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The Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis offers
an intensive and comprehensive program in theoretical
and clinical psychoanalysis, with an emphasis
upon learning how to work with the unconscious.
The TIP is the only psychoanalytic training program
in Toronto that qualifies its graduates for membership
in both the Canadian
Psychoanalytic Society (CPS) and the International
Psychoanalytic Association (IPA). The latter
was founded by Freud and is the world's primary
accrediting and regulatory body for psychoanalysis.
Graduation from the TIP and membership in the
CPS and the IPA provide portability: one's credentials
as a psychoanalyst are recognized by IPA Institutes
and Societies world-wide, and one's membership
is easily transferred. In addition, membership
provides access to a wide range of scientific
and clinical seminars and conferences—locally
(the monthly scientific meetings of the TPS, the
Annual Day in Psychoanalysis, the Annual Day in
Applied Psychoanalysis), nationally, and internationally.
Members and candidates are subscribed to and encouraged
to contribute their writings to The
Canadian Journal of Psychoanalysis / Revue canadienne
de psychanalyse
Toronto became one of the early centres of international
psychoanalytical activity in 1908 when Ernest
Jones came here to live, teach, and practise.
It was from Toronto that he contributed his considerable
influence to the founding of the American Psychoanalytic
Association.
After Jones's departure in 1913, psychoanalysis
was not represented in Toronto until 1954, but
in the following decade training was offered and
undertaken by several psychiatrists in conjunction
with the psychoanalytic teaching then available
in Montreal.
With the founding of the Canadian Institute of
Psychoanalysis in 1960, a series of initiatives
from Toronto led to the naming of a committee
in 1966 to set minimum standards for the establishment
of autonomous branches. Its proposals were unanimously
accepted at a special general meeting in May 1967,
and in June 1969 an Ontario Branch of the Canadian
Institute of Psychoanalysis was formed, as were
two Branches in Montreal. In the autumn of that
year a class of candidates began the first complete
program of training in psychoanalysis to be offered
in Ontario.
In 1979 the Ontario Branch became the Toronto
Institute of Psychoanalysis while retaining its
status as a branch of the Canadian Institute of
Psychoanalysis.
In accordance with IPA standards, the training
program has three distinct elements: four years
of theoretical and clinical seminars, three supervised
clinical cases, and the candidate's personal analysis.
The last occurs at a minimum frequency of four
sessions per week in order to provide intensity
and depth.
Both supervision and analysis of candidates is
conducted by IPA training analysts who are qualified
on the basis of their extensive clinical experience,
the quality of their clinical analytic work, their
contributions to psychoanalytic scholarship and
education, and other criteria.
The first year of training entails an intensive
and extensive study of Freud's theoretical and
clinical concepts. This is followed in subsequent
years both by the study of specific topics and
the introduction to other psychoanalytic perspectives.
Over the four-year training period, candidates
are exposed to approximately 70 "continuous case"
seminars offering intensive, detailed, and practical
clinical training.
Weekly seminars provide an opportunity to master
the basic concepts and principles of psychoanalysis
as a science and a therapy. Classes in theory
are based on readings focused on the broad spectrum
of psychoanalytic theory: Freud, ego psychology,
object relations, Klein, self psychology, and
Lacan—along with current developments in
relational psychoanalysis, neo-Kleinian theory,
and contemporary European and American Freudian
elaborations. Experienced psychoanalysts also
teach clinical seminars, with an emphasis on technique.
Concepts such as transference, counter-transference,
enactment, empathic listening, and analyzability
are presented from different theoretical perspectives.
Class discussion is encouraged as a way of heightening
candidates' learning experiences. Class size is
limited to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge
and therapeutic skills.
Beyond academically surveying the literature on
specific topics from multiple theoretical perspectives,
the TIP offers intensive clinical training in
specific areas. For example, in keeping with the
Institute's distinctive emphasis upon working
with the unconscious, the topic of how to work
with dreams in psychoanalysis is studied through
a series of seminars on this subject in each of
the four years.
Candidates develop their clinical psychoanalytic
skills by psychoanalyzing three patients, at a
frequency of four or five sessions per week, with
weekly supervision by three different supervisors
chosen from the Institute's roster of training
analysts. Seeing appropriately assessed and selected
patients at this frequency deepens the therapeutic
process in ways that are characteristic of psychoanalysis
as distinct from other, less intensive modes of
psychotherapy.
The TIP carefully monitors the candidate's progress
throughout the training program in a variety of
ways in order to provide necessary feedback, encouragement,
and support. The Institute Curriculum Committee
continually seeks input from the candidates on
all aspects of the program and suggestions for
improving it. Each class chooses a representative
who joins this Committee in order to facilitate
communication and consultation.
It should be noted that during their training,
candidates are not permitted to advertise themselves
as, or refer to themselves as, a "psychoanalyst"
until they have successfully completed the clinical
and academic requirements established by both
the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society and Institute,
and the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.
Applicants normally possess either a medical degree
or a doctorate in psychology, social work, the
humanities, or the social sciences, or a master's
degree in social work. A background of clinical
experience in psychotherapy is strongly recommended
for all applicants. These criteria ensure that
candidates will be studying with classmates who
are experienced and sophisticated clinicians and
scholars.
Suitable applicants will be interviewed by three
separate members of the Institute Admissions Committee.
The reports of these interviews will then be considered
along with the applicant's curriculum vitae and
letters of reference.
Tuition fees at present are $3000 per year for
each of the four years.
This program meets the requirements for maintenance
of certification in psychiatry and MAINPRO credits
for family practice.
For further information about the Toronto Psychoanalytic
Institute, or to obtain application materials,
contact info@torontopsychoanalysis.com
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