Founded in 1911, the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) is the oldest national psychoanalytic organization in the nation. APsaA as a professional organization for psychoanalysts, focuses on education, research and membership development. In addition to the national organization, APsaA’s membership includes 34 approved training institutes and 38 affiliate societies throughout the United States. Since its founding, APsaA has been a component of the International Psychoanalytical Association, the largest worldwide psychoanalytic organization.

APsaA has developed vibrant and innovative programming for the mental health profession and the general public. The Association and its more than 3,500 highly trained members gather at biannual meetings in February and June to exchange ideas, present research papers, and discuss training and membership issues. Many public activities relating to psychoanalysis are presented by the APsaA’s affiliated societies and by institutes which have the highest level of training for psychoanalysts.

These programs provide forums for the exchange of new ideas and highlight the contribution of psychoanalytic principles in helping to understand important social problems. To further the dissemination of psychoanalytic ideas, APsaA publishes the highly respected peer-reviewed quarterly, Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association (JAPA).

A major responsibility of APsaA is to establish and maintain high educational standards as well as high professional standards. APsaA works to ensure that its members meet rigorous training standards.

APsaA is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science