Dr. Jacobs is the Chairman of the Committee on Psychoanalytic Practice
Following the issuance of its report on the 1976 Survey of Practice, the Committee on Psychoanalytic Practice in 1980 became a standing Committee of the Association.
The purpose in taking this step was to establish on a permanent basis a Committee which would take as its areas for study issues of psychoanalytic practice and the careers of members. It was envisioned that the Committee would function in a way that was analogous to the manner in which COPE functions in the area of psychoanalytic education.
In the past five years the Committee has undertaken a number of projects whose aim has been to increase our understanding of specific issues relating to problems of practice and of psychoanalytic careers and to communicate our findings to the membership.
One of our first endeavors was to investigate the question of the older colleague whose participation in the activities of his local society and institute had diminished and whose analytic practice was suffering. Data from the survey had indicated that more often than not these colleagues were nontraining analysts over the age of fifty. Working in close cooperation with representatives from local societies, the committee conducted interviews with a number of such individuals across the country. The results of these interviews demonstrated certain persistent problems involving the organization and functioning of our institutes and societies which were, in part, related to the alienation of particular groups of members.
Under the chairmanship of Dr. Leonard Gilman, a subcommittee put together a report outlining these problems and detailing the particular and often creative ways in which three different societies coped with them. This report, which was distributed to all institutes, also contained the committee's recommendations based on its findings as to organizational steps that might, where indicated, be taken to improve morale and to develop a positive climate of cooperation in institutes and societies.
Having looked into problems particular to older members, the committee then turned its attention to recent graduates. Again with the help of representatives from societies, it interviewed a number of colleagues who had graduated from institutes within the past five years. The purpose of these interviews was to develop an overview of the practices and career patterns of younger members.
The findings of this survey indicated that the typical recent graduate was pursuing a varied career involving the part-time practice of analysis (the average patient load at the time of the survey was two to three analytic patients), a sizable psychotherapy practice, and a part-time hospital, medical school, or other position. It was reported to the Executive Council and extensively discussed at the Annual Workshop on Practice held at the Fall Meetings.
At the present time, the committee is preparing to undertake a study of the relationship between kinds of practice that analysts have and their attitudes towards analyzability, the kinds of cases they are willing to accept into analysis, and the ways in which they both handle referrals and introduce the idea of analysis to prospective patients. In all likelihood this study will involve selected societies and will occupy the committee for the better part of this year. It is our hope that our findings will be reported at the 1986 Fall Meeting.
An important activity of the Committee on Psychoanalytic Practice has been the Annual December Workshop on Practice. Representatives from each society are invited and reports on developments in practice, on career issues and on related matters, are presented. In addition, particular problems that may exist in local societies are discussed and experiences shared. The workshops are also instrumental in helping the committee plan future research.
The workshops are open to all interested members who would like to attend. Anyone who wishes to do so should communicate with the chairman. In addition, the committee cordially invites communication from the membership on any issue related to psychoanalytic practice or careers. Reports on particular experiences, problems and opportunities in practice as well as ideas for future research are particularly valuable to the committee.