Responding to a tide of change within the organization, the Board on Professional Standards heard reports from no fewer than four new task forces convened recently by BOPS chair Ron Benson to address vital and controversial issues. (See Ron Benson's essay on page 36 for a report on the work of these task forces.)
Recommendations of the certification task force included preserving certification, externalization, improving validity and reliability and splitting the certification committee in two, one committee to administer the tests and the other to study the process. Several commentators, including Jon Meyer and Betsy Brett, disagreed with the necessity or advisability of externalization. Brett suggested that we are moving a problem rather than fixing it. Bob Pyles asked if there really is “political pressure” on the certification process, and the answer was yes. Pyles supported full externalization. Calvern Narcisi, co-chair of the task force with Don Rosenblitt, noted that the task force believed unanimously that the certifying body needs to be external and independent. Rosenblitt stated that the main problem is that the general membership does not believe the certification process has meaning and integrity.
Many Fellows commended the task force on producing a superb report, praising the criteria delineated and the clear thinking of the committee.
The charge to the Ad Hoc Task Force on Recruitment, chaired by Philip Herschenfeld, proceeded from the fact that the average age of our trainees is increasing. The task force was asked to look at how to promote recruitment of candidates at an earlier stage of their careers. The task force is in the phase of identifying problems, which include institutes competing with other training sites with less rigorous standards, and expects to deliver its final report in June 2004.
The Ad Hoc Task Force on Training Analyst Standards was asked to examine the standards on selection of training analysts to see what provision might be made for waivers in the case of a potential candidate in analysis with a non-training analyst. The task force has yet to arrive at a proposed solution to the problem. One option is to consider an “associate TA” category for certified analysts without immersion who are on the “TA track.” A full report is expected in January 2004.
Peter Loewenberg spoke up in support of institutes having local option. Newell Fischer appealed to the task force to be diligent but speedy in its deliberations.
Eric Nuetzel of St. Louis, currently BOPS secretary, was elected to serve as the next chair of the Board. Nuetzel will take office in June 2004, when Ron Benson completes his term. Nuetzel chose Beth Seelig to serve as secretary of BOPS during his term. Nuetzel ran unopposed.
The Committee on Certification requested a legal consultation regarding HIPAA privacy regulations; two of the current applicants were “covered entities” under HIPAA. The committee announced that twelve first-time and two continuing applicants applied for certification. Seven were approved: six first-timers and one continuing applicant (see the box on page 39 for the list). This first-time approval rate of 50 percent is lower than recent first-time approval rates, which have run around 70 percent. However, the numbers are very small.
Steve Levy was thanked for his work chairing CORST a position he is leaving to assume the editorship of JAPA. As chair, Levy worked on the procedures and standards of the committee and established CORST liaisons between component institutes and committee members. CORST members will help the local institutes with recruitment, preparation, and assisting CORST candidates with career development. Because universities, like psychoanalysis, are committed to the life of the mind, a strong CORST program is seen as vital for our organization. Mel Lansky is the new chair.
The Committee on Psychoanalytic Education (COPE) announced a fall teacher training retreat. The committee is trying to retrieve the archives of past COPE study groups for the use of the organization. COPE continues to study methods of pedagogy, having recently asked Stuart Twemlow to teach a model class on community psychoanalysis.
The Committee on Institutes announced that twenty-five individuals were appointed as training and supervising analysts (see page 39). The Committee on New Training Facilities also announced the appointment of two training and supervising analysts.