Over 50 Years of Psychoanalytic Training in North Carolina
The Psychoanalytic Education Program of the Carolinas was formed in 2008 as a collaboration of the Psychoanalytic Institute of the Carolinas and the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center of North Carolina. Both programs have rich histories in providing training in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and this new collaboration will build on their traditions of excellence.
Psychoanalytic Institute of the Carolinas
In 1951, Dr. George C. Ham became the first Chairman of Psychiatry at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Ewald Busse became Chairman of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical School. Under these two chairmen, the Departments of Psychiatry at Duke and UNC grew considerably in size and importance.
In 1955 the establishment of an affiliation with the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute made psychoanalytic training available in this area and served as an inducement to securing and keeping new faculty and attracting trainees. Dr. George Ham and Dr. David Young traveled regularly to Washington to teach. They and Drs. Lucie Jessner, Milton Miller, John Rhoads, and Bernard Bressler subsequently were appointed Training Analysts through the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. Initially, candidates had their training analyses locally and commuted to Washington for courses. Later, regular courses of instruction were offered locally with the aid of teachers from the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute as well as visiting teachers from other institutes. For a period of ten years, the UNC-Duke Training Committee functioned as a part of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute under the leadership of Dr. Rex Buxton (from the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute) and Dr. Milton Miller (who served as the local chairman).
In October, 1965, a sub-committee of the New Facilities Committee of the American Psychoanalytic Association made a site visit to evaluate the work and resources of the program. In December, 1965, the Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association approved the program, called at that time, the UNC-Duke University Program for “Provisional Institute” status. In May, 1973, the Board on Professional Standards accepted the program, called the UNC-Duke Psychoanalytic Education Program, as the twentieth training program approved by the American Psychoanalytic Association. Dr. Milton Miller was appointed Director of the Program and served in that capacity until 1984.
Training in child/adolescent analysis has been available since the beginning of the program, initially through arrangement with the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. Classes and supervision from Dr. Lucie Jessner and Miss Helen Ross were available beginning in 1961. With the graduation of local child analysts from that program, course work has been available locally since 1970, and supervision subsequently became locally available with the appointment of several child psychoanalytic supervisors. The child analytic program became accredited by the Board on Professional Standards in 1987.
In 1985, through the leadership of Drs. Lebert Harris and Eugene Kaplan, an affiliation was established with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine’s Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science to provide psychoanalytic training to candidates from the Columbia, South Carolina area. Training analyses are conducted in Columbia with coursework and case supervision in North Carolina.
In 2003, the University of North Carolina Duke University Psychoanalytic Education Program ended its formal relationship with the University of North Carolina and Duke University and became a division of the North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society. The program has continued an intellectual partnership with the two universities.
In 2005, the former UNC-Duke Psychoanalytic Education Program adopted the name of Psychoanalytic Institute of the Carolinas.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center of North Carolina
ThePsychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center of North Carolina (PPSC) was established in 1993 as a division of the North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society. Its purpose has been to enhance the quality of psychotherapy available to the public by offering a series of educational programs on the theory and practice of psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy.
From its beginning the PPSC has aimed to present a balanced view of psychoanalysis, from its roots in the work of Sigmund Freud to its current growth and development, and to explore its application to psychotherapy.
The PPSC has worked to nurture a psychoanalytic attitude through educational experiences characterized by disciplined study and inquiry, open critical discussion, and ongoing sensitivity to the complexities inherent in our own personal, organizational, & community structures.