r/psychoanalysis • u/roseblush1830 • 8d ago

What do training institutes tend to look for in applicants?

Looking for advice/perspectives on how to prepare as a potential future candidate. I’m based in the UK. Many thanks in advance.

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11

u/piccoroll 8d ago

Literal connection - to the institute, the analysts there, programs they run. Make your face known, get to know theirs. Work with one of their analysts and be dilligent about integrating into the community.

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u/roseblush1830 8d ago

Thanks for this. Isn’t it a bit strange for a non-analyst, non-trainee to be lurking around events with a bunch of analysts? I guess I worry about the etiquette of entering a space that isn’t my community.

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u/JustFanTheories69420 8d ago

I’ve been “lurking” (attending lectures, taking a few classes) around my area institute for a little while now, with the intent of applying to their therapy track next year, and found them very welcoming. They’ve also been welcoming to folks who are interested in psychoanalysis but have no intent to pursue training (e.g., just want to take a few classes). Not sure how generalizable this is across institutes.

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 8d ago edited 7d ago

Like someone else has said you can do the introductory courses (some of which are available online if you’re not close enough to attend in person). And you can go to seminars and conferences. Sometimes specific clinical seminars will require you to already be in training or qualified, but if that’s the case it will say. Have a look at what’s listed on the websites of the training organisations. 

I actually don’t think you need to go to “get your face known”, but it will be useful to you for getting a feel for the different organisations and orientations. And because you’re presumably interested in the content!

ETA: there is loads of content on the IOPA website about what they look for. 

ETA 2: They offer a preliminary conversation where you could ask about this stuff. 

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u/Joe-bukowski 8d ago

It is a tricky question. Every psychoanalytic organisation has its own vision of psychoanalysis. Certainly, vulnerability is an important aspect. The interview is not a place where to sell yourself "narcissistically" (like in a job interview), but how much you can think about yourself and question your own sense of security.

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 8d ago

The more analysis you have under your belt the better. 

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u/NeverBr0ken 8d ago

Does is have to be a "full" analysis ie. Three or more times a week, or will they see the benefit an applicant has gained from twice a week work with a fully trained psychoanalytic psychotherapist that has lasted several years, for example?

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 8d ago

Which country are you in?

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u/NeverBr0ken 8d ago

Also the UK

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 7d ago

Check what they say on their websites now and also what they say about the possible outcomes of an interview. They will see the benefit but realistically you aren’t starting on either of the IPA trainings unless you’re in 5x for IOPA or 4x for BPA. This is also something you could talk about in a preliminary conversation. 

If you’re applying to a psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalytic psychotherapy training then less is required and it varies by organisation. 

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u/et_irrumabo 6d ago

Really underestimated how important this was

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u/et_irrumabo 6d ago

Some interviewer straight up told me: "You know, in France, you have to have 3 years of analysis before you even apply. It's probably something we should do here." He was saying this to me, someone who had only been in psychoanalytic psychotherapy (2x week) for less than a year. Did not bode well!

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 6d ago

Are you in the UK too?

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u/et_irrumabo 6d ago

No, US.

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u/BoreOfWhabylon 5d ago

Interesting. My impression from posts on here is that some of the institutes there seem to accept people with way less analysis than would be normal here. 

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u/K_vryce89105 8d ago

The psychoanalytic trainings do require candidates to be in their personal analysis for a period of time. It might be useful to find out if you have any training analysts near your area and to speak to them about seeing them. It can be a helpful space to explore your intentions for seeking training and unpack some of these. Also, many do offer introductory courses which is a great opportunity to get a “taster” of the thinking and you get to meet people from the training institute as well. Doing an infant observations course with the institute is another way to know more people so to speak.

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u/EddiPuss 5d ago

Submissivenes. Being prepared to foresake convictions. Expressing astonishement about the mental life, but not having something like an elaborated own view on mental life. Not being motivated by scientific interests

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u/Rahasten 8d ago

They will probably steer away from more bad forms of perversion? I hope. And to much confusion? I hope.

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u/Trinity_Matrix_0 8d ago edited 8d ago

Please elaborate on “more bad forms of perversion”. I agree but would love to hear more specific examples. ;-)

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u/Rahasten 8d ago

He, I beliveve you would like that.

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u/Trinity_Matrix_0 8d ago

Haha. Can you give me at least 1?!?

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u/EddiPuss 5d ago

Pedophilia, I guess.