Program Overview

 ​The Vermont Psychoanalytic Study Group Training Program in Psychoanalysis follows the tripartite model of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). The three parts of training include a personal training analysis with an IPA approved training analyst, four years of didactic seminars, and completion of three supervised training cases (one at one year duration and two at two years duration, at a minimum frequency of four times per week). Supervision must be at a frequency of once per week for a minimum of 40 weeks per year per case.

Personal Training Analysis
Accepted applicants are expected to be in psychoanalysis with an approved IPA analyst (see below) at the time the training begins. The personal analysis for the purposes of training will be at a frequency of four times per week on the couch. Supervised cases may begin in consultation with one's supervisor and after the candidate's analysis has been in place at least 6 months. Each candidate is required to complete a minimum of 480 hours of personal training analysis and/or throughout the duration of their supervised training case requirements, whichever is longer. This is a minimum requirement, and most candidates consider the personal analysis the core of their training experience and determine the optimal length of treatment, together with their analyst. The personal training analyst reports to the training committee only on the number and frequency of sessions, and the modality (in person and on-line). All other information is confidential.

Personal analysis for training is conducted by VPSG psychoanalysts certified and appointed by the IPA to be Training and Supervising Analysts (TA) and Temporary Training Analysts (TTA). In certain cases, a non-IPA analyst may be sanctioned and receive a waiver from the IPA; a Training Analyst Waiver (TAW), for the function of preserving continuity in a VPSG candidate's personal analysis.    

• A Temporary Training Analyst (TTA) is a VPSG member who is certified to conduct the 4 times a week personal analysis of a VPSG candidate and who is also eligible to supervise if they have psychoanalytic supervision experience.
• A Training Analyst Waiver (TAW) is appointed during the admissions process and is a one-time exemption for a non-IPA senior analyst who is already conducting a long-time analysis with a potential candidate.  The TAW appointment by the IPA certifies the psychoanalyst to conduct the 4 times a week personal analysis of a VPSG candidate and to become a VPSG/IPA member for the duration of the candidate's personal training analysis.

Didactic Seminars
Information regarding seminars can be found on the seminar and teaching philosophy pages.

Supervised Training Cases
Each candidate is required to complete three supervised training cases, one case will be one year at a minimum of 160 sessions and two cases each for two years and 320 hours total per case. Supervised training cases must be seen at a minimum frequency of four times per week. Supervision must be at a frequency of once per week per case at a minimum of 40 weeks per year. Supervision must be by an IPA Training Analyst, approved by the VPSG Training Committee. All candidates will be required to be in supervision for each case until graduation, the frequency of which will be determined by the individual supervisor in consultation with the Training Committee.