Mission

The Respecialization Program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in the fall of 2024, is designed to provide two years of pre-psychoanalytic training to professionals from the humanities, social sciences, education, law, medicine, the arts, and other fields with the opportunity to lay the groundwork for a clinical career in psychoanalysis. 

It can also assist individuals with a mental health background, but who have limited clinical experience or limited exposure to psychoanalytic thought, to prepare for psychoanalytic training. 

All applicants will need to have a Master’s degree in any field.

The theoretical component of the Respecialization Program consists of mandatory course work (four eight-week quarters, two classes each quarter, on Wednesday evenings) and optional classes in the Child and Adolescent Program (CAP).

During these two years candidates learn in class the basics of psychopathology, technique and diagnosis from a Freudian and post-Freudian approach and its challenges with new clinical societal realities.

Candidates are evaluated by instructors in all courses. In addition, candidates are asked to evaluate their instructors in order to maintain a high level of instruction.

Closely integrated with coursework, the clinical training offers candidates a large range of clinical experience through the Iptar Clinical Center, supervision, clinical study groups and child therapy program. 

• Intake program

Respecialization candidates with no clinical experience are introduced to working with patients through IPTAR Clinical Center: after observing a mentor conduct 2 intake interviews, they learn step-by-step how to conduct at least 2 intakes on their own under the mentor’s guidance. If after conducting their first intakes, the candidate, the mentor, and the supervisor agree that the candidate is ready, he or she has an interview with the Director to confirm their readiness to see their first patient on their own.

• Patients at Iptar Clinical Center

The IPTAR Clinical Center (ICC) refers patients to candidates. Sessions are conducted on the ICC premises (1651 Third Avenue, # 205, New York, NY 10128 ). As the candidates demonstrate their ability to work clinically, they are referred additional patients, ideally three their first year, and more their second year, if appropriate. 

• Supervision. 

Candidates upon entering the program are immediately assigned a supervisor, with whom they consult weekly about their progress with their patient(s). Sessions with supervisors are a fundamental component of training in the Respecialization Program. There is no additional fee for supervision. It is included in the tuition payment. 

• Monthly Clinical Study Groups. 

Each candidate is required to attend one of the monthly clinical study groups available at IPTAR (IPTAR Q, Clinical Conundrums). 

• Process Group meeting every quarter designed to provide support to discuss and work through various issues pertaining to training.

• Optional On-Site School Program.  

A candidate can choose to add work with children and adolescents to their training, in which case they would be placed in a school where they would have opportunities to work with students either individually or in groups. In this case, they would be required to attend a class in the Child and Adolescent (CAP) program.

In addition to the opportunity of becoming a member of a vibrant intellectual community, IPTAR offers a number of valuable resources to its candidates, including a comprehensive psychoanalytic library and access to PEP WEB; a vital candidates’ organization; and the IPTAR Clinical Center (ICC). Through the ICC, candidates may be referred to patients and begin to develop a private practice.

IPTAR is an interdisciplinary Institute offering training to all individuals who are interested in the field of Psychoanalysis. Individuals with backgrounds in the humanities, the social services and the arts must have at least a Master’s degree. The Admissions committee will consider those applications received by April 20th for the upcoming fall class (2026-2027). Upon receipt of all materials, the admissions committee contacts the applicant to arrange for two interviews. The applicant is notified about the committee’s decision after review of the applicant’s material is complete.