As Freud insisted, psychoanalysis requires by its very nature a training that is not comparable to that of any other profession, since it implies the experience of the subjective division between the unconscious and consciousness and, therefore, the confrontation with a subjective truth that escapes a person's awareness and in relation to which intellectual knowledge functions mainly as resistance.

The notion of "training" does not reflect the specificity of the formation of the analyst. "Training" suggests an apprenticeship in knowledge, conceived of as a set of procedures to develop a practical expertise. The formation of the analyst, however, involves much more than a technical apprenticeship or an intellectual process of learning; it also implies the passage through an experience that provokes a subjective transformation and the possibility of the assumption of a new ethical position. The notion of "formation," from the Latin formare (to give form to), is more consistent with the uniqueness of the analytic act, since, as Webster's Collegiate Dictionary indicates, "formation" is the act of creating or causing to exist.

Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association follows Freud's teaching that a personal analysis is the necessary condition for the formation of the analyst. The Association also subscribes to Freud's assertion that analytic studies include several humanistic disciplines. A broad field of differentiated disciplines, together with analytic and scientific studies, will prepare the way for the analyst to listen to the subject's discourse in its cultural diversity and will become the foundation for a psychoanalyst's continuing education. The coming into being of an analyst as the result of an analysis can then be seen as only a first major step into a universe of learning that will accompany him or her throughout life.

Procedures for the Completion of the Training Program called
The Formation Program

There are four facets to the Formation Program: Courses, Active Participation and Research, Clinical Analysis, and Supervision.

Courses

Après-Coup Formation Program includes four general areas of study:

1. Psychoanalytic Theory
2. Psychopathology and Diagnosis
3. Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Subjectivity
4. Clinical Practice, Research, Technique, and Ethics

It is expected that a Student (Analysand in Formation, AF) complete ten credits in each of these areas in order to complete the educational phase of the program, plus four credits in reading groups and four credits in cartels. The total number of credits required to complete the Formation Program is 48.

Seminars are designed with varying lengths and assigned credit equivalents based on the time and concentration of work involved. The AF is therefore free to design an individual program according to personal interest, while adhering to structured standards that ensure a well-balanced and comprehensive program.

Faculty Members advise the Analysands-in-Formation in their choice of seminars and in their design of a balanced program. Advance notification of any changes or modifications in the requirements of the Formation Program is provided to AF to allow discussion prior to the adoption of the new requirements¹.

For information regarding credit equivalences, see the credit assignments for each academic year's program. 2002-2008 Course Equivalencies 2008-2009 Course Equivalencies 2009-2010 Course Equivalencies 2010-2011 Course Equivalencies 2011-2012 Course Equivalencies 2012-2013 Course Equivalencies

Active Participation and Research

Active participation and research refers primarily to an AF's attendance at, and contribution to reading groups and cartels. In addition, an AF is expected to make presentations to the Association in the form of papers, lectures, workshops, etc. as an expression of ongoing research and work in psychoanalytic theory and practice².

Clinical formation requires a personal analysis and supervision.

Personal Analysis

The Association places no restrictions on the choice of a personal analyst by an Analysand, other than that the person chosen be recognized as an analyst by the general psychoanalytic community through his or her clinical work, publications and public presentations, and be licensed or considered eligible for licensure.

Supervision

It is understood that an Analysand in Formation at the beginning of his or her practice must be in supervision. The work of supervision in this phase enables a person to develop his or her clinical experience and to discover those areas of the work with patients that reflect questions to be addressed in their personal analysis. When this phase of supervision has advanced, an AF may request that a Supervisor of the Association become his or her Presenting Supervisor. The Association requires that an AF be in intensive psychoanalysis for at least three years before requesting supervision by a Presenting Supervisor. In order to complete the Formation Program, an AF must have two Presenting Supervisors.

Presenting Supervisors

A Presenting Supervisor is a Supervisor of the Association who makes a commitment to follow an Analysand-in-Formation through the completion of the program.

To advance in the Formation Program an AF must have such a commitment from his/her Presenting Supervisors³.

A Supervisor has the option to accept or refuse the request to be a Presenting Supervisor. In the case that a request is refused, the Supervisor may advise the AF about the continuation of his or her formation. In the case that a request is accepted, the Supervisor takes the responsibility of accompanying the clinical work of the AF until such time that this work can be presented to the final council, called the Presenting Council⁴.

Presenting Council

For an Analysand-in-Formation to complete his or her program, the two Presenting Supervisors must agree, independently of one another, to present the work of the AF to the Council. These are separate and independent presentations.

The Council is composed ad hoc for each presentation. The composition of the Council is decided on by at least one representative from each of the following: the Analysts of the Association, the Supervisors of the Association, and the Formation Committee; and it is approved by the Analysand-in-Formation.

The Council is composed of at least five people: four Analysts, chosen from among the Analysts and the Supervisors of Après-Coup, and one Analysand-in- Formation other than the AF whose work is being presented. The Council makes a decision regarding the work presented by the Supervisor. This decision is based upon an evaluation of the transmission of psychoanalytic work among the Analysand-in- Formation, the Supervisor, and the Council⁵.

Completion of the Program

If the decision of the Council is favorable, the AF is considered to have completed the Formation Program of Après-Coup Psychoanalytic Association. A written declaration of completion of the program is provided.

If the decision of the Council is not favorable, the Council may advise the AF about the completion of his or her program⁶.

¹According to the requirements for licensure in the State of New York, an applicant must complete 45 clock hours in each of the following nine areas of curriculum. Please note that letters following each event under Course Equivalencies indicate how they may be applied with respect to these requirements.

i. personality development;
ii. psychoanalytic theory of psychopathology;
iii. psychoanalytic theory of psycho diagnosis;
iv. sociocultural influence on growth and psychopathology;
v. practice technique (including dreams and symbolic processes);
vi. analysis of resistance, transference, & countertransference;
vii. case seminars on clinical practice;
viii. practice in psychopathology and psychodiagnosis;
ix. professional ethics and psychoanalytic research methodology.

2002-2008 Course Equivalencies 2008-2009 Course Equivalencies 2009-2010 Course Equivalencies 2010-2011 Course Equivalencies 2011-2012 Course Equivalencies 2012-2013 Course Equivalencies

²A reading group is a group of any size that meets regularly to study a topic chosen by its coordinator. A cartel is a working group that includes not less than three nor more than five participants. Each participant is committed to producing an independent and original written research work on a shared topic. A cartel has a starting time and a time of completion. Periodically the participants of the cartel present the progress of their work to an outside supervisor chosen and appointed at the start of the cartel; this supervisor is called the Plus-One. Works produced by the cartels are presented to the Après-Coup community.

³It is understood that supervision can only take place in a language in which both AF and Supervisors are perfectly fluent and that supervision cannot take place in writing.

⁴In order to complete the program, an AF undertakes at least 150 hours of supervision with Supervisors of the Association, other than the personal analyst. New York State requires 1500 hours of supervised clinical work in order to apply for licensure.

⁵A process is available to handle any appeal regarding the Formation Program. The Analysand-in-Formation writes a letter addressed to the Formation Committee explaining his or her position. The Formation Committee selects an ad hoc committee comprised of any three Analysts of Après-Coup, excluding the AF's analyst and supervisors. The ad hoc committee schedules a meeting for the AF to present and discuss his or her position. Within two weeks the ad hoc committee communicates its findings to the AF by letter.

⁶People who have already met some of the requirements for analytic formation at other Institutes can apply for completion of their program at Après-Coup. Each case will be considered separately by the Formation Committee in order to establish equivalencies, if possible. No AF will receive a certificate of completion until s/he will have completed the full Formation Program of the Association. This is specified by the procedure indicated here and includes requirements beyond those set by New York State for licensure.