Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research

How to Apply

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We Welcome Your Application!

We invite applications for psychoanalytic training from the following professionals:

  • Psychiatrists who are residents in approved psychiatric programs or practicing psychiatrists with approved medical and psychiatric training. Psychiatrist applicants must be licensed to practice in the State of New York.
  • Psychologists who have completed a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology through a program accredited by the American Psychological Association. An applicant’s clinical background should include both inpatient and outpatient training, which may be acquired during internship in a teaching hospital and/or in postdoctoral training. Psychologist applicants must be licensed to practice in the State of New York.

Requirements for Application

All applicants must have theoretical knowledge and clinical experience in the following areas:

  • Psychopathology
  • Differential diagnosis
  • Differential (or alternative) therapeutics
  • Psychotherapeutic theory, technique, and experience
  • Knowledge of indications for psychopharmacologic treatment
  • Knowledge of physical conditions presenting as behavioral problems

Finally, the applicant’s work record should reflect a continuing commitment to the development of additional clinical experience and skill.

Requirements for Matriculation 

  • Medical or psychological licensure in New York State and in any other state in which patients may be seen
  • Malpractice insurance
  • Candidates are required to be in a four or five times per week psychoanalysis with an approved training analyst of the Columbia Psychoanalytic Center, the Psychoanalytic Association of New York (PANY), or the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (NYSPI) prior to or upon matriculation
  • Candidates must be in psychoanalysis for six months prior to beginning to treat their first patient in psychoanalysis
  • Certificate of immunization to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), tuberculosis testing (PPD), and meningococcus awareness

Application Process

Applications for the academic year beginning in September should be submitted no later than May 15.

Please note that we are no longer accepting new applications for the 2024-25 academic year. All supporting materials for applications already in process should be sent to psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu as soon as possible. Information about applying for 2025-26 will be posted here in Fall 2024.

We strongly encourage interested applicants to submit their materials early as admissions are rolling. 

The heart of the application consists of three (or more) interviews with Columbia faculty members.  Our goal for this process is twofold: we want to become acquainted with you, to learn about your interests, experience, and abilities, and we also hope to help you explore and further develop your interest in psychoanalysis through our discussions. 

  • Please pay your $150 application fee via our secure payment page. This fee is not refundable and is not credited toward tuition.
  • On your application form, you will list several professional references we may contact.  In addition, we would like to receive three letters of recommendation: one from each of the three supervisors of clinical work listed with your references.  Please ask these individuals to send their letters directly to psychoanalysis@cumc.columbia.edu.
  • After we have received your application and all of the reference letters, we will contact you to begin the interview process. Each applicant will have individual interviews with three members of our Admissions Committee. The interviews will offer an opportunity for applicants to learn about the Center through engaging in a discussion of one of their own psychotherapy cases and in a two-session personal interview. Topics to be covered may include the applicant's academic and career path, personal relationships and history, past experience in psychotherapy or analysis, and psychological preparedness to take up the challenges of psychoanalytic work.
  • Our application process can be lengthy because, in addition to multiple interviews, our Admissions and Executive Committees must both review the application.  We attempt to process applications as quickly as we can.

For more information about the process of applying for psychoanalytic training in general or to follow up on the status of your application, please contact:

Jill Jacobson, MD
Chair of the Admissions Committee
jj2031@cumc.columbia.edu

How to Apply to Child and Adolescent and Adolescent-Only Psychoanalysis Programs

Applicants to the Child and Adolescent and Adolescent-only Psychoanalysis programs must meet all of the requirements for application to the Adult Psychoanalysis program.

Psychiatrists and psychologists may apply simultaneously with their application to the Center’s Adult Psychoanalysis program. Those currently matriculated in an Adult Psychoanalysis program at the Center or at any other institute accredited by the American Psychoanalytic Association may apply at any time during their training. Those who have already completed their adult training at an accredited program are welcome to apply at any time.

Applicants to the child program must show expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of children. Although residency training in child psychiatry or a child psychology internship is not a prerequisite for candidates to enroll in the program, interested candidates or analysts must demonstrate evidence of considerable familiarity with normal and pathological development in children. Effectively supervised experiences with normal and disturbed children in a variety of settings (pediatric services, schools, and day-care nurseries), either before or during child analytic training, may satisfy this requirement. Candidates interested in adolescent-only psychoanalysis are not required to have prior child training.

Requirements for Matriculation

Child and Adolescent and Adolescent-only Psychoanalytic candidates must meet all of the requirements for matriculation to the Adult Psychoanalysis program.

How to Apply

Those applicants who are currently matriculated in or have already completed their adult psychoanalytic training may apply simply by contacting:

Dr. Pamela Meersand
Director of the Child Division
pfm14@cumc.columbia.edu
212 706-1791

Candidates at other psychoanalytic Centers must fill out the application form, obtain a letter of recommendation from the Director of their institute and two letters of recommendation from clinical supervisors. Applicants are then interviewed by at least one member of the Child Division faculty.

Those who have not yet applied to begin Adult Psychoanalysis training at Columbia should follow the procedure for making a complete application to that program.