Doctor of Psychoanalysis

The Doctor of Psychoanalysis (abbreviated Psya.D. or D.Psa.) degree is a professional doctorate in the field of psychoanalysis.

Traditionally, psychoanalytic training institutes have functioned as independent, non-degree-granting institutions, offering certificates in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. However, some graduate schools and psychoanalytic institutions have developed programs leading to doctoral degrees in psychoanalysis.

With rare exceptions, such as the Emory Psychoanalytic Institute, psychoanalytic institutes are located outside of the confines of traditional universities. Doctoral programs in psychoanalysis have attempted to bridge this divide, integrating psychoanalytic training with academic standards and degree recognition.

Doctoral education in psychoanalysis is generally pursued by licensed clinicians, including clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and other mental health professionals, seeking advanced education and training in psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Institutions awarding doctoral degrees

Several institutions in the United States have offered doctoral degrees in psychoanalysis, including:

• Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis (awards the Psya.D.)^[1]
• Center for Psychoanalytic Study (Chicago, Illinois; awarded the D.Psa.)
• Hattie R. Rosenthal College of Psychoanalysis (awarded the Ph.D. and Psya.D.)^[2]

In addition, a number of psychoanalytic training institutes in California historically awarded doctoral degrees, including the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, the New Center for Psychoanalysis, the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute, the Psychoanalytic Center of California, the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California, and the Southern California Psychoanalytic Institute and Society.^[3]

Internationally, a few European universities award doctoral degrees in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic studies, including University College London,^[4] in collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre,^[5] and the University of Essex.^[6] The Parkmore Institute, founded by psychoanalyst Barnaby Barratt in Johannesburg, South Africa, also awards the D.Psa.^[7]

Purpose and eligibility

Doctoral programs in psychoanalysis were developed in part to formally recognize advanced training and clinical experience in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Some programs were designed specifically to provide clinical social workers with doctoral-level recognition, addressing historical disparities^[8] in their status within the psychoanalytic community.

These degrees are typically awarded to individuals already licensed to practice psychotherapy at the master's level, who seek advanced clinical and theoretical training. In some cases, such as the Psya.D. program at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, the degree may also lead to state licensure in certain jurisdictions.^[9]