A Modern Psychoanalytic institute conducts interviews to evaluate the applicant's potential and motivation to develop as a therapeutic personality. Courses are designed to explain psychoanalysis from a developmental, theoretical, historical, clinical and research perspective. Special emphasis is placed on the work of Hyman Spotnitz and his colleagues, with an indication of how it relates to other developments in the field. Students generally take between thirty and forty-two courses in theory, history, maturational development, clinical application and research. Individual, family, child and group analysis may be incorporated into these courses.
Students proceed though the program at their own pace.
Clinical experience generally begins with the Fieldwork Placement Program where students work with borderline and psychotic patients in an institutional setting under faculty and administrative supervision. A minimum of two years in the internship is recommended to assure sufficient understanding of psychosis and other related conditions. Generally, supervision is at the ratio of one hour of supervision for each four hours of patient contact. It may be conducted in small groups at the beginning of clinical training. In the later phase of training, the student will study one control case in depth with a senior supervisor and work with a second supervisor on one or more other cases.