On Becoming a Psychoanalyst

It is possible that I have been becoming a psychoanalyst for quite some time. In approximately 1993 I first entered this building, sat in this room, and attended a series of lectures as part of the extension program. About 10 years later I participated in the fellowship program and attended scientific meetings held in this room. Over the years I have been a regular participant at symposia and conferences sponsored by the institute, both in this room and elsewhere. Four years ago, I was accepted as a candidate for training, given a key to the front door, and access to much, much more than what transpires in this room. Tonight, I am in this room as one of the presenters of the evening, to share with you some of my thoughts on this experience.

This evening's topic, “On Becoming a Psychoanalyst,” arose during a series of discussions with my classmates. As we tossed about ideas that would enable us to fulfil the obligation of the allegedly voluntary presentation of a scientific meeting by the fourth-year candidates, we, in our customary fashion, began to consider the personal, experiential aspects of the process of training, the passage that would demarcate the transformation of four psychologists, an art therapist, and a social worker into psychoanalysts. We have been told and have come to understand quite well that we are an unusual group. Six candidates, historically we are the smallest class to