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Classical psychoanalysis: books, training, videos and tests

Psychoanalysis is a method of treating and studying the mind: analyst and patient explore unconscious wishes, fears and defences through what happens between them in the session. It grew out of Sigmund Freud’s work with patients with hysteria.

The method in short

Founder
Sigmund Freud; he founded the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) in 1910
The method
Treatment and study of the mind through the experience between analyst and patient: unconscious wishes, fears, defences
Training
Personal analysis, seminars and supervised clinical work; the IPA recognises three models: Eitingon, French and Uruguayan

Primary sources: IPA: what is psychoanalysis, IPA: how to become a psychoanalyst, IPA: about the association

We give you information and answer for how we select it. Check terms, prices and dates with the organiser.

Psychoanalysis (classical) books

Whole shelf, 36 books
Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis
Introductory Lectures on PsychoanalysisSigmund Freud
The Interpretation of Dreams
The Interpretation of DreamsSigmund Freud
The Language of Psycho-Analysis
The Language of Psycho-AnalysisJean Laplanche, Jean-Bertrand Pontalis
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis
Psychoanalytic DiagnosisNancy McWilliams
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's GuideNancy McWilliams

Psychoanalysis (classical) training

We do not run courses. Each programme has a link to the organiser and a check date.

British Psychoanalytic Association, UK

Psychoanalytic Training

A five-year part-time training to become a psychoanalyst, with introductory and foundation courses before it and a modified training for already qualified psychotherapists. The FAQ asks for personal analysis at four sessions a week with an approved training analyst before starting.

Format
Part-time; seminars in the evening
Language
English
For
A first degree in the humanities or sciences, some mental health experience and a year of analysis before starting; the FAQ says the training is not currently open to applicants living outside the UK

Listed byEPF list of member societies

Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Australian Psychoanalytical Society

Full Training

A part-time training of at least five years: a personal analysis with a training analyst, infant observation, clinical and theoretical seminars, and two supervised patients seen four or five times a week. Branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Format
Part-time; evening seminars and three interstate weekends a year
Language
English
For
Usually an undergraduate degree and prior personal analysis or psychotherapy; most candidates have clinical experience; several interviews
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, USA

Psychoanalysis training (adult)

Three strands run side by side: a five-year curriculum of theoretical and clinical seminars, at least three supervised psychoanalyses and the candidate’s personal analysis. Classes meet on Thursday evenings in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.

Format
In person, Thursday evenings
Language
English
For
Not listed on the page; see the admissions section
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

American Psychoanalytic Association, USA

Psychoanalytic training and approved institutes

The association’s page on training: a personal analysis, a didactic curriculum and supervised clinical work, plus child and adolescent, psychotherapy and academic programmes. It points to the list of approved institutes and to its standards for psychoanalytic education.

Format
See each institute
Language
English
For
Set by each institute; see the organiser
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

How to choose a programme

  • Recognition. A professional association registry or an accredited provider list.
  • Practice. Hours under supervision and live discussion of your own cases.
  • Teachers. Experience in this particular method.
  • Outcome. A certificate, a path to certification or only knowledge.
  • Entry. Whether you need a base qualification and proof of practice.

Psychoanalysis (classical) videos

All videos on methods

IPA Webinar on Neutrality

Channel: International Psychoanalytical Association · Checked: November 1, 2026

An IPA webinar on neutrality in analytic technique, with panelists from Tokyo and Lisbon and a moderator from São Paulo. The description gives the speakers’ biographies and does not outline the talk.

Open on YouTube ↗

IPA Webinar “Enactment: A New Paradigm of Analytic Technique?”

Channel: International Psychoanalytical Association · Checked: November 1, 2026

A panel on whether enactment is more than something to manage: it raises the limits of interpretation, the analyst’s participation and the analytic field. Speakers are Gabriel Sapisochin (Madrid) and Nelson Nazare Rocha (Brazil).

Open on YouTube ↗

Ep. 25 - Psychotherapeutic Listening with David I. Joseph, MD

Channel: APsA · Checked: November 1, 2026

A podcast episode on the association’s channel about psychotherapeutic listening: listening on two wavelengths, listening to yourself while listening to the patient, and why transference is a reaction rather than a noun.

Open on YouTube ↗

Psychoanalysis (classical) associations and institutes

Practitioner registries, training standards, conferences. The links go to official sites; the descriptions are ours.

International

International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA)

Founded by Freud in 1910; it describes itself as the accrediting and regulatory body of the profession. The site has a list of societies by country, a member roster, webinars and congress information.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Europe

European Psychoanalytical Federation (EPF)

A forum of 44 European societies that belong to the IPA, in 34 countries. It holds an annual conference and a forum on education, and its site profiles each society with its training institute.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

United States

American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA)

Its education department works on psychoanalytic education. The site lists approved training institutes and affiliate societies, a clinician roster search, a national meeting and a continuing education programme for physicians.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Tests and scales for Psychoanalysis (classical)

All tests

Short scales to see the starting level and change over time. They are screening, not a diagnosis.

Many tests can be sent to a client as a link (a button on the test page), and the result comes to your email. If answers show signs of risk, the test shows help lines.

Psychoanalysis (classical) questions

How do I choose a psychoanalytic training?

Tell two routes apart: analytic training in a society that belongs to the IPA (a personal analysis, seminars and supervised clinical work) and university or institute programmes. Either way, check how much supervised practice it includes, whether a personal analysis is required and who recognises the programme.

How is psychoanalysis different from psychodynamic therapy?

IPA standards concern the training of psychoanalysts: personal analysis, seminars and supervision. Psychodynamic therapy builds on close ideas but is a separate approach with its own training; we have a separate page about it.

Which scales are used in psychoanalysis?

The method is described as work with the experience in the session rather than with scores. As extra material our catalogue has DSQ-40, 40 statements on defence styles (mature, neurotic, immature), and ACE, 10 yes or no questions on adverse childhood experiences. Both can be sent to a client as a link.

Do I need a degree for psychoanalytic training?

Requirements depend on the country and the provider. The British Psychoanalytic Association asks for a first degree in the humanities or sciences, some mental health experience and a year of analysis at four sessions a week before starting, and its FAQ says the training is not currently open to applicants living outside the UK. Read the entry requirements on the programme page.

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