Doctor of Psychoanalysis

In 1973, the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis floated the "Chicago Plan," proposing an independent doctoral-level credential in psychoanalysis.^[1] This push emerged in the context of growing efforts within American psychoanalytic education to secure academic and professional parity with psychology and psychiatry, particularly for non-medical practitioners such as social workers.

One of the earliest psychoanalytic institutes to award a doctoral degree was the Center for Psychoanalytic Study in Chicago, Illinois, which was approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to award the D.Psa. in 1985.^[2] The Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis in Brookline, Massachusetts, began offering a Master of Arts degree in psychoanalysis in 1994, a Doctor of Psychoanalysis in the Study of Violence in 2000, and the Doctor of Psychoanalysis (Psya.D.) in 2005.^[3]

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.^[4]

Outside of the United States, a few European universities award doctoral degrees in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic studies, including University College London,^[5] in collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre,^[6] and the University of Essex.^[7] The Parkmore Institute, founded by psychoanalyst Barnaby Barratt, also awards the D.Psa.^[8]

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^[9] 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.^[10]