I would like to applaud the efforts of Harvey Schwartz and the Certification Examination Committee for designing a certification process that appears to be user friendly (See “Consolidating Psychoanalytic Identity,” TAP 48/2). Jamie Cromer writes of a certification experience she feels has been instrumental in her consolidating a psychoanalytic identity. Congratulations to all. Perhaps we as an organization can move beyond certification and training analyst appointment and finally address the more pertinent issues. Our position in the mental health marketplace is precarious at best. Rather than concentrate on what psychoanalysis and related therapies can offer the community, we spend countless hours and precious energy debating issues of infrastructure. Hopefully, it is time to move forward.

For a more satirical description of the certification process (entitled “Dressing for Certification”), please contact me at .

Peter Ruderman, M.S.W.

St. Louis, Missouri

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