William Alanson White Institute
The William Alanson White Institute (WAWI) is a psychoanalytic institute and training center located in New York City, founded in 1943 as a revolutionary alternative to mainstream orthodox Freudian psychoanalysis in the United States.[1][2] It is dedicated to interpersonal psychoanalysis, emphasizing the person as a social being within surrounding culture, and has trained over 470 postdoctoral psychoanalysts since its inception.[3] Named after psychiatrist William Alanson White, the institute was established by Clara Thompson, Erich Fromm, Harry Stack Sullivan, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, David Rioch, and Janet Rioch as a protest against what they viewed as sterile and dogmatic American psychoanalytic thought.[1]
| William Alanson White Institute | |
|---|---|
| Organization details | |
| Type | Psychoanalytic institute and training center |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founder(s) | Clara Thompson, Erich Fromm, Harry Stack Sullivan, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, David Rioch, Janet Rioch |
| Key figures | Clara Thompson, Harry Stack Sullivan, Erich Fromm |
| Orientation | Interpersonal psychoanalysis |
| Institutional context | |
| Predecessor | New York branch of the Washington School of Psychiatry |
| Affiliation | International Federation of Psychoanalytic Societies (founding member) |
| Relation to IPA | Independent (withdrew application to American Psychoanalytic Association) |
| Operations | |
| Headquarters | New York City, United States |
| Geographic scope | National (United States) |
| Training function | Postdoctoral psychoanalytic training, psychotherapy programs |
| Publications | Contemporary Psychoanalysis |
| Website | https://wawhite.org/ |
WAWI became a founding member of the International Federation of Psychoanalytic Societies in 1964 and publishes the journal Contemporary Psychoanalysis.[3]
History
Precursors and Origins
The institute originated as the New York branch of the Washington School of Psychiatry in 1943, reflecting collaborations among figures like Harry Stack Sullivan and Clara Thompson who sought to humanize psychoanalytic practice beyond orthodox constraints.[3][4]
Founding (1943–1946)
Formally incorporated in 1946 under New York State Education Law as a not-for-profit educational institution, WAWI expanded its name to include "Psychoanalysis and Psychology."[3][4] Clara Thompson served as its first director.[3]
Growth and Expansion
In 1948, WAWI established one of the first low-cost psychoanalytic clinics in the United States.[3][4] The institute developed diverse clinical services, including psychotherapy for adults (1956), young adults (1958), college dropouts (1962), labor union members (1963), older adults (1982), HIV patients (1993), and trauma response (2001).[3] It awarded its first psychoanalytic certification to a clinical psychologist in 1950, challenging medical exclusivity in the field.[3]
Key Controversies
WAWI applied for recognition by the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) in 1948 but withdrew in 1952 after disputes over training standards, geographical rules, and ideological differences regarding Sullivan's interpersonal approach.[4] This exclusion fostered WAWI's independent development of interpersonal and relational psychoanalysis.[4]
Organizational/Institutional Structure
WAWI operates as a not-for-profit educational institution with a focus on training, clinical services, and continuing education.[3] Governance includes a board and divisions for clinical services, training programs, and professional education.[3]
Training and Formation
WAWI provides postdoctoral training in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, including one year of supervised psychotherapy experience alongside analytic training.[4] Programs include a three-year Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Training Program (1996) and certificates in organizational consultation (1990).[3] Training emphasizes interpersonal principles applicable to diverse populations and settings.[2]
Key Concepts / Theoretical Orientation
WAWI prioritizes interpersonal psychoanalysis, viewing the individual within social and cultural contexts, integrating Freudian perspectives with innovations from Sullivan, Thompson, and Fromm.[2][1] This orientation informs its non-dogmatic training and community-oriented clinical services.[4]
Notable Members
Publications
- Contemporary Psychoanalysis: Official journal.[1]