North American Psychoanalytic Confederation
| North American Psychoanalytic Confederation | |
|---|---|
| Organization details | |
| Type | Confederation of psychoanalytic societies and institutes |
| Founded | Unknown |
| Orientation | Pluralistic (Freudian, relational, independent traditions) |
| Institutional context | |
| Predecessor | Psychoanalytic Consortium |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Relation to IPA | None |
| Operations | |
| Headquarters | North America (decentralized) |
| Geographic scope | Regional (North America) |
| Training function | Institute accreditation, standards of psychoanalytic education |
The North American Psychoanalytic Confederation is a confederation of psychoanalytic organizations in North America dedicated to advancing psychoanalytic education, accreditation, and practice beyond the structures of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) and its affiliates. It represents a collaborative framework for independent psychoanalytic institutes, societies, and professional associations, emphasizing pluralistic theoretical orientations including classical Freudian, relational, and self-psychological approaches.
No direct historical records confirm the formal establishment of the North American Psychoanalytic Confederation as a distinct entity; it may represent an aspirational or informal alliance emerging from tensions between groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP) and the Psychoanalytic Consortium.[1][2] Its significance lies in efforts to standardize psychoanalytic training amid disputes over accreditation and professional recognition in the United States and Canada.
History
Precursors and Origins
The origins of confederative efforts in North American psychoanalysis trace to conflicts over training standards and lay analysis in the mid-20th century. The American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA), founded in 1911 and reorganized in 1946, established the Board on Professional Standards to control education, prioritizing medical certification and marginalizing non-physicians.[3][4]
In 1972, the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP) was incorporated by Ethel Clevans, Harold Davis, Leonard Liegner, Phyllis Meadow, and Philip Polatin to promote psychoanalysis as an independent profession, including degree-granting status for institutes.[2] A 1973 meeting in Los Angeles, attended by representatives from ten institutes, adopted resolutions restricting the "psychoanalyst" title to graduates of accredited programs.
The Psychoanalytic Consortium, originating from a 1991 call between APsaA President George Allison and Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) President Jonathan Slavin, formalized in 1992 with APsaA, Division 39, the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry (AAPDP), and the National Membership Committee on Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (NMCOP).[1] This group opposed NAAP's push for federal accreditation dominance, developing "Standards of Psychoanalytic Education" and contributing to the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-1 and PDM-2).[1]
Key Controversies
Tensions peaked in the 1990s when NAAP sought sole accrediting authority, leading the Consortium to block it federally and advocate state-level standards. NAAP succeeded in licensing laws in New York, New Jersey, and Vermont with less rigorous criteria, while the Consortium formed the Accreditation Council for Psychoanalytic Education (ACPEinc) in 1994 for external accreditation.[1][2]
Organizational Structure
As a confederation, the NAPC would likely adopt a decentralized model akin to the Psychoanalytic Consortium, with rotating chairs and representatives from member organizations meeting biannually.[1] Governance emphasizes consensus on education standards rather than hierarchical control, distinguishing it from APsaA's Board on Professional Standards.[3]
Accreditation
Separate bodies like NAAP's American Board for Accreditation in Psychoanalysis (ABAP, formed 1997) and the Consortium's ACPEinc handle institute accreditation to ensure quality and public protection.[2][1]
Training and Formation
Training follows the tripartite model—personal analysis, supervised cases, and didactic seminars—standardized across North America since APsaA's 1938 "Standards and Principles of Psychoanalytic Education."[4] Confederation efforts promote broader access beyond medical exclusivity, including psychologists and social workers.
Key Concepts / Theoretical Orientation
The confederation supports pluralistic orientations, countering APsaA's ego-psychological hegemony post-1946 reorganization. Emphasis includes psychodynamic diagnosis (PDM), standards for non-medical analysts, and opposition to restrictive certification.[1][3]
Notable Members
- George Allison, MD: APsaA President initiating Consortium dialogue.[1]
- Jonathan Slavin, PhD: Division 39 President, key in early meetings.[1]
- Ethel Clevans, MS: NAAP co-founder.[2]
See also
- American Psychoanalytic Association
- International Psychoanalytical Association
- Psychoanalytic Consortium
- National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis
- History of psychoanalysis
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Our History — Psychoanalytic Consortium". Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "NAAP History". Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Organizational Structure of the American Psychoanalytic Association". PubMed. 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32716719/. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "American Psychoanalytic Association". Retrieved 2026-01-31.