September 15, 1999
Dear Psychoanalytic Institute Members:
Across the nation and around the world a number of highly reputed
autonomous psychoanalytic institutes have been established, training a
significant number of psychoanalysts. These institutes are autonomous in that
they have chosen not to belong to psychoanalytic associations that dictate and
oversee their psychoanalytic training programs. (For example, the American
Psychoanalytic Association is directly involved in certification of candidates
and thereby the appointment of training analysts. The International
Psychoanalytic Association similarly oversees institutes). The autonomous
psychoanalytic institutes highly value their autonomy, for they recognize that
centralized control has often been used to support particular theoretical
paradigms and to curtail the advent of new theory. Over the years, autonomous
psychoanalytic institutes, always interdisciplinary in nature, have grown in
numbers and are contributing significantly to the education of psychoanalysts
and to the creative evolution of psychoanalytic theory and clinical practice.
A number of us psychoanalysts have felt that the formation of a new
interdisciplinary and multitheoretical national and international
psychoanalytic association would provide an important network for these
autonomous psychoanalytic institutes and their members. We felt that such an
association would enhance the affiliated institutes and their members in the
pursuit of psychoanalytic education, research, and continued development of
the theory and practice of psychoanalysis. Moreover, this association would
create a power base for the representation of its institutes and members in
professional advocacy matters.
For over a year, representatives from a group of psychoanalytic institutes
have met to discuss the formation of a new psychoanalytic association. We are
pleased to announce the establishment and incorporation of the non-profit
Association for Autonomous Psychoanalytic Institutes (AAPI). It is the first
interdisciplinary and multitheoretical national and international
psychoanalytic association for autonomous institutes and their members. AAPI
serves as an umbrella for its affiliates, fully respecting their autonomy. We
are inviting both institutes and their individual members to apply for
membership.
In addition to important considerations such as scientific meetings and
exchange of educational ideas among member institutes, we plan, as soon as
sufficient individual membership is established, to discuss requesting
representation on the Consortium. As you probably know, the Consortium is a
committee, with representatives from the American Psychoanalytic Association,
American Academy of Psychoanalysis, Division 39 of the American Psychological
Association, and the National Membership Committee for Psychoanalysis in
Clinical Social Work, that has been established to develop at the national
level criteria for the training and certification (graduation) of
psychoanalysts.
AAPI is a professional association for psychoanalytic institutes and their
members, including their graduate (or in some areas called certified)
psychoanalysts, faculty, supervisors, and psychoanalytic candidates. AAPI is
not part of the American Psychological Association, nor of the National
Association for Accreditation of Psychoanalysts (NAAP), a self-proclaimed
accrediting association, nor of the International Federation of Psychoanalytic
Societies, a federation of psychoanalytic societies. AAPI is an association of
psychoanalytic institutes and their members.
We believe that the establishment of AAPI is an important development in
psychoanalysis that can significantly alter the national and international
psychoanalytic landscape. We, therefore, urge you to apply for membership both
as an institute and as individuals.
We have enclosed AAPI’s Position Paper.
If you have any questions, call any one of us or AAPI’s office, (310)
470-2478. In our view, it is a time for action.
Sincerely,
Morton Shane, M.D., President
James Fosshage, Ph.D., President-Elect
Mary Gales, M.D., Secretary
Kenneth Frank, Ph.D., Treasurer
