The Postgraduate Fellowship Program – Boston
The Postgraduate Fellowship Program (PGFP) is a comprehensive training program for mental health providers and scholars who are interested in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and theory. The program offers an in-depth exploration of a wide range of models of the treatment process, highlighting the historical contributions and sociocultural context of each model, as well as its current clinical applications.
Grounded in a contemporary, comparative, and creative approach to psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the fellowship aims to enhance participants’ understanding of human nature and promote deeper, more effective and more culturally attuned clinical practice. Faculty and fellows will present their psychotherapy cases, providing ample opportunity for discussion and examination of the practical issues that arise in initiating and deepening clinical work.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
The first half of each meeting consists of background material and group discussion of assigned readings. In the second half, fellows and faculty will present cases followed by discussion integrating theory with the clinical material. The program is divided into five units, comprising a total of twenty sessions, including a final review.
SCHEDULE & LOCATION
The PGFP meets Monday nights from 7-9:30 in the Boston area. Depending on class size, a second cohort will be added on a Tuesday night. The seminars will generally meet in person with some classes being held via Zoom.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The PGFP is tailored for early to mid-career mental health professionals and scholars who have an interest in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. We aim to cultivate a diverse and dynamic cohort of participants who enrich the learning environment of the fellowship.
TUITION & FEES
Tuition for the first year of the fellowship in 2025/26 is $2450 ($1250 per semester). The optional second-year program has a tuition of $1,450 ($725 per semester). Please note that tuition includes a full year of membership in MIP. A $25 fee is due with a completed application. Need-based scholarships are available.
Below is an overview of the PGFP curriculum. Following the fith unit there is a class for evaluations and reflections. Issues of race, culture, and gender have been integrated throughout our overall curriculum. This is part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at MIP. Syllabi and faculty are subject to change from year to year.
Curriculum
FIRST UNIT
Psychoanalysis and the Sociocultural World: A look at the broadening of the psychoanalytic lens as the field has evolved over time.
SECOND UNIT
Freud, Classical Theory, and the Rise of Ego Psychology: Dealing with clinical problems from these traditional perspectives.
THIRD UNIT
The Post Freudian Turn: The Environment & Internal Object Relations. Alternative visions of the mind and how they shape the treatment process: Ferenczi, Klein, Fairbairn and Winnicott.
FOURTH UNIT
Self Psychology/ Intersubjectivity: From Kohut to contemporary perspectives.
FIFTH UNIT
Contemporary Relational Theory: How current theory has affected the practice of psychoanalysis — a look at the meaning and historical development of the relational psychoanalytic approach.
Additional Fellowship Details
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The PGFP is approved for 50 CEUs, CMEs, or CEs.
Per APA requirements, psychologists must attend 100% of a course in order to be eligible for continuing education credit. Per NASW requirements, social workers must attend 80% of a course in order to be eligible for continuing education credit.
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Referrals for individual supervision coordinated with the fellowship will be available on request. Each fellow will have an individual MIP advisor available to consult on any issues related to the program and professional plans.
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MIP fellows automatically become members of MIP during their Fellowship and have the benefit of reduced membership fees for two years following completion of the program. As MIP members, fellows are able to participate with other MIP members in short courses held during the winter, to utilize MIP referral lists and to vote in MIP elections.
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After completing the first year of the fellowship, graduates will be eligible for an optional second-year two-term seminar. The second year fellowship is approved for 28 continuing education credits.
Postgraduate Fellowship Program Faculty
Admissions
We accept and process applications on a rolling admissions basis until the class is full. Applications are reviewed as they are received. We are committed to the educational value of smaller seminars, the limited available spaces may be filled before the deadline; early applications are strongly advised.
ADMISSION DEADLINES
The 2024/25 Fellowship is FULL.
Applications to be considered for entry into the class for 2025/26 will be accepted until May 15, 2025. Applications are rolling and reviewed as they are received. Final decisions will be made by June 1st, 2025.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
The Admissions process involves the following components:
Completed application with supporting materials (CV, Statement of Interest, 2 Letters of Reference, and optional Scholarship Requests)
Application fee: $25 (due with the completed application)
TUITION ASSISTANCE
A small amount of funds are available to help reduce the cost of tuition for those applicants who have a financial need. Requests for tuition remission should be submitted on your application. We will ask you to submit an essay explaining your scholarship needs and your request will be considered separately from the admissions process, with no bearing on admission.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have any questions about the Postgraduate Fellowship Program please feel free to contact us.
The Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis has a strong and consistent commitment to equal opportunity and does not discriminate in any of its policies on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identification, nationality, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Training and Education at MIP
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