The Fellows of the Board on Professional Standards had their first opportunity to consider the comprehensive new governance recommendations, including de-linking certification from all member voting rights, contained in the report released just before the May meeting, “Ad Hoc Joint Task Force on Education and Membership: Proposed Plan for Governance Modifications” (see page 3 for details). Bob Pyles and Donald Rosenblitt, who presented the proposed plan, emphasized that the report is presented as an integrated whole, containing various checks and balances.
Board reaction was low-key. Members of the Board felt they needed more time to consider the recommendations. Debate reached its highest pitch on the issue of affiliate voting rights, with some members arguing that affiliate voting is a conflating issue that should be considered separately from the rest of the report's recommendations.
Highlights of other Board action and reports:
The Committee on New Training Facilities (CNTF) was authorized to proceed with developing a new training facility in the Berk-shires. A group of analysts approached the American two years ago indicating their interest in developing an APsaA institute under the direct sponsorship model, which means under the direct guidance of the CNTF and the Board, rather than being sponsored by a single institute. Minnesota is the first experience the American has had using the direct sponsorship model. This model promises far more rapid development of institutes than the traditional practice of a single established institute sponsoring an NTF in a new location. The Berk-shires already have a rich analytic environment, with the Austen Riggs Center and its Erikson Institute (soon to be headed by Stuart Twemlow), the Smith College Graduate School of Social Work, a medical college in Albany forty-five minutes away, a psychology training program at the University of Massachusetts, and a number of people already interested in analytic training. Ellen Rowntree, chair of the CNTF, said, “There's more strength, resources, money and people in this place than any other place I've been involved in in CNTF in nine years.” (In related news, the Council approved the establishment of a new psychoanalytic society in the Berkshires. See the Council report on page 34.)
The Florida Psychoanalytic Institute was granted full status as a psychoanalytic institute, completing a process that began thirty-five years ago with sponsorship by the Baltimore-Washington Institute. Paul Roberts and Boyd. Burris of Baltimore-Washington were applauded for their work in helping this project grow to fruition.
Photo by Mervin Stewart
Portland is actively seeking a child analyst. Funding is available for an exploratory visit.
The Association's attorney has reviewed the situation regarding geographic rule supervising analysts supervising candidates across state lines. The attorney's recommendation, unfortunately, is that each supervising analyst should investigate legal/liability implications for him or herself, since licensure and related case law varies among jurisdictions. It's not currently feasible for the Board or the Association to ascertain general rules for members. However, the Association will keep members informed as additional information becomes available.
The board endorsed the Omnibus Science Initiative reported by Task Force chair Allan Compton. This initiative contains the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Strategic Task Force on Psychoanalytic Science. The plan includes the recommendation that an ad hoc Board Committee on Education for Research be established to develop goals for psychoanalytic education for “research competence.” The aim is to have these goals adopted by all institutes and to make research education a routine part of psychoanalytic education.
Leon Hoffman and Calvern Narcisi, reporting on the Consortium and on external credentialing, informed the Board that we've hit a new bump in the road forward. Our Consortium partners cannot now agree to the language (previously agreed to) regarding “recommended” and “minimum” frequency of analysis.
Meanwhile, the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP), which has tried to define what psychoanalysts do based on insufficient educational standards, has changed its strategy. Previously, NAAP was trying to become the official accrediting body for psychoanalysis. This attempt was successfully blocked by the Consortium. NAAP's new strategy is to pursue a state-by-state approach, attempting to have legislation enacted that defines certification and licensing requirements NAAP's way. NAAP has begun with serious efforts in New York and New Jersey. The American has proposed to the other groups in the Consortium that we counter this strategy by quickly developing a Consortium certifying and licensing document to be used both reactively to NAAP's legislative efforts and proactively to influence the enactment of state legislation. We want to work with the Consortium to establish a reasonable basis, on the state legislative and licensing end, for determining who could call themselves psychoanalysts. BOPS supported this strategy without opposition while also supporting our ongoing negotiations with the Consortium in attempting to set up a national board to accredit psychoanalytic institutes.
A new subcommittee of the Committee on Institutes (COI), chaired by John Hall, is beginning to work on developing a method for preserving knowledge about psychoanalytic education obtained on institute site visits. One possibility under consideration is the establishment of a closed Web site to both gather and disseminate information. COI chair Ron Benson reported that for the first time, an informal consultative visit to a society was conducted in sync with a COI site visit. Benson will continue talks with Mel Bornstein and incoming Committee on Societies chair Elise Snyder to explore ways to coordinate efforts. Benson also reported that the new Principles and Standards for Education in Psychoanalysis have been extraordinarily useful in helping the committee and the institutes it works with.
The Certification Committee reported a favorable experience using the new revised procedures for certification for the second time. Chair Mike Singer reported that of twenty-three first-time applicants, fifteen (65 percent) were certified. Of eight continued applications, seven (87 percent) were approved for certification [see page 24].
The following individuals were approved as new geographic rule training analysts (GRTAs): Jan Van Schaik (Wisconsin), Donald Colson (Kansas City), Keith Horton (Minnesota). In addition, Nancy Kulish (Michigan), Axel Hoffer (Boston), and Mike Moran (Denver), all training and supervising analysts at their respective institutes, were approved as GRTAs for the Minnesota NTF.
Training and supervising analyst status was approved for Harvey Falit (Michigan), Jules Kerman (Columbia), Jonathan Palmer (BPSI), Arden Rothstein (NYU), Marilyn Skinner (New Orleans), Landrum Tucker, Jr. (UNC-Duke), and Richard Weiss (NY Psychoanalytic). Lee Grossman (BPSI) was appointed GRSA, and David Edelstein (Chicago) was appointed training analyst. Roy Aruffo (New Orleans) was named geographic rule child supervising analyst and Jack Pelaccio (NYU) child/adolescent supervising analyst.
Nancy Brehm, president of the Affiliate Council, noted the high level of involvement by affiliates on Board and Council committees. However, Brehm has additional requests from candidates who want to work on national committees. Committee chairs should see her regarding potential appointments.
Minutes of the Board meetings will now be posted on the members' e-mail list. However, there will be a six-month delay, as the Fellows would first approve the minutes at their subsequent meeting.
The Board meeting ended on an emotional note with outgoing chair Don Rosenblitt giving his farewell remarks. The Board, represented by incoming chair Ralph Engle and secretary Cal Narcisi, thanked Rosenblitt and outgoing Board secretary Bob Cummings for their dedicated service and commitment to the organization.