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 4 passed for a 80% pass rate and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Benjamin Herbstman, MD, MHS – Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

Robert Kravis, PsyD – Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia

Deborah Kirschbaum, PhD, PsyD – New Center for Psychoanalysis

Michelle Paley, MD – Florida Psychoanalytic Center

Child & Adolescence Certification

Felecia Powell-Williams, EdD – Center for Psychoanalytic Studies (Houston)

A Legacy of Leadership: Reflecting on 9 Years of Exceptional Service from our Founding Board Chair

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:07:59 GMT

It is with a mix of emotions that we announce the conclusion of a remarkable chapter in the history of the American Board of Psychoanalysis (ABPsa).

After nine years of visionary leadership, our esteemed colleague and outgoing Chair, President, and CEO, Stacey Keller, stepped down from her position at the conclusion of the Board’s June 2023 meeting.

Throughout her tenure, Stacey exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, dedication, and innovation. As a founding board member, she played an instrumental role in shaping the ABPsa into the distinguished organization it is today.

Under Stacey’s transformative leadership, the ABPsa has flourished. Her vision and strategic guidance have paved the way for numerous accomplishments, including the establishment of research-based new and revised core competencies for psychoanalytic practice, the strengthening and enhancing of the certification exam and process, and the creation of a professional credential, Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis (FABP), which reinforces the value of board certification and supports the field of psychoanalysis.

Beyond her professional achievements, Stacey has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to her psychoanalytic colleagues, and particularly to women in the field. Her mentorship and guidance serve as an example for all of us to follow. As a natural leader, Stacey’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment created a nurturing atmosphere for professional growth and camaraderie.

On behalf of the entire ABPsa community, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Stacey for her vision, steadfast leadership, and dedication. We express our deepest gratitude for her invaluable contributions to the ABPsa and the field of psychoanalysis. We honor her as a trailblazer, visionary, and advocate for excellence. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we build upon the solid foundation she has established.

As we embrace this change of leadership, we are confident in the strength of our organization and the collective wisdom and expertise of our Board. Together, we will navigate this new chapter, build upon our accomplishments, and continue to advance the field of psychoanalysis with passion, innovation, and unwavering commitment.

Stacey has agreed to remain on the Board as a non-Executive board member. She will be one of three founding board members continuing their service to the ABPsa. Refreshing the board and inviting new perspectives is another example of Stacey’s leadership.

Please join us in expressing our deepest appreciation and warmest wishes to Stacey Keller, MD, as she concludes her remarkable tenure as Founding Chair, President, and CEO of the ABPsa.

With gratitude and anticipation,

Carmela Perez, PhD, FABP
Incoming Chair
American Board of Psychoanalysis

Updated Board Certification Case Requirements on Gender

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:11:41 GMT

Our recent consultations with a wide range of our North American psychoanalyst colleagues have continued to provide useful data on practice patterns and challenges faced by analysts today. Some of these have led us to review the gender requirements for cases submitted by applicants in both adult and child/adolescent analysis, considering:

new scholarship in the field of gender and diversity,
current modes of practice, revised training guidelines from APsA,
challenges for applicants in child and adolescent analysis to meet the case requirements for patients of different genders, and
changes in case requirements for graduation at local institutes.

Summarizing what we have heard and learned from analysts across the country of different theoretical backgrounds and from those with expertise in gender and diversity, we believe analysts need to explore the impact of gender and sexuality in every case, no two of which are alike, even if the patients are of a single gender. Thus, it is possible for analysts to demonstrate this competency while presenting patients of the same gender.

The result of this multi-year effort is reflected in new case eligibility requirement for gender, as follows:

We strongly recommend that applicants present patients of different genders to provide the best circumstances for evaluation of the Gender and Sexuality Competency.

This replaces the previous “requirement of patients of different genders” for both adult and child/adolescent applications, as well as the 2022 modification of child/adolescent case requirements regarding gender.

This updated version will assist applicants in demonstrating their competency and more accurately reflects the practice of psychoanalysis today.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 18:33:39 GMT

The June 2023 examination was held remote with 3 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 3 passed for a 100% pass rate and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Rachel Louden, LCSW - Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis
Sangeeta Patel, MD - Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis
Christopher Walling, PsyD - New Center for Psychoanalysis

Child & Adolescence Certification

Frances Arnold, PhD – Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 22:28:37 GMT

The January 2023 examination was held remote with 6 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 6 passed for a 100% pass rate and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Dhipthi Brundage, MD - Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas
Cora Johnson, MD - Psychoanalytic Association of New York
Brian Ngo-Smith, LCSW, BCD-P - Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis
Susan Resek, LCSW - Psychoanalytic Association of New York
Aneil M. Shirke, PhD, MD – Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research & Psychoanalytic Association of New York
Jeffrey Tuttle, MD - Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute

Child & Adolescence Certification

Jacqueline Langley, PhD - Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute

The Competency Initiative: Data analysis begins. The research team takes center stage

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 15:04:22 GMT

Review of the robust content generated during the diverse set of focus groups is underway—thanks to you! Our teams working on the Competencies Initiative have been making exciting progress since February 2022. The Focus Group Teams have conducted 13 two-hour focus groups with analysts across the country, each group coming from different training, theoretical, or demographic backgrounds and expertise. We appreciative the enthusiastic and enriching input from those of you who participated in this phase of the research.

The next step is analyzing this extensive volume of data capturing the insights of many of you and your colleagues and organizing it into a core competency list. We’ve been grateful for the generosity of our donors, which has enabled us to have a skilled Research Team to analyze the data so that we may develop a cohesive and useful list of psychoanalytic core competencies.

In addition to the valuable information contributing to the development of the core competency list, the focus groups have helped to identify other related areas that we are able to address now. For example, to see how the Eligibility case requirements for child analysts have been modified, please see the <link to Website or announcement New Case Requirements>. Our Research Committee is also considering issues of frequency and remote treatment.

We look forward to sharing our findings with you.

Announcement: Change to Child & Adolescent Certification Eligibility

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 13:13:04 GMT

ABPSa is conducting research into psychoanalytic competencies in order to update existing standards to accurately reflect current clinical practice. As part of this research, teams of analysts from ABPsa have met with a broad range of analysts from across the country to collect data about analytic competencies. While this research is ongoing, in some instances we have already responded to this valuable input from analyst colleagues. We are pleased to announce one outcome of this process. The Board of Directors, as of 11/13/22, has modified the case requirements for child and adolescent analysts seeking certification, as follows:

New Case Requirements for Child and Adolescent certification applicants:

Applicants are expected to submit three written reports - two of full length, and one brief report of five pages - of child and adolescent cases from different developmental phases, including adolescence. One case must include the use of play as a treatment modality.

ABPsa historically has required applicants for certification as child and adolescent analysts to present analytic cases of more than one gender. The gender diversity requirement for child and adolescent cases now may be satisfied in one of two ways:

The three reports include patients of different genders; or,

If all of an applicant’s three analytic cases are of the same gender, an applicant shall submit an additional case report of 2 to 5 pages, as the applicant deems sufficient, describing the applicant’s clinical work (psychoanalysis or psychotherapy) with a child or adolescent of a different gender. The case report should describe the nature of this clinical work to demonstrate the applicant’s sensitivities, knowledge, experience and ability to think analytically and work effectively with children or adolescents of different genders. Process notes are not required for this 4th case report.

In the interview, the applicant should be prepared to discuss this clinical work. This would be in addition to discussing the three analytic case reports. The oral examination time will be increased by 15 minutes to allow for this discussion.

Eligibility & How to Apply

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:05:49 GMT

The June 2022 examination was held remote with 4 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 4 passed for a 100% pass rate; there were no Child & Adolescent applicants.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Howard Bliwise, MD – New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
David Goldenberg, MD - New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
Natasha Lifton, Ph.D. – Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute
Hannah Wallerstein, Ph.D. - The Austen Riggs Center

(Institute listed is graduated from)

The Competencies Initiative: Phase 2 - Focus Groups

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:36:08 GMT

Now in Phase 2, the Competencies Initiative is in full swing. Thanks to our generous donors, eight groups have been held, and six more are scheduled for the the next few months.

As we review our competencies to ensure that they are still relevant and reflect psychoanalysis today, we are using a focus group research model that helps us look at how analysts of ‘different stripes’ look at what makes for competent analytic work. To do this we are holding an extensive series of small group zoom meetings with analysts from various backgrounds where we discuss the competencies so that we can ensure that we have a wide range of perspectives reflective of the broader community of psychoanalysts.

In each group meeting, we ask analysts from one of the areas, such as one theoretical orientation, a standard set of questions designed to elicit information about what analyst consider to be essential for competent psychoanalytic work. To give you some examples, in our theoretical orientation focus groups, we have a group made up of only Kleinian analysts, one with relational analysts, and another with expertise in Bion. We are talking to groups of child analysts, early career analysts and analysts who’ve worked as certification examiners. Other groups have expertise in particular areas of diversity and inclusion, such as gender/sexuality or race and ethnicity. We have groups from various training backgrounds both inside and outside of APsaA, including NYU Post-Doc and the IIPT institute. Finally, these groups are made up of analysts who are certified and uncertified. So far, the experience has been a rich and stimulating one for both the research teams and the participants. We are looking forward to seeing what emerges from these groups – similarities, differences, and essentials from everyone’s perspective.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 13:15:21 GMT

The February 2022 examination was held remote with 4 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 3 passed for a 75% pass rate, and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Lucinda Di Domenico, MD - Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute
Brian Tobin, MD – Western New England
Erica Weiss, MD – Western New England

Child & Adolescence Certification

Matthew Shaw, MD – Western New England

The Competency Initiative: Update from the Chair

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:38:10 GMT

As we head into another winter of the pandemic, with many of us still doing some of our work remotely, we have been finding ways to accommodate to this “new normal” state of practice. Thanks to your support and a virtual HIPAA compliant platform, the ABPsa has been able to continue to offer the opportunity to sit for board certification in psychoanalysis. We are pleased to report that our applicants have found the virtual process to be both collegial and convenient.

Our Research Continues

The Competencies Initiative, our comprehensive review of the core competencies central to the board certification examination, continues. Using initial informal group feedback and results from an online interactive platform, we developed a small group process to collect information about psychoanalytic competencies from a broad and diverse sample of analysts representing psychoanalytic practice in our country.

The Next Set of Focus Groups

We’re still meeting with these small research groups, or “focus groups”—making certain that we have included the many perspectives that constitute today’s psychoanalytic landscape. To help us understand similarities and differences in ideas about psychoanalytic competence, each group will be devoted to hearing from analysts who belong to a particular category or demographic.

Some groups are composed of analysts from specific theoretical orientations, others are analysts of similar age and experience levels, from candidates/early career analysts to experienced educators. We’ll be talking with group of analysts from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. We’re meeting with analysts who oppose certification, or didn’t choose to become certified, those actively promoting certification for our field, as well as analysts who’ve served as certification examiners. We are reaching out to analysts with various professional degrees, from different training backgrounds, institutes, and belonging to multiple national analytic organizations.

We’re Hoping to Hear from You!

We plan to use the intimate nature of the small group meetings to understand how those in our field define what is essential for a competent psychoanalyst. With this information we will review and refine our current Core Competencies list. Results from prior phases of the project suggest promising ideas for areas that may need to be fine-tuned, trimmed, or expanded. We hope you’ll be willing to participate and share your thoughts with our researchers, either in these focus groups, or in later phases of the project.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:08:30 GMT

The June 2021 examination was held remote with 3 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 3 passed for a 100% pass rate, and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis who passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Linda Emanuel, MD, PhD – Chicago
Amanda Hutchison, M.D. – Denver
Adam Libow, M.D. - NYPSI

Child & Adolescence Certification

Amanda Hutchison, M.D. – Denver

The Competency Initiative: There may be a focus group in your future

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 20:29:24 GMT

The Backdrop

With the help of the psychoanalytic community, the ABPsa is undertaking a comprehensive multi-year review of the core competencies evaluated during the board certification exam. Through this “Competency Initiative,” we want to ensure that the competencies reflect the current practice of psychoanalysis.

During the initial phase, we engaged with experienced psychoanalytic and competencies researchers and developed the research plan. This phase included an extensive literature review and feedback from psychoanalysts across the country.

Phase Two: Part 1

To kick off Phase Two, we invited feedback from over 360 psychoanalysts reflecting diversities across many categories (age, gender, theoretical orientation, etc.), via an interactive online platform.

Based on the feedback, we identified the different categories of analysts that we wanted to hear from and developed our key questions. These groups were chosen to ensure we hear from:

Analysts at different points in their careers
Candidates to senior analysts recognized for their expertise in the clinical realm
Child analysts
Analysts with specific theoretical orientations (e.g., groups of Kleinians, self-psychologists, Bionians, Relationalists, etc.)
Experts in diversity issues who will be asked to consider our competencies from a diversity perspective
Groups with different perspectives on certification (pro-, con-, and indifferent)
Analysts from differing umbrella organizations (e.g., APsaA, IPA, NAPsaC., CIPS, ACPE, and independent institutes)

Conducted two pilot focus group sessions in February 2020 with expert senior analysts. The initial groups yielded rich discussions and useful information that helped us design the Focus Group format we will be using this year. And then Covid struck. Since then we’ve reviewed the initial data, refined the plan, and prepared for the intensive focus group process.

Phase Two: Focus Groups

Approximately 20 focus groups are planned for the next year. Each focus group of 6-8 individuals meets just once for two hours. The participants will be asked the same questions, relating to identifying the essential competencies required to practice psychoanalysis, and whether there are missing, outdated, or unnecessary competencies in our current list.

This data will be analyzed and drive the development of a revised list of Core Competencies for psychoanalysis. Phase Three will be devoted to completing a seamless, reliable, transparent and clear transition to the use of these competencies in the board certification process.

We will need your help! We will be reaching out to many of you to join specific focus groups. Let your colleagues know that we may be contacting them as well to ensure we obtain opinions representing the breadth of psychoanalytic practice in 2021.

Two New Tentative Competencies: Race & Ethnicity and Sexuality & Gender

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 22:54:30 GMT

We have posted two tentative lists of new competencies regarding: Sex/Gender and Race/Ethnicity which were generously shared with ABPsa by The Psychoanalytic Association of New York, Affiliated with NYU and The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. While we haven’t yet established the specific competencies, we wanted to underscore that sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and culture are core aspects of identity that shape the experience of the self and interactions with others. They are also accompanied by various attitudes, including potential conscious and implicit biases.

For analysts, it means that we need to be aware of these aspects of our own identities and how they affect our view of ourselves and of our patients, especially if there are differences in these identities between patient and analyst. It also means that analysts need to be open to learning from their patients about how these various aspects of identity affect individual development and how they impact patients’ interactions with the interpersonal and social surround.

Role of Race and Ethnicity

In our society, we are all members of various races and ethnicities which, by definition, include affiliations with cultures, religions and nationalities. These complex concepts do not lend themselves easily to singular understandings, nor should patients or analysts be reduced to “competencies about the other.” We recognize, however, that it is necessary for analysts to be cognizant and reflective about the many facets of an individual’s identity (race and ethnicity being part, not the whole) which must be understood and accepted for effective clinical work. This begins with the analyst developing competency in understandings of the analyst’s cultural context and identity. It is not that the patient is different- it is that the patient and analyst are different from one another.

Both analysts and patients are influenced by multiple systems within society and culture. Race and ethnicity function with and within class, gender, religion, language, et al. These influences exist within current and larger historical contexts that are significant aspects of patients’ and analysts’ psychic and social lives. Developing effective clinical knowledge and skills to consider and address the role of race and ethnicity is an on-going process that requires continuous commitment to learning about oneself and one’s patients. It is important to acknowledge that understandings and expressions of race and ethnicity, how they are presented individually and within groups and communities, are dynamic and ever-evolving.

Competencies Relating to Race and Ethnicity

Aware of contemporary psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories of race and ethnicity and how experiences of power, privilege and oppression can be analytically considered within the psychoanalytic relationship.
Able to learn from the patient about their self and interpersonal experiences as shaped by racial, cultural and social factors.
Aware of, and able to reflect on, the meanings and impact of one’s own and the patient’s race and ethnicity, as both intra-psychic and social experiences that are also created by the dyad within the analytic space.
Able to provide analysis while acknowledging conscious and unconscious racial and ethno-cultural biases in both analyst and patient, being open to recognizing and engaging them.
Understand transference and countertransference experiences related to both members of the dyad’s racial, ethnic, cultural and religious identities and how these affect the analytic process.
Consider the influences of race and ethnicity in identity development through the lifecycle and how these intersect with larger sociocultural contexts.

Sex, gender, and sexual orientation competencies

Contemporary culture and psychoanalytic theory are evolving and now include expanded understandings of variant expressions of both gender and sexuality. From this perspective, defining gender by anatomical sex no longer fully defines the complexity and particularity of gender experience and sexuality for many people that it was once presumed to, nor does it automatically define a distinct difference in individual psychologies.

Competencies Relating to the Role of Sexuality and Gender

Demonstrate clinically applicable understanding of contemporary psychoanalytic and psychosocial theories of gender and sexuality.
Able to reflect on one’s own and the patient’s implicit and explicit attitudes and biases regarding gender, gender roles, gender identity and sexual orientation.
Aware of and able to reflect upon the meanings and impacts of one’s own and of the patient’s gender and sexuality as intra-psychic and social experiences.
Understand one’s own and the patient’s experience of the sex of their body.
Understand transference and countertransference experiences relating to each member of the dyad’s gender and sexual identities and how these affect the analytic process.
Consider developmental aspects of gender and sexuality through the lifecycle. The role of both traditional/binary and contemporary fluid models of gender and sexuality may both be considered.
Demonstrate the capacity to think analytically about changes in gender and sexuality that may occur in the analysis.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 21:08:13 GMT

The February 2021 examination was held remote with 4 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 2 passed for a 50% pass rate. There were no applicants for the Child & Adolescent examination.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Hilli Dagony-Clark, Psy.D. – NYPSI
Anton Babushkin, PhD - Michigan

You are Fueling the Competencies Initative

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:30:18 GMT

Since inception, the ABPsa Competency Committee has been committed to including as many perspectives—and analysts—as possible we review of the core psychoanalytic competencies at the heart of the certification examination.

Online Focus Groups: It doesn’t matter where you live

So far, over 50 of you have shared your thoughts in these preliminary in-person focus groups at APsaA , and the online focus group platform we are using to expand our reach.

Our research protocol calls for us to take a look at the information gleaned from these early rounds and refine, as necessary: Are we asking the right questions to the right people? Do we need to recruit more vigorously outside the APsaA universe? Have we included the voices of analysts of color? Of LGBTQ analysts?

The ABPsa Competency Committee and Research Chair will be busy working with a research consultant and ABPsa’s own part-time researcher to analyze the data-to-date, update the questions, and identify where we’ll do more recruitment.

We are working our way toward a survey of proposed competencies for the 21st century that will be distributed to as many analysts as we can locate in the USA. It is a process!

If you believe you belong to a constituency that may be under-represented, please contact Executive Director Denise Wagner so you can be included in the feedback we will be providing about the competencies.

And thank you again (or in advance) for your participation!

Update to Expand Eligibility

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 22:07:42 GMT

At the June 2020 Board of Directors meeting, the Board voted to update the eligibility for applicants applying for the examination:

Mental Health Education and Experience:

Applicants must possess mental health training and related clinical experience and may demonstrate this in two ways: either

the applicant must possess a post-graduate level degree in a mental health discipline, including related clinical experience, resulting in licensure or certification for the independent practice of a core mental care at the highest clinical level for that care; or
alternatively, demonstrating by reasonably satisfactory documentation their having obtained education, training and clinical experience that shows a solid foundation and practice experience in mental health care (including close supervision in individual cases), for example: psychotherapy experience; the ability to diagnose mental disorders; make differential diagnoses and biopsychosocial and psychodynamic formulations; develop individual treatment plans; and know how to use consultants or make referrals in areas outside his or her scope of practice.

For purposes of interpreting and applying this eligibility requirement, a license or certification solely to practice psychoanalysis shall not be deemed a licensure or certification in a core mental care discipline under clause (1).

An applicant with such a license or certification must separately and in addition meet the requirements either of clause (1) by possessing licensure or certification for the independent practice of a core mental health care discipline, or of clause (2) by demonstrating the described education, training and clinical experience.

Psychoanalytic Education and Training:

Applicants must either:

be graduates of Institutes accredited or approved as meeting the standards of AAPE, ACPEinc, IPA, or APsaA; (submit analytic certificate) or
have successfully completed an integrated psychoanalytic training program meeting the following minimum criteria:

A. 300 hours of in-depth training analysis, frequency of 3-5 times/week;

B. 350 curriculum hours including course work in:

i.   Psychoanalytic Treatment Situation and Technique;
ii.   Psychoanalytic Theory;
iii. Psychopathology;
iv. Development; and
v.    Continuous Case Seminars and Clinical Conferences.

C. Two supervised analytic cases, each 3-5 times/week with a minimum of 200
supervised hours but in any event over sufficient period of time to allow the
applicant to have recognized, evaluated, and interpreted the dominant
genetic factors and central conflicts, as well as to have allowed significant
transference manifestations to have developed, be observed, understood and
worked through and to have allowed for counter transference manifestations
to be understood.

Licensure & Ethics:

have an appropriate and current mental health-related license to practice in the jurisdiction in which the applicant is practicing or, if in a jurisdiction that does not require such licensure, to provide additional information
comply with ethical standards and professional conduct

Analytic Experience:

- submit written reports and be prepared to discuss at the interview cases that meet the following criteria:
- patients of different genders
- patients seen at a frequency of three to five times a week
- at least one case must have a termination experience
- be able and prepared to discuss a third patient who has been in a three to five times per week analysis

at least two of the three cases presented must be conducted substantially in person.
It may be necessary that treatments be conducted remotely during quarantines, societal shutdowns or other periods when health or safety measures, such as social distancing, make in-person treatment not possible, and that the in-person requirement will be applied accordingly on a modified basis.
submit process notes for a minimum of three cases at the examination

The reports of applicants for Child & Adolescent Certification, should include, in addition to above:

one case of a child in the latency phase of development
one case of an adolescent
a brief child report on a third child/adolescent patient (five pages)

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:11:45 GMT

The June 2020 examination was held remote with 3 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 2 passed for a 66% pass rate and 1 applicants in Child & Adolescent of which 1 passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Navah Kaplan, Ph.D. – NYPSI
Andrew Klafter, M.D. - Cincinnati

Child & Adolescent Certification

Van DeGolia, M.D. – Los Angeles

Update to Eligibility

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:31:35 GMT

At the February 2020 Board of Directors meeting, the Board voted to update the eligibility for applicants applying for the examination:

have an appropriate and current mental health-related license to practice in the jurisdiction in which the applicant is practicing or, if in a jurisdiction that does not require such licensure, to provide additional information (updated)
at least two of the three cases presented must be conducted substantially in-person (new)

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:35:00 GMT

The February 2020 examination was held in New York, NY with 7 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 5 passed for a 71% pass rate and 2 applicants in Child & Adolescent of which both passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Nancy Bakalar, M.D. – International Institute Psychoanalytic Training / Denver
Jeanne Johnson, M.D. - Oregon
Joshua Loewenstein, Ph.D. - Pine / Boston
Lisa Price, M.D. - Boston
Elizabeth Wilson, M.D. – Western New England

Child & Adolescent Certification

Stephanie Brandt, M.D. – New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute
Kevin Udis, Ph.D. – Denver

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Office ABPsa — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:32:10 GMT

The June 2019 examination was held in San Diego, CA with 8 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 6 passed for a 75% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Lynne Gillick, Ph.D. – Denver
Janet Noonan, LICSW – Boston
Matthew Shaw, PhD – Western New England
Malini Singh, PhD – PANY
Gail VanLangen, PhD - Michigan
Laura Whitman, MD – PANY

ABPsa Celebrating 5 Years

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:35:00 GMT

The ABPsa is celebrating its 5th anniversary in June 2019! Since becoming a national independent Certification Board in 2014, we have certified over 575 psychoanalysts in Adult and Child & Adolescent psychoanalysis through grandparenting and examinations. Grandparented analysts previously certified by APsaA, ABPP, and BCD-P, as well as others who met our expanded criteria make up a strong base of ABPsa Fellows. Twice yearly, we’ve enjoyed a hearty group of applicants including both new graduates and seasoned analysts esteemed in their local institutes who were certified for the first time by the ABPsa.

After successfully establishing a strong and sustainable organization, with financial stability and clear policies and procedures, we are now excited to turn our energy and resources to an area especially vital to the strength of the profession of psychoanalysis. Through our Competencies Initiative we'll ensure that we continue to offer you ‘Standards you can trust.’

Our Competencies Initiative is a comprehensive review of these standards: the core competencies and our methods of assessing them. Following best practices, as defined by the agencies that accredit certification boards, we have initiated a thorough review of our current competencies to ensure they remain relevant and applicable to psychoanalysis today. Our researchers have begun collecting information from key members of the profession – analyst educators, supervisors, candidates, curriculum chairs, and more – information that will be used to inform and revise our examination as needed, to ensure the relevance and clarity of the competencies and the consistency and transparency of the examination processes.

In coordination with the Competencies Initiative, we are anticipating the launch of a Subject Matter Experts group, which will be made up of a diverse group of recognized national experts in psychoanalysis today. These SMEs from different theoretical backgrounds will be chosen for their expertise in particular aspects of psychoanalytic theory, technique, research, and clinical work.

Over the past five years, you have laid the groundwork for this exciting new project. Thank you for the many ways in which you have contributed to our success.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Office ABPsa — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 00:24:53 GMT

The February 2019 examination was held in New York, NY with 8 applicants in Adult or PreGrad part 2 Psychoanalysis of which 7 passed for a 87.5% pass rate, and 1 applicant in Child Psychoanalysis of which 1 passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Susan Chance, PhD - Emory
Sara Gardiner, MD - Oregon
Linda Gold, LMSW - Michigan
Kelly Hill, MD – Cincinnati
Jill Ragozzino McElligott, LCSW - Philadelphia
Stefanie Speanburg, LCSW, PhD - Emory

Child & Adolescent Certification

Anthony Bram, PhD – Boston

Leslie Jordan, PhD to Chair Research & Development Committee

Office ABPsa — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:06:53 GMT

The American Board of Psychoanalysis is pleased to welcome Dr. Leslie Jordan, who will assume the role of Chair of the Research and Development Committee in February 2019. Dr. Jordan is a psychoanalyst and educator at the Denver Institute who has an abiding interest in research. She was a research fellow at the IPA Research Training Program in London taught by analyst-researchers from around the world. She has been involved in the evaluation of learning for many years (see Jordan, L & Emde, R (2006) "How do we Evaluate Learning from the Curriculum?" JAPA 54:231-249). She is currently Chair of the Research Committee at the Denver Institute and co-directs the Colloquium Project for evaluation of learning.

The ABPsa wishes to express its deep appreciation to Dr. Sydney Anderson for her valuable contribution as Chair of RDC since 2015.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Office ABPsa — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 15:46:46 GMT

The June 2018 examination was held in Chicago, IL with 7 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 5 passed for a 71% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Tiziano Colibazzi, MD - Columbia
Robin Gomolin, PsyD – Pine
Giovanni Minonne, Ph.D. - Michigan
Maureen Pendras, MSW - Seattle
Alison Philips, MD - Boston

Applications are now being accepted for the February 2019 Certification Examination

Office ABPsa — Tue, 08 May 2018 16:40:27 GMT

The February 2019 certification examination will take place at the New York Hilton, in New York City. Examination dates are Saturday February 2nd - Monday February 4th.

To be eligible to sit for the ABPsa Certification Exam an applicant must:

be a graduate (or candidate, see pre-grad information) from an Institute that is either approved or accredited by the IPA, APsaA or ACPE
have a current license to practice or if in a state that does not require licensure to provide additional information
submit cases and be prepared to discuss at the examination, cases that meet the following criteria:
- patients of different genders
- patients seen at a frequency of three to five times a week
- at least one case must be terminated and the other must be at least in the middle phase of analysis
be able and prepared to discuss a third patient
comply with ethical standards.

In addition to the eligibility items above, for Child & Adolescent Certification, the applicant must submit a:

case of a child in the latency phase
case of an adolescent
brief child report on a third child/adolescent patient (five pages)

The Handbook for Applicants , Handbook for Pre-Grad Applicants, and more information can be found on our website.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Office ABPsa — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:08:39 GMT

The February 2018 examination was held in New York City with 11 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 5 passed for a 45% pass rate, and 1 applicant for Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis that passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

Adult Certification

Kim Boyd, MD – Boston
Carol Coutu, PhD - Boston
Bruce Radisch, MD – Emory
Victoria Todd, MSSA - Cleveland
Lyn Yonack, MSW - Berkshire

Child & Adolescent Certification

Kim Boyd, MD - Boston

Retired Fellows are now able to maintain their registration and profile with the ABPsa as a Fellow Emeritus

Office ABPsa — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 14:16:20 GMT

The ABPsa Board recently approved a Fellow Emeritus status. This new registration category was created in response to Fellows’ desires to maintain their ABPsa registry listing upon retirement and to support the value of standards. Fellow Emeritus status is available to ABPsa Fellows who, regardless of whether they remain licensed in their mental health discipline, have and remain completely retired from the practice of psychoanalysis, as well as any other psychotherapeutic activity, with patients. Their licenses and other professional affiliations must be in good standing upon retirement and remain so. The American Board of Psychoanalysis does not certify Fellow Emeritus in the active practice of psychoanalysis.

Eligible fellows can apply for the Fellow Emeritus status by completing an application and submitting a one-time fee. Further details and the Fellow Emeritus application is available on our website www.abpsa.org.

We've got a new website & phone number

Office ABPsa — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:22:46 GMT

We migrated over to a new website platform that should make navigating our site and renewing your certification even easier!

Also note, that our phone number has changed to (303) 676-8008.

Expanded Eligibility to Grandparent into the ABPsa

Office ABPsa — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 01:23:47 GMT

In order to be grandparented as a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis an analyst must meet one of the following criteria:

Analysts certified by the Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association prior to December 31, 2015.

Analysts certified by ABPP or BCD-P prior to December 31, 2015 and who are graduates of APsaA, ACPEinc or IPA Institutes.

Analysts certified prior to December 31, 2015 by ABPP or BCD-P who are graduates of psychoanalytic institutes not approved by APSaA, IPA or ACPEinc, but who can document training that is equivalent to AAPE, ACPEinc, or IPA training standards which includes both training analysis and control analyses conducted on an individual basis at a frequency of three to five times a week.

Analysts who graduated from psychoanalytic institutes not approved by APsaA, IPA, or ACPEinc but who can document training that is equivalent to AAPE, ACPEinc, or IPA standards which includes both training analysis and control analyses conducted on an individual basis at a frequency of three to five times a week and who have had no prior opportunity for certification in their respective discipline, and have been appointed a training analyst by their institute.

Grandparenting applications will be accepted until December 31, 2017

New Fees go into effect

Office ABPsa — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 17:22:59 GMT

The Board of Directors approved an increase of fees for 2017-2018.

Renewal Fee will be $150
Application Fee is $200
Examination Fees
- Adult Examination $750
- Child & Adolescent Examination $750
- Pre-Grad I Examination $250
- Pre-Grad II Examination $750
- Continued examination fee is 2/3 of the full examination fee (example, in 2017-2018 the fee to continue in Adult would be $500)

These fees go into effect immediately for the 2017-2018 renewals, applications, and examinations.

Charles Parks, Ph.D. joins the ABPsa Board

Office ABPsa — Sun, 21 May 2017 23:09:18 GMT

Charles Parks, Ph.D. of the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Institute joins the ABPsa Board. To read more about Dr. Parks, check out our Board of Directors page.

Congratulations to our new Fellows

Office ABPsa — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 22:23:58 GMT

The January 2017 examination was held in New York City with 13 applicants in Adult Psychoanalysis of which 9 passed for a 69% pass rate, and 3 applicants for Child & Adolescent Psychoanalysis with 3 passed for a 100% pass rate.

We would like to congratulate the following individuals for passing the certification examination and becoming a Fellow of the American Board of Psychoanalysis.

CERTIFIED IN ADULT PSYCHOANALYSIS

Angela Cappiello, M.D.
Stan Case, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Deborah Fried, M.D.
Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.
Bernadette Kovach, Ph.D.,
Deana Schuplin, M.Ed., LMHC
Darren J. Thompson, M.D.
Laura A. Westen, Ph.D.
Molly Witten, Ph.D.

CERTIFIED IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOANALYSIS

Bernadette Kovach, Ph.D.
Victoria Schreiber, LMSW
Victoria Todd, MSSA

Change to 3 to 5 times per week psychoanalysis

Office ABPsa — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 21:27:59 GMT

The ABPsa Board just approved that all three cases submitted for certification can be seen at a frequency of three to five times a week and examiners will be blind to the frequency of cases submitted for certification.

The Board Welcomes Jay Kwawer, Ph.D. and Catherine Kimble, M.D. to the Board

Office ABPsa — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:04:05 GMT

The Board of Directors welcomed Jay Kwawer, Ph.D. of the William Alanson White Institute and Catherine Kimble, M.D. of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. To read more about them, check out our Board of Directors page.

Congratulations to our new Fellows!

Office ABPsa — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 21:26:58 GMT

The June 2016 examination was held in Chicago. There were 17 applications for Board Certification in Psychoanalysis and of these 13 passed the exam. This translates to a pass rate of 76.5%

We congratulate the following people and welcome them as Fellows of the ABPsa:

CERTIFIED IN ADULT PSYCHOANALYSIS

Alexa Albert, M.D.
Eileen Becker-Dunn, M.S.W.
Theodore Fallon, Jr., M.D.
Maida J. Greenberg, Ed.D.
Lynne E. Harkless, Ph.D.
Linda Marino, Ph.D.
Catherine McKenzie, Ph.D.
Anne Rocheleau, Ph.D.
Mark J. Wolny, LCSW
Jed Yalof, Psy.D.
M. Jane Yates, Ph.D.

CERTIFIED IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOANALYSIS

Theodore Fallon, M.D.
Frederick L. Meisel, M.D.