On May 28, 1998, in Toronto, APsaA president Marvin Margolis opened his final Executive Council meeting. He was warmly welcomed by David Iseman, president of the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society.
Otto Kernberg, president of the International Psychoanalytical Association, mentioned in his address to the Council a number of current issues being considered in the IPA. One of them was concentrated analysis, in which a candidate who must travel more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) for training undergoes two sessions in one day, or a session in the evening of one day and the morning of the next day. The effects of this approach on the quality of training require investigation. A second issue was negotiations with the International Journal of Psycho-Analysis to be the official journal of the IPA.
In his address, Kernberg also discussed whether European and Latin American societies should engage in training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the progress of committees on regional conferences, the great effectiveness of research support, which now has a budget of $200,000, the efforts of the Committee on Psychoanalytic Societies to increase affiliations with universities, the development of psychoanalysis in eastern Europe; and how to intensify the interchange of psychoanalytic science. He mentioned that “Affect Theory” will be the theme of the International Psychoanalytical Association Congress in July 1999, to be held in Santiago, Chile.
Jon Meyer, secretary of The American, said that central office procedures had been found to be rigorous in relation to official actions. He also discussed outreach. There are new psychoanalytic centers in Birmingham, Ala., and Albuquerque, N.M. Seven local associations with 590 interested psychotherapists would like to be associated with The American. There are 111 student associates, including medical students, graduate students, and residents. There are 134 fellowship applicants. All will be assigned psychoanalytic mentors. Psychoanalytic studies programs leading to masters degrees, later followed by doctoral degrees, are now available at the University of Chicago, SUNY-Buffalo, New York City's New School for Social Research, and the University of Florida at Gainesville. Community clinics are bringing psychodynamic and psychoanalytic treatments to under-served populations. There is also an effort to coordinate activities for affiliate, general, and senior/life memberships.
With auditor approval, treasurer Newell Fischer recently closed the books for 1997. The highlights of his report indicated an operating fund of $1.9 million, of which 61 percent comes from dues. This dependency on members makes The American vulnerable and is a matter of some concern. After operating expenditures, the Association has $65,000 — better than anticipated because of extra dues and a very successful San Diego meeting. But budget constraints are necessary: An operating budget deficit of $12,000 is predicted for 1998.
On the positive side, Fischer indicated that JAPAs becoming self-publishing may help with the budget; the number of JAPA subscriptions has increased; and accounting fees and liability premiums have been substantially reduced. On the negative side, the number of life members has increased, and they are not required to pay dues; and the Annual Meeting tends to lose money.
In terms of assets, The American is at about half the level that Fischer considers adequate for an organization of its size. He hopes to secure larger reserves in the next few years to provide a cushion for unforeseen exigencies. The Association has had some success in this movement in the past few years.
Harvey Rich, representing the American Psychoanalytic Foundation, reported that the foundation took in $108,000 last year from voluntary contributions, subscriptions to the play Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde during the meetings in New York, and miscellaneous contributions. The foundation provided $62,000 in grants. Rich also said that a national network of therapeutic nursery schools is needed and that the foundation is investigating this area. After two terms, Rich leaves the chair of the foundation and and turns it over to Mark Smaller and Selma Duckler.
Phyllis Tyson, chair of the Committee on Preparedness and Progress, gave an extensive report and history of the development of nonmedical candidates and graduates of psychoanalytic training. Since 1987, COPAP (formerly the Committee on Non-Medical Clinical Training) has approved 231 waivers, 90 of which went to masters-level clinicians. Of the current 967 candidates, 599 (62 percent) are medical, 277 (28.6 percent) have non-medical doctoral-level degrees, 34 (3.5 percent) are masters-level clinicians, and 57 (6 percent) have other degrees, mainly CORST Ph.D. candidates.
In December 1997, the Council had discussed an eligibility/membership by-law that resulted from a COPAP proposal. The amendment would allow each institute to train most mental health professionals with the highest graduate degree in their field (this would include masters-level clinicians) without the need to request a waiver from The American. In December the Council had tabled the by-law amendment to allow for further discussion. Since then, several concerns have been expressed that require additional consideration. At the May meeting, the Council passed a motion rescinding the current active proposal to move toward a by-law amendment in order to allow a full discussion by members and societies and to hold the final vote on a more comprehensive proposal in December 1998 in New York. If passed there, the issue would go to the certified membership for a vote. Tyson received a standing ovation from the Council for her comprehensive report.
Warren Procci, chair of the Committee on Governmental Relations and Insurance, and Janet Shikles, from the legislative action firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, reported on issues from the CGRI/CPR Committee. Most important are legislative threats to privacy, particularly concerning confidentiality and Medicare audits. Shikles noted that one of the top priorities is to support The American's position on confidentiality. The American helped focus Washington on this issue. Congress has to act and pass a motion regarding confidentiality by August 1999, or the Department of Health and Human Services will establish guidelines. Attempts to educate Congress will continue when a new Congress convenes
in January 1999. The critical period will be in February and March of 1999. Norman Clemens indicated that The American needs an all-out emphasis on confidentiality; he said the American Psychiatric Association backs The American 100 percent on this issue.
Robert Pyles briefed the Council on the publication of the APA Panic Disorder Guideline. He will be drafting the response of the Council to this guideline. There are five members of The American on the task force for the coming Borderline Disorder Guideline.
Marvin Margolis described a joint IPS/APsaA proposal for three members from each organization to work in collaboration on matters of scientific programming, public information, and health care legislation.
The Council unanimously supported the development of groups of psychotherapy associates attached to our local societies. These members number in the hundreds already, indicating a marked enthusiasm among practicing clinicians to learn how psychoanalytic principles can be applied to their work. Gail Trivedi, co-chair of the Committee on Psychotherapy Associates, reported on this and proposed finding a niche in The American for this group.
The 42nd affiliate society, developing from the Minnesota Study Group, was approved by the Council provisionally. Michael Moore is president, and Steven Clark is secretary. (See page 6 for discussion of related issues in Minnesota.)
The Fellowship Subcommittee, chaired by Prudence Leib, submitted the names of 15 outstanding applicants as the 1998–99 Fellows of The American. They were selected from 131 completed applications on the basis of merit. The subcommittee looked for people who can take psychoanalytic knowledge into their fields. Ten of the 15 are psychiatrists, three are psychologists, and two are social workers. The Council approved them unanimously. The subcommittee will endeavor to increase geographic representation, stimulate local development of fellowship programs, and assign child and adolescent analysts as mentors whenever possible in response to an applicant's interest in children.
The Council voted to confer honorary membership in The American on Erna Furman, a distinguished child psychoanalyst who has made many significant contributions to the field and has received many awards for her analytic work.
Sheila Hafter Gray and Jon Meyer were nominated for secretary of The American; Newell Fischer and Jonah Schein for treasurer; and Judith Chertoff, Robert Galatzer-Levy, Leon Hoffman, and Arthur Rosenbaum for councilors-at-large. Jorge Schneider was chosen for representative to the IPA House of Delegates.
Phyllis Tyson and Allan Rosenblatt were chosen by the Council to be members of the Exploratory Subcommittee of the Nominating Committee. Paula Bernstein, David Raphling, Jerome Winer, Salman Ahktar, Steven Levy, and Adrienne Applegarth are new editors of JAPA.
The Joint Committee on Issues of Homosexuality, chaired for the last time by Ralph Roughton, announced new members including Jill Berkowitz, Gary Grossman, Eugene Kaplan, and Susan Rosbrow-Reich. The response to the same-sex marriage resolution passed by The American was very positive. By the end of 1998, members of the committee will have visited 10 institutes. At least a third of all institutes have a gay or lesbian faculty member, and two institutes have a gay or lesbian training analyst. The new chair of the committee is Susan Vaughan.
Pamela Jennings, chair of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, is stepping down after serving more than three years. The Council voted unanimously to make this committee a standing committee. Racial dynamics have proven a very difficult issue to examine. Purnima Mehta, the new chair of the committee, has experience in community outreach. The committee has received two formal applications for a visiting professorship. This program sends an analyst with expertise in ethnic and cultural issues to visit institutes and improve outreach efforts.
Maimon (Mike) Leavitt for the Committee on Membership reported 616 life members, 134 senior members, 1,791 active members, and 666 affiliate members. The incoming chair of this committee is Elise Snyder.
Lee Brauer issued his final report for the Committee on Psychoanalytic Practice. The 1996 Survey of Psychoanalytic Practice is 85 percent complete. Sixty-one percent (1,829) of those who were sent surveys responded. The results indicated that half of all certified members and training analysts are over the age of 65. The average number of analytic cases per member was 3.9, down from 4.2, and 30 percent of cases are seen three times a week. The report indicated that many analysts see no analytic cases, and this number is increasing. Yet the survey report also indicated that members are more satisfied with their practices than they were six years ago. Erik Gann will be the new chair of this committee.
Nadine Levinson reported that sales of the PEP disk are increasing and that prospects are good for an excellent product and sales in the future. The PEP project has already repaid all but $40,000 of The American's original loans.
Marvin Margolis made his farewell remarks to the Council. He said that The American has grown steadily and now has more committees than ever before. It has also become more significant to members. Strategic planning committees have brought about many changes. The Association now has the formula for how to grow, and there's a feeling of a team working together.
Margolis feels that inclusiveness and democratization have brought about the changes. Societies are making their candidates voting members. More members are given positions of power. People feel less alienated. The organization is still looking for the proper linkage between educational committees and societies. The American needs to energize membership. The steady decrease in private practice is a continuing concern. Margolis cited as an ideal a single, high-quality psychoanalytic federation from coast to coast.