The IPTAR Society is a home for the community of IPTAR analysts. It offers opportunities for the continual reworking of our psychoanalytic identity through dialogue and reflection, in a dialectic between innovation and tradition. Our ongoing psychoanalytic exploration is enhanced by a series of structured programs, scientific meetings, workshops, study groups, research activities, and publications. These are open to the IPTAR membership and candidates, to interested analysts and analysts-in-training, and to the larger mental health community.

Program of Psychoanalytic Meetings

Open to the Analytic Community (Chair, Janice Lieberman, Ph.D.)

IPTAR presents a program of four to six open psychoanalytic meetings each year and a two-day conference. The themes that are selected for these presentations reflect currently vital psychoanalytic concerns and reveal both a commitment to classical psychoanalytic thought as well as a desire to hear new and challenging ideas from many different points of view. These meetings offer an avenue for creative discussion and have become significant events for the psychoanalytic community.

Program of Workshops for the Mental Health Professions

(Chair,Veronica Greenwald, L.C.S.W.)
These workshops open to mental health professionals outside of IPTAR, as well as for our own members and candidates, are an opportunity to study with a member of the IPTAR community who has expertise in a particular area. The workshops meet for two to four sessions in a seminar format, providing a space for in-depth psychoanalytic inquiry.

Friday Clinical Series

Evolution of the Third Avenue Programs

The Third Avenue Series invited members to make presentations and hosted discussions on topics related to the interests of the IPTAR community.  When  IPTAR moved its main administrative offices to the West Side, the Friday Clinical Series replaced the Third Avenue Series.  These intimate Friday afternoon meetings held in our Conference Room focus mainly on clinical issues and provide a forum for candidates and members to share their ideas.   Recent meetings included: Freud/Klein Controversies, Perverse Transference, Transference in Psychotherapy, and current issues in psychoanalytic training.

1. THE DEVELOPINGANALYST (Chairs, Jill Horowitz LCSW. and Tracey Strasser Vorus, Ph.D.)

In the Developing Analyst Series a supervisor-candidate pair present their work on the candidate’s control case.  Group discusssion often focuses on practical, technical, and theoretical aspects. All members of the IPTAR community are welcome.

2. IN THE SPOTLIGHT (Chair, Irving Steingart, Ph.D.)

In these programs senior analysts present actual clinical work from their practices.  The analyst then discusses their choice of interventions and the audience is encouraged to participate with questions and comments.  Here is an opportunity to view psychoanalysts at work.

The Freedman Center for Psychoanalytical Research ( Director- Jay Frankel Ph.D.)

This Center was instituted by the Board of Directors on April 12, 2012 with the intention of commemorating the late Norbert Freedman Ph.D., and his unparrelled and incalculable  contributions to the field of psychoanalytical research.                                                                 It is fitting, to honor him in a way that celebrates these contributions, by continuing to advance and expand the research agenda at IPTAR. The Center will serve as an umbrella body to coordinate, facillitate, promote and publicize all of IPTAR’S current research activities.

The Center will be administered by a Chair, who will serve on the Board of Directors, and by a Research Board. The Research Board will consist of a chair, who will serve a four year term, and a board of no fewer than four members. All policies,decisions and actions of the Freedman Center shall conform to the policies of the Board of Directors, and shall be subject to the Board of Directors review and approval.                                                          The Chair of the Research Board and board members to be announced upon approval by the Board of Directors..

• Doris Bernstein Memorial Section on Gender-Related Issues in Psychoanalysis

In the spirit of Doris Bernstein’s writings, the Section on Gender-Related Issues is concerned with the exploration of gender as a specific and decisive force in human development and human experience. The Section sponsors several activities. It has established an ongoing study group on gender-related issues. Every other year, the Section also sponsors the Doris Bernstein Memorial Lecture, a part of IPTAR’s Program of Psychoanalytic Meetings. It serves as a resource for the IPTAR Clinical Center and offers workshops for members of the analytic community.

Linda Neuwirth Memorial Section on the Effect of the Work on the Analyst

In honor of Linda Neuwirth and her commitment to excellence in psychoanalytic training and practice, a Section on the Effect of Psychoanalytic Work on the Analyst has been established. Topics of consideration by this group may include: balancing personal, familial and professional demands; the impact of illness on the analyst; the pregnant analyst; and discussion of analytic cases in progress. In addition, a Linda Neuwirth Memorial Paper will be chosen annually from submissions by candidates, recent graduates, and members of IPTAR.

Ethics Committee (Chair, Stanley Grand Ph.D.)

The Ethics Committee is responsible for establishing the code of ethical and professional conduct for members and candidates of IPTAR, as well as the procedures for making, processing, and adjudicating complaints. The Committee has the responsibility for investigting such complaints, holding any necessary hearings, and reporting its findings and recommendations.

Diversity Committee (Chair: Richard Reichbart, Ph.D. )

The primary task of the Diversity Committee is to encourage and facilitate dialogue and discussion in the IPTAR community with reference to Otherness and Difference. The Committee’s central approach consists of engaging in such dialogue and discussion through developing working relationships with the Admissions Committee, the Recruitment Committee, the Candidates’ Organization, and the Curriculum Committee, as well as with other groups at IPTAR. The members of the Diversity Committee share a commitment to psychoanalysis continuing as a progressive and inclusive movement and discipline.

Legislative Committee

(Chair, Phyllis Sloate, Ph.D.)
The Legislative Committee was established in response to a series of public policy and regulatory issues that have recently become salient to IPTAR’s mission and functions. Members of this committee collaborate with other psychoanalytic societies and organizations, most importantly the Confederation of Independent Psychoanalytic Societies (CIPS), as well as the American Psychoanalytic Association (APA), the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA), and others. Recent activity has centered on licensing legislation and regulations for psychoanalysts in New York State and the development of lobbying approaches and model licensing laws to be applied in other states.

For further detail about all of IPTAR’s activities and programs, please click here to download the IPTAR Bulletin.