SPSI offers a Two-Year Certificate Program: Theory, Process and Social Applicability of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. We will be accepting applications for the 2026-28 cohort in the Spring of 2026.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Join a learning community at SPSI. We are committed to helping one another engage with psychoanalytic theory to deepen clinical work in all settings and to promote healing in our communities.
The two-year psychoanalytic psychotherapy program offers a series of courses in theory, process, and development from a broad range of theoretical perspectives, as well as case conferences in which to apply this material. All course work has the goal of developing greater understanding of oneself and a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural context of theories and practice. We believe these understandings increase one’s capacity to actualize knowledge to practice – whether in the office with clients, in one’s personal life, and in the communities with which we are engaged.
The program starts with an explicit focus on how to become a learning group that draws upon the diversity of its members to broaden and deepen the learning experience. Program members come from a wide variety of training backgrounds and clinical settings, as well as diverse social identities. Not only is this work foundational to growth as a therapist, it also enables the group to use this community to actively engage in the complex and vulnerable task of practice as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and a foundation for a lived understanding of the psychodynamics of groups.
The course offerings, taught by experienced psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists (many of whom have graduated from the Two-Year Certificate Program), aims to:
- develop greater capacity to tune in to unconscious dynamics
- increase tolerance for ambiguity through a grounded understanding of theory and process dynamics
- increase awareness of unconscious social processes that maintain normative hierarchies in our lives, and the lives of our clients.
Topic classes focus attention on the everyday issues clients and communities present as troubling and traumatic. Case conferences allow students to present their work to senior practitioners and to become peer consultants to one another. In addition, case conference will provide experiential learning of such things as imagining, dreaming, mentalizing, and embodiment.
Our hope and intention, from the beginning to the end of this program, is for participants to feel a part of an enduring psychoanalytic community that asks difficult questions and provides the support to struggle with the answers. We are committed to life-long learning and see this program as another opportunity toward that fulfillment.
Curriculum
Click the image above to view the two-year curriculum for the 2YCP.
Classes meet on Mondays from 6:30-9:15pm. There are four terms each academic year; each term is eight weeks long and there are two classes each term. Case conference will always be one and a half hours in length.
Personal Psychotherapy
The experience of one’s own psychotherapy or psychoanalysis is an integral component of becoming a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. While we do not require that participants in the program be in their own personal deep work, we believe that being in your own therapy will increase the usefulness and pleasure you derive from the program.
Consultation
Regular consultation on your clinical cases underscores and brings to life the concepts and ideas you learn in your classes. We highly encourage the use of individual, group, or peer supervision while you are working as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
Referrals
We will provide you with a list of faculty members, if you desire, to help you find the best therapist, analyst, and consultant for your needs. In addition, you will be able to build up your referral base by being an active participant in the program and community.
Relationship with the SPSI Community and The American Psychoanalytic Association
Benefits of membership while in the Two-Year Program:
- Name listed in the SPSI member directory
- Student discounts at SPSI sponsored events
- Use of the library, the largest psychoanalytic library in the Northwest.
- Access to the PEP-Web, a vast online database of psychoanalytic journals, books, papers, and other writings.
- Notifications of the plenitude of offerings in the national and international field
- Opportunities to participate in Institute life, including teaching, committee memberships, and study groups (to be developed)
- Eligibility for Clinical Membership in the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA) as a Psychotherapist-In-Training or after completion of the program as a Psychotherapist.
Application
The admission process consists of submitting an application and having one or two interviews. We will want to talk with you about your interest in the program, your clinical experiences, and what you hope to gain from participating in this program.
We welcome questions you may have about the program. Applications for the 2026-28 cohort will be accepted in the Spring of 2026. You can review the previous cohort’s application and the ethical disclosure form by clicking the links below.
We are delighted you are interested in our Two-Year Certificate Program, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: Theory, Process, and Social Applicability. We are a learning community committed to helping one another engage with psychoanalytic theory to deepen clinical work in all settings and to promote healing in our communities.
Applications for the 2026-28 cohort will be accepted in the Spring of 2026.
Tuition
Tuition is $2,640 per year for the two-year program. Tuition is payable in two installments of $1,320: the first in September and the second in January.
Further information regarding the 2YCP Program can be obtained at spsi.org or by calling SPSI at (206) 328-5315.