PROGRAM IN PSYCHOANALYSIS, WITH EMPHASIS ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT WORK
This program, which usually requires a minimum of four and a half to five years' part-time work, is designed for candidates who hold a master's degree and want to begin a career as a psychoanalytic therapist.
Candidates learn the essential elements of play therapy while expanding and deepening their knowledge of psychoanalytic theory and technique. Each therapist-in-training is assigned a school placement that has a therapy room equipped with materials for weekly sessions. Since schools are convenient centers of neighborhood life, HFI therapists are able to maintain consistent connections with the children and adults they counsel. An HFI school liaison assists the candidates with referrals for the duration of their training.
Each candidate agrees to provide six clinical sessions a week. Clinical sesions are used to treat children and adolescents, while collateral sessions are also held with others of importance to the child.
Applicant's Requirements
Applicants should hold at least a master's degree, as required by New York State.
In interviewing candidates, Harlem Family looks for broad humanistic interests, seriousness of intent, good clinical skills, intellectual development, and a high capacity for empathy. Transcripts of their master's level course work and at least two letters of recommendation are required. We welcome people of diverse backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, age, marital status, gender or sexual orientation.
Program Requirements
The program aims to provide a solid base for independent practice. Candidates are required to:
- Provide a total of at least six clinical sessions a week to children or adolescents, with colateral sessions to others important to them, during the academic year throughout the program. Candidates must accumulate at least 300 such client-contact hours
- Complete weekly 45-minute, general-case supervision sessions with a licensed therapist who is a certified psychoanalyst throughout the program. Candidates must accumulate at least 125 hours of such supervision
- Complete weekly 45-minute, single-case supervision sessions with a licensed therapist who is a certified psychoanalyst in the final two or three years of the program. Candidates must accumulate at least 50 hours of such supervision
- Complete at least 300 hours of twice-a-week psychoanalysis with a licensed therapist who is also a certified psychoanalyst. Candidates must be in personal psychoanalysis throughout the program
- Complete a minimum of 450 hours of course work across a wide range of psychoanalytic areas.
Because Harlem Family candidates provide a free community service to children, adolescents, families and schools in under-served communities, they pay low fees for their supervision and course work. Training costs are thus ideally kept to a minimum.
Candidates will receive a certificate in psychoanalysis upon successful completion of the program.
Core Curriculum
HFI's curriculum is carefully tailored to assist candidates with its unique school-based clinical training. This on-site practice allows candidates to play an active part in the institute's community life.
During the program, two weekly tutorials are offered at a time to each class on week-night evenings from September to June, usually starting between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where possible, the institute aims to offer both courses on the same evening, though the evening can vary according to the current schedule.
The program begins with two introductory tutorials. The first aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to psychoanalytic theory and technique, drawing from drive, ego, object, self, relational, and archetypal approaches. The second aims to focus on child and adolescent theory and technique. Together, they offer a strong base in child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Additional workshops, given by leading practitioners, challenge the candidates and help them to further refine their clinical skills.
Final Year
The final year of the program aims to provide a solid base for independent practice. Requirements include:
- Seeing two of the children or adolescents twice a week during the academic year
- Successfully presenting in an informal collegial setting a case drawn from a single-case supervision
- Successfully completing course work on establishing a practice
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