The Licensure-Qualifying Program in Psychoanalysis (LP Program) is designed for individuals who are not eligible to apply to the Adult Training Program in Psychoanalysis (as defined in the Adult Psychoanalytic Program section of the website) who are interested in training to become clinical psychoanalysts licensed to practice in New York State. Applicants must be in one of the following three categories:

  1. Students who have enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the Arts and Sciences and those who have completed such programs
  2. Psychology trainees who have completed a Masters program in Psychology
  3. Physicians who are not psychiatrists

Students entering the program will begin with two years of Pre-Clinical Training. The Pre-Clinical Training phase is designed to prepare qualified students to apply to the Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program. The components of Pre-Clinical Training are described below. Progression through each stage will be approved by the LP Committee based on course instructor, supervisor and tutorial evaluations.  Each student is assigned an Advisor to support his/her training. In addition, each in-coming class is assigned a class coordinator who gathers feedback about the curriculum from students so that the faculty can better meet students’ educational needs.

Components of Pre-Clinical Training Program

Year One Fall Semester:

  • Tutorial given by Dr. Eric Weitzner and others on Psychopathology, Psychiatric Diagnosis, Mental Status Assessment, Assessment of Suicide Risk, and Indications for Psychopharmacology. Upon completion of Dr. Weitzner’s tutorial, take the Psychiatry Competency Exam written by Dr. Weitzner.
  • Training in the identification and reporting of child abuse given by a New York State approved provider.
  • In-Patient Rounds at Mt. Sinai Medical Center (Dr. Asher Simon) on Wednesdays, 12:30-2:00 pm.
  • Take Wednesday night classes (7-10 pm) with students in the Preparatory Program, first year students in the Adult Analytic Program, scholars and psychology post-doctoral students. Fulfill attendance requirements. Instructors will complete evaluations of the student’s participation. Classes end in June.

Year One Spring Semester:

  • Audit Introductory courses with the Mt. Sinai PGY-II Psychiatry Residents on the Theory (Dr. Howard Bliwise) and Technique (Dr. Robert Smith) of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.  (Wednesdays, 11:00-12:00 pm).
  • Begin doing evaluations of applicants for clinical treatment in the Treatment Center under supervision. Discuss the evaluation with the supervisor and document all clinical interactions in the chart. Write an Intake Report and review it with the supervisor before submitting it to
    the Clinical Director, Dr. Tehela Nimroody. Conclude each evaluation by informing the applicant of what to expect next. (i.e. who will contact them.) Fill out the TC Intake Form, write an Intake Report, review it with the supervisor and submit it to Dr. Nimroody. Complete evaluations until the supervisor and Clinical Director find the work completed adequate.
  • When a patient is identified as suitable by the student and supervisor, review the case with Dr. Robert Smith and then begin doing psychotherapy under supervision.

Year One Spring Semester Into Year Two:

  • Continue with first psychotherapy case and then conduct evaluations at the Treatment Center under supervision until a second psychotherapy case is identified. Begin the second psychotherapy case.

Year Two:

  • Take Monday night (7-10 pm)  classes with first year students in the Adult Analytic Program, scholars and psychology post-doctoral students. Fulfill attendance requirements. Instructors will complete evaluations of the student’s participation.
  • Continue with supervised psychotherapy cases and increase caseload to gain experience and fulfill immersion requirement.

Application for Admission

In the course of the admissions procedure, each applicant will be seen by interviewers from the LP Committee, a subcommittee of the Education Committee. Applicants must demonstrate suitable professional and personal readiness for psychoanalytic training. All applicants will be considered without regard to national and ethnic origin, religion, age, gender, marital status, disability or sexual orientation. Applicants are notified as soon as the Education Committee reaches a decision.  Please note the application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is May 15.

We invite applications for pre-clinical training from the following:

  1. Students currently enrolled in or those who have obtained PhDs in the Arts or Sciences
  2. Psychology trainees who have completed a Masters program in Psychology
  3. Physicians who are not psychiatrists

For additional information on the LP Program, please contact:

Robert Smith, M.D.
drrmsmith61@gmail.com
917-355-4206

2024-2025 Pre-Clinical Training Program Fees

  1. Nonrefundable application fee of $125.00
  2. Tuition/ Supervision fees are billed biannually on July 1 and January 15. Late fees will be assessed if payment is not received by August 1/ February 15.

Year One Fees:

$1,750 per semester for classes (two semesters per year)

$875 per semester for clinical tutorials and supervision

Year Two Fees:

$1,750 per semester for classes (two semesters per year)

$1,750 per semester for clinical tutorials and supervision

How To Apply

You may download an application to apply for the licensure-qualifying program in psychoanalysis.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

You may pay your application fee online:

$125 (Analytic Training Program Fee) 

The application fee is not refundable and is not credited toward tuition.