We recently concluded the spring meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association. A number of important things occurred, some with historic significance for us, and I would like to tell you about a few of them. I would also like to acknowledge my sense of honor at becoming the 64th president of the American Psychoanalytic Association at the conclusion of that meeting.
The first issue of importance is that we now have a new standards document from BOPS. This has occurred in response to a strong need, expressed by a number of local institutes, for a set of standards that takes into account certain pressing realities facing potential candidates in today's environment. The document that was assembled represents the first change in our standards in over 70 years. BOPS is to be congratulated on being responsive to the needs of a number of our local institutes, and in a very timely fashion, something unusual for APsaA. We made these important changes without eroding the quality of our standards.
The second item of importance is the passage of the MRRC bylaw amendments. This has been incubating in the organization for over six years, since the presidency of Newell Fischer. This amendment will allow well qualified analysts not trained in APsaA or IPA institutes to become members of our Association. It is an example, similar to passage of the standards document, of how APsaA members with very different viewpoints were able to work together in support of innovative change. In this case it was to expand membership, however modestly, while also maintaining the quality of our standards. The language of the MRRC amendment makes clear that only individuals with training that is “substantially equivalent” to that obtained in an APsaA or an IPA institute will be acceptable for our membership.
I am confident that our organization can work together to make our second century a glorious one.
Both of these innovations vividly demonstrate that our members can work well together and that we are able to overcome the tensions that have existed within the organization over the past several years due to the very serious external challenges and threats that we face. In many respects my predecessor, Prudy Gourguechon, did a great deal to help advance both of these initiatives and bring them to fruition. We thank her. We can work constructively and effectively when the focus is on progressive change and the need for our organization to take a forward position.
My final note is unfortunately a less salutary one. The membership data presented at the meeting show without doubt that there continues to be a decline in our membership and indeed it may even be accelerating a bit. Especially affected are our active members, those who are in their peak years for doing analytic work and for contributing their creative energies to the organization. We are also seeing a decline in the number of candidates who have chosen to become members of the organization as well as in the total number of candidates. The only group increasing is the senior members. While we are delighted to have these members continuing to contribute to the Association in many ways, it is absolutely essential that the organization replenish itself with adequate numbers of newer members and unfortunately we are not accomplishing this. I will be discussing these trends with you in greater detail in subsequent postings.
There is an unavoidable message here much as we do not want to hear it. We are in a decline. I intend to devote my presidency to establishing as the major priority for APsaA the stabilization of our resources, including our membership, and the development of long-term strategies that will help us confront and manage these problems. In order to do this, we will be engaged in the formulation of an organizational plan, which will ultimately lead to specific strategies, strategies that will help us deal with these problems. It is our responsibility to do this and we must not avoid it.
When I spoke to the Association for the first time at the business meeting in Washington, I invoked words that Churchill used in 1940 when facing the dire situation in Europe. He concluded that famous “blood, toil, tears and sweat” speech by saying that he was approaching his task with “buoyancy and hope.” I bring this to your attention in the same spirit. I am confident that our organization can work together to make our second century a glorious one.
Editor's Note: This column appeared on the Association listserv on July 24, 2010, with permission from The American Psychoanalyst.
Warren R. Procci, M.D., is president of the American Psychoanalytic Association.