Specialty Specific Requirements

Overview:

Training requirements are designed to be flexible and to accommodate candidates whose experience reflects varying levels of emphasis in PA/PD across doctoral, postdoctoral, and post-licensure stages. Candidates who have completed American Psychological Association (APA)– and Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)–accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs may have had limited exposure to PA/PD Psychology and may therefore emphasize this training at the postdoctoral or post-licensure level. Other candidates may have extensive PA/PD experience during graduate training and internship and may require less additional experience at the postdoctoral level to meet ABPP eligibility criteria.

Many candidates obtain advanced didactic and clinical experience through institute-based psychoanalytic training programs, such as one- or two-year postdoctoral or post-licensure PA/PD psychotherapy programs, or through the first two years of a four-year psychoanalytic training program at an institute or university. In many cases, these programs fulfill most of the requirements outlined below.

Candidates are encouraged to work with an ABAPPP mentor to help align their training experiences with these requirements.

1. Didactic Experience

Required didactic instruction may occur at any stage of training but must collectively be equivalent to a Major Area of Study (MAS) at the doctoral level (see Taxonomy and equivalency guidelines). Training must include the following areas:

• Foundations and history of psychoanalysis/psychodynamic psychology
• Normative and pathological psychological development
• Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic theories and techniques
• Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic case conferences
• Diversity and multicultural practice

Equivalency for MAS-level didactic requirements may be achieved through:

• Graduate coursework
• Postgraduate didactic or training programs (1–2 years)
• APA-approved continuing education
• Guided reading with a mentor or consultant
• Teaching PA/PD courses
• Dissertation or published scholarship in PA/PD Psychology

Didactic requirements may be met through courses with similar titles or through integrated learning experiences across a PA/PD curriculum. Candidates should include a narrative in their Specialty-Specific Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology Application describing how their didactic experiences meet these requirements.

2. Supervised Clinical Experience (Doctoral and Postdoctoral)

Settings:
Supervised experience may include a range of settings, populations, and modalities unified by PA/PD training (e.g., individual or group therapy, assessment, family work, consultation, inpatient settings, schools, and work with children or adults).

Doctoral plus postdoctoral pathway:

• PA/PD supervised experience in at least two doctoral MAS-level practica or a 50% PA/PD internship, plus:
  
  • One year of MAS-level (80% PA/PD) supervised postdoctoral experience in an APA- or CPA-accredited program or an Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) member program; or
  • One year of informal supervised postdoctoral training or work experience consisting of at least 80% PA/PD practice (need not be consecutive)

Postdoctoral-only pathway:

• Two years of formal or informal postdoctoral and/or post-licensure training equivalent to MAS-level (80% PA/PD), with required face-to-face supervision or consultation (need not be consecutive)

Exceptions:
Variations from these pathways are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Credentials Reviewer in consultation with the Board. Post-licensure experience may include consultation rather than formal supervision.

3. Individual PA/PD Psychotherapy Training

Candidates must complete supervised (doctoral/postdoctoral) and/or consulted (post-licensure) experience in individual PA/PD psychotherapy with children and/or adults. This includes a minimum of two years of weekly supervision (one hour per week) on at least four hours per week of psychotherapy practice.

This experience may occur across any combination of practica, internship, postdoctoral training, or post-licensure practice.

4. Personal Psychotherapy or Psychoanalysis

Candidates must complete a minimum of two years of weekly personal PA/PD psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with a doctoral-level psychotherapist or psychoanalyst. A minimum of 80 total hours is required and need not be consecutive.

5. Professional and Scholarly Engagement in PA/PD Psychology

Candidates must demonstrate a documented pattern of professional and scholarly activity, including at least one form of engagement in each of the following areas:

• Continuing education: Conferences, workshops, case conferences, and independent study
• Scholarly activity: Research, publications, presentations, case reports, or clinical writing
• Organizational involvement: Membership in professional organizations; editorial roles; leadership positions; teaching; or advocacy

Senior Psychologist Option

Psychologists who meet all degree, internship, and postdoctoral requirements and have 15 or more years of postdoctoral experience following licensure are eligible for the Senior Psychologist option. This program is intended to recognize senior professionals who have made significant contributions to the field. Application details are provided in Chapters V and VI.