THE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOANALYSIS, BAY AREA 

In 1991, 12 senior psychoanalysts in Los Angeles--including Robert Stolorow and Louis Breger--started the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. Their goal was a free-standing institute (answering to no external associations) governed by a true democracy of both members and candidates, and training that taught all major psychoanalytic perspectives, but especially those perspectives they saw as more therapeutic: "contemporary psychoanalysis."

The roots of their contemporary psychoanalysis can be found in Ferenczi, Object Relations' Middle School, American interpersonal and relational psychoanalysis, and especially Kohut's Self Psychology. Since it began, ICP has taught therapy as an interpersonal experience that emphasizes the healing properties of two people collaboratively making sense of life in ways that create needed change--through meaning that stems from the unique analyst-patient dyad, rather than from some constant that the analyst brings to the work and applies formulaically.

Today, in 2010, ICP is in its twentieth year and thriving. It has more than 150 members, 100 candidates, and 50 corresponding members, many internationally known. ICP offers several psychoanalytic psychotherapy training programs and extension programs in several locations in both southern and northern California, in addition to its standard 4-year training program in Los Angeles. It also offers an L.A.-based weekend psychoanalytic training program for students who aren't local.

The Bay Area branch of ICP started in 1994 and is now poised for renewed growth, having gone through recent leadership changes. ICPBA has locations in San Francisco and Berkeley and soon will add Palo Alto and Santa Cruz locations. For more on ICPBA's training programs, visitwww.icpla.edu. In addition to teaching all forms of psychoanalysis, ICPBA also teaches infant observation, attachment theory, and neurobiology--all with a focus on therapy. Contact us to learn more.

Eric W. Anders, Ph.D., Psy.D. [www.eastbaypsychoanalyst.com]
Training and Supervising Analyst, ICP
Oakland

Stephen H. Richmond, M.D., Psy.D.
Co-chair, ICP Bay Area
Menlo Park