Democracy, openness, and inclusion were the watchwords by which Marvin Margolis ran in his successful bid for presidency of The American. He completed his term at the May meeting in Toronto when Robert Pyles became president. Margolis did much to advance his goals during his two-year tenure.
The crucial issue facing analysis has been the ongoing decline in analytic practice: 1 percent a year for the past 20 years. No longer was it “Buy a couch and they will come.” Unfortunately, The American's traditional approach of relying on high-quality analytic training proved inadequate to turn this tide. For a decade The American has been remodeling its stance to combat the impingement of economical, political, and cultural forces upon psychoanalysis.
Margolis was a driving catalyst in the very successful Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and Society, serving as president of both. He used the Michigan success as a model in his move to invigorate The American. One of his early achievements in increasing democracy was chairing The American's task force that led to the de-linkage amendment. This gave voting rights to non-certified members except in votes on by-law amendments. His later chairmanship of the Board on Professional Standards served him in good stead during his presidency.
When Margolis took office in May 1996, he inherited a momentum for change left by previous president Judy Schachter. There was a consensus within the organization that change was a must, and the evolution had begun. However, Margolis also stepped into the protracted and sticky debate on the question of external accreditation.
The possibility of The American forming a credentialing body, with other institutes having different standards of training, raised the concern that The American's own standards would be eroded. Unfortunately, that question had become a lightning rod for issues of power and jurisdiction between Board and Council. Internal disagreement had drained the Association's valuable time and resources. Margolis's firmness and patience slowly helped to defuse this tinderbox. He appointed a new joint committee — the fourth to study the issues — headed by Calvern Narcisi and Leon Hoffman. The committee presented its preliminary report at the watershed 1997 San Diego meeting. Debate was minimal, and a consensus was reached to move forward within the Psychoanalytic Consortium. In December 1997, Board and Council voted to work with the Consortium to develop acceptable guidelines.
While this issue dominated the foreground, Margolis was expanding the infrastructure of The American. The number of functioning committees grew to more than 60. Several of these new committees were established to increase inclusiveness both within and outside the Association. Margolis gave special concern to the committees on Homosexual Issues and Racial and Ethnic Diversity. He successfully pushed for an affiliation status for students. A similar affiliation for psychotherapists is moving toward approval. This year the Fellowship awards included social workers for the first time.
In 1997 the very successful Annual Meeting in San Diego bore the fruits of Margolis's labor. It had very high attendance for a meeting held outside New York. More important, those who attended were a diverse group, including many younger colleagues. A public forum on assisted dying — the first of the public forums at APsaA meetings — drew a large audience. The internal strife often evident at Board and Council meetings was absent.
Margolis set an ambitious goal of establishing 20 new training facilities. Like several initiatives, this is a goal that will take years of effort. However, the organization has discovered interest in psychoanalysis in many regions of the country in which The American currently has no presence. The Boards decision at the May 1998 meeting to allow the Minnesota Provisional Institute to shift to the IPA method of team sponsorship may open up a more rapid alternative for future institutes. It certainly shows a growing flexibility in The American's policies.
Margolis has continually deplored the fragmentation of psychoanalysis in the United States. The once unacceptable idea of bringing other analytic groups within the fold of The American is now openly discussed. The American's initial attempt to work with the greater analytic community was the recent collaboration with the Psychoanalytic Consortium. It was successful in countering NAAP/ABAPs attempt to become the national accrediting organization for psychoanalysis. After years of debate, The American finally agreed to join the Consortium in December 1997. It remains to be seen if the Consortium can hammer out a plan for external accrediting that is acceptable to the diverse membership of its four component organizations. In a separate effort, The American has joined with the Independent Psychoanalytic Societies to work on scientific programming, public information, and political action on health care legislation.
Margolis emphasized the potential strength of local societies. He called them “sleeping giants” that need empowerment to reach into their various communities. The strength of societies varies widely throughout the country, but they are often overshadowed by their affiliated institutes. The Committee on Societies is making a concerted effort to inform and consult with local societies.
Margolis also has continued Schachter's goal of strengthening the Executive Council. The Council has assumed greater responsibilities, both within the Association and in relationship to the political and cultural world.
A major piece of legislation that was not brought to final vote during Margolis's tenure was the proposal of the Committee on Preparedness and Progress. If approved, the COPAP proposal would permit local institutes greater autonomy in selecting non-doctoral candidates without requesting a waiver from The American. The proposal appeared to be in effect a year ago, after BOPS voted in favor of it; however, it was later decided that a by-law vote by certified members was needed. In the interests of openness, a Council vote on the by-law amendment was delayed to allow members more time to consider the proposal's ramifications.
In reviewing Margolis's achievements one can say his reach has exceeded his grasp. But oh, what a reach.
Margolis passed the ball to incoming president Robert Pyles at the Annual Meeting held this May in Toronto. Pyles inherits an organization with less dissension and more unification in its goals. Although the clinical practice of psychoanalysis remains a serious problem, the organization has a renewed morale and vigor. Pyles shares many values with Margolis and brings a great expertise in political action. We expect that under his leadership the momentum to develop a new American will only increase. (Pyles's first presidential message appears on page 3. An interview by Elise Snyder begins on Page 14.)