Information for Candidate Members

Welcome! This page will introduce you to the unique opportunities available to APsA Psychoanalyst-In-Training Members (candidate members). As you may be aware, APsA membership offers many benefits, including significant discounts on registration for APsA’s scientific meetings, preferred subscription rates for the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association (JAPA), and eligibility for low-cost professional liability insurance.

Psychoanalyst-In-Training members are encouraged to become involved with the Association on a national level, and APsA’s various committees and workshops provide a wide array of academic and administrative opportunities, such as planning scholarly programs, contributing to the candidate newsletter, and evaluating candidate papers for awards. These activities will facilitate networking and enhance the development of your analytic identity.

Candidates on APsA Connect

Participate in the online listserv community where candidates are able to share information regarding events that may be of interest to other candidates, as well as news from institutes nationwide. A great opportunity for candidates to establish important connections, form new friendships and develop a referral network.

Connect by emailing: [email protected]

What is the Candidates’ Council?

The Candidates’ Council consists of a candidate delegate elected by each APsA institute/center across the United States. The Candidates’ Council exists to express concerns of candidates, influence policy, and help candidates make important connections in the form of new friendships and opportunities for referrals early in their analytic career. Not only does this involvement develop referral networks and help solidify analytic identity, but candidates’ needs and concerns are given a voice through the Candidates’ Council’s involvement in APsA’s business and committee functions. Members of the Candidates’ Council Executive Committee act as liaisons and transmitters of information between the leadership of APsA and all Psychoanalyst-In-Training Members. They are available to answer questions from candidates and provide further information regarding the many opportunities for participation.

Click here for the Candidates’ Council Policy and Procedures Document.

Meet the Officers

President
Himanshu Agrawal, M.D.
Hartland, WI
715-566-0160
[email protected]

President-Elect
Konstantinos Taliouridis, Ph.D., Psy.D., Psya.D.(c)
Dedham, MA
+0041-79-204-3749
[email protected]

Secretary
Melissa Jenereski, M.S.W.
Pittsburgh, PA
412-417-1691
[email protected]

Treasurer
Xiaofeng Wang, LMSW
Bronx, NY
917-935-8997
[email protected]

Participation in Candidates’ Council Meetings

All candidate members are welcome to attend the Candidates’ Council meetings, during APsA’s National (winter) and Annual (summer) Meetings. Hear the latest news from institutes/centers across the country and keep abreast of what is happening at the national level. Participate in APsA’s business and committee functions and make your voice heard. Each APsA approved institute/center across the country elects one Psychoanalyst-In-Training Member delegate to represent the institute/center at the Candidates’ Council meeting. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a candidate delegate, contact the current delegate at your institute or one of the CC Officers for more information.

How Can I Get Involved & Join a Candidates’ Council Committee?

Below you will find a list of committees that psychoanalyst-in-training members are able to participate in or even chair. Psychoanalyst-In-Training members may contact the current committee chair if interested in becoming involved in a particular committee or for more information regarding committee activities.

CC Program Committee (Christopher S. Rigling, PsyD, MBA)
CC Membership Committee (Christopher S. Rigling, PsyD, MBA)
Lee Jaffe Candidates’ Council Paper Prize Committee (April Crofut, MD)
CC Online Seminar Series Committee (Carrie Atikune, PsyD)
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalysis Committee (Konstantinos Taliouridis, PhD)
Committee on Psychoanalysis and the Community (Christine Rio Bistis-Nadala, MD)
Candidate Connection Newsletter (Neha Gupta, MD, Editor; Hannah Geller, LCSW, JD, Associate Editor)

Meeting Programs for Candidates

Psychoanalyst-In-Training (candidate) Members are encouraged to attend the programming geared for candidates at each APsA Meeting. Look for the following programs in the meeting’s preliminary program.

The Candidates’ Forum is devoted to the demonstration and exploration of innovative techniques in psychoanalytic education, addressing issues relevant to psychoanalytic candidates and the process of training and development.
The Candidate at Work Discussion Group
The Lee Jaffe Candidates’ Council Paper Prize Presentation
Master Teacher Award Program
Coffee with a Distinguished Analyst
Candidates’ Council/IPSO Party

Travel Scholarship

APsA offers a Travel Scholarship to Psychoanalyst-In-Training Members to receive funding to attend an in-person APsA meeting. Look for information in the meeting’s preliminary program. There are a limited number of scholarships are available and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Candidates’ Council Online Seminar Series

This program offers focused, supplemental learning experiences taught by leading thinkers and educators in psychoanalysis and the opportunity to connect with colleagues in training. Online seminars occur monthly during the academic year. The Seminar Series is a benefit of APsA membership and free to In-Training Members.

To review the next event click here.

The Candidate Assistance Fund

The Candidate Assistance Fund of the American Psychoanalytic Association provides loans up to $5,000 to candidates training to be psychoanalysts. The loans, to be repaid within a maximum of six years, are made from a revolving fund so repayment is critical in order to continue making loans. Currently, between five and seven loans are made annually. Click here to learn more.

The Candidate Connection Newsletter

The Candidate Connection is the official newsletter of the Candidates’ Council. It includes the latest news updates from institutes across the country, as well as articles written by candidates for candidates. All In-Training members are encouraged to contribute articles to the newsletter. Click here to review.

For more information on contributing, please contact the editors:

Neha Gupta, MD, Editor

Hannah Geller, LCSW, JD, Associate Editor

Lee Jaffe Candidates’ Council Paper Prize

The Lee Jaffe Candidates’ Council Paper Prize, based on peer review, is awarded annually to the Psychoanalyst-In-Training Member, who submits the most outstanding paper on a psychoanalytic subject.

The prize is named in memory of Lee Jaffe, Ph.D., a former APsA President, who is fondly remembered for his tireless work on behalf of APsA and the psychoanalytic community. Lee initiated the Paper Prize when he was President of the Candidates’ Council.

The winning author will present their paper at APsA’s National Meeting in New York (winter) and the semi-finalist will present their paper at the Annual Meeting (summer). The winner is also required to present their paper at a local venue. The winner and semi-finalist may submit their papers for review by JAPA, and if accepted, the paper will be published as the winner or semi-finalist of the Candidates’ Council Paper Prize.

Click here to learn more about this annual prize.

Click here to attend the November 4, 2023 free event.

Candidates’ Council Master Teacher Award

The Master Teacher Award Committee recognizes Master-Teachers of Psychoanalysis who have inspired a generation of candidates to become analysts. One of the goals of this committee is to archive video footage of Master-Teachers to create a lasting legacy of these individuals’ contributions.

Candidates’ Council Master Teacher Award Videos:

Glen Gabbard, M.D. 2018 — Master Teacher Award Recipient

“The Difficult Patient”

Glen Gabbard, MD, world-renowned Psychiatrist, Professor, Training and Supervising Analyst, editor and author including Psychodynamic Psychiatry in Clinical Practice: 5th edition, an all-time best seller at American Psychiatric Publishing, and The Psychology of The Sopranos, is the 2018 recipient of the Candidates Council Master Teacher Award. Dr. Gabbard presents a highly relevant, interesting, entertaining and informative discussion which includes effective clinical strategies for managing difficult patient(s) as well as touches on the theoretical foundations of these patients. Click here to access the video.

Anton Kris, M.D. 2017 — Master Teacher Award Recipient

“Continuities and Discontinuities in Psychoanalysis”

Anton O. Kris, MD, renowned Psychiatrist, Professor, Training and Supervising Analyst, and author, is the 2017 recipient of the Candidates Council Master Teacher Award. Drawing on clinical examples, Dr. Kris discussed the ways psychoanalysis has changed and the ways it has remained the same over his professional lifetime. He also responded to questions and answers from attendees. Click here to access the video.

Lyle Rosnick, M.D. — 2016 Master Teacher Award Recipient

“The Use of Film to Teach Psychoanalytic Concepts”

Dr. Rosnick is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, where he is renowned for his immensely popular and compelling teachings on psychoanalytic theory, for which he has received numerous awards. Here, he uses the film “Ordinary People” to illustrate the dynamics of narcissism, grief, defense, and others. Click here to access the video.

Robert Michels, M.D. – Inaugural Award Recipient

“The Care and Feeding of Supervisors: A User’s Guide for Supervisees”

Dr. Michels, world-renowned analyst, author, professor, and distinguished teacher, discusses supervision, a cornerstone of the tripartite model of psychoanalytic education. He explains how candidates can get the most out of supervision, and offers examples of and strategies for handling common problems that arise in the supervisory process. Click here to access the video.

For information, contact the Chair of the Master Teacher Award Committee

Psychoanalytic Candidates and Social issues

Click here to learn about opportunities to become involved in bringing a psychoanalytic voice to important social issues through involvement in the APsA Social Issues Department.

The Candidates’ Writing Workshop

Using samples of candidates’ writing at various stages of development, editors of JAPA teach candidates how to write scientific papers of publishable quality. Candidates are invited to submit a work-in-progress in advance of the National and Annual Meetings, from an outline of an idea to a paper at any stage of development. The editors will select a submission to be used as demonstration material serving the didactic purpose of the workshop.

For more information, please contact the Chair of the Writing Workshop.

International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization (IPSO)

APsA psychoanalyst-in-training (candidate) members who are members of IPSO are able to attend international meetings and be involved at the international level.

For information on events, visit IPSO’s website: www.ipso.world

Questions about your Membership?

Please contact Membership Services with questions concerning your APsA member benefits, APsA or IPSO dues, JAPA subscription or other membership questions.

Email: [email protected] We are here to help!

Travel Scholarship

Click here to attend the November 4, 2023 free event.

APsA Publications

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The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association (JAPA)

The American Psychoanalyst (TAP)

The Candidate Connection

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