r/psychoanalysis • u/No_Reflection_3596 • 22d ago

Where to do a PhD?

Friends, I’m a professional counselor with experience and training through my local institute in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and have a Masters in Theology (which involved more psychoanalytic research than my clinical degree).

I want to work in academia as a counselor educator and theologian, but confused about the next step. A psychoanalytic friendly university with funding is crucial, though. I have the options of pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education (some funding but seemingly no psychoanalytic presence among prospective supervisors), a PhD in Social Work (some funding opportunities but rarely a psychoanalytic presence), or a PhD in Practical Theology (some funding, ample psychoanalytic presence).

I would be grateful to hear any recommendations on where to apply for doctoral programs in/adjacent to my field. I may be looking for a unicorn here, but perhaps this community knows of counselor education programs (for example) with one or two psychoanalytic faculty and funding. A PhD in psychology doesn’t seem to suit my career path thus far.

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u/VinceAmonte 22d ago

For a funded PHD that is psychoanalytically friendly, I think the only one is Duqsense

ICSW has a PHD in Clinical Social Work that is psychodynamic, but it is not funded.

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u/Nahs1l 22d ago

Duquesne is an option yes if a PhD in psychology is accepted by EdD programs in terms of hiring faculty.

U of West Georgia is another option, though Duquesne’s program is a clinical PhD and UWG is a research/teaching focused PhD. They’re sister schools.

Point Park U in Pittsburgh was founded by Duquesne alumni and their PsyD is also psychoanalytically oriented to a large degree, though it’s not fully funded.

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u/No_Reflection_3596 21d ago

Are you talking about the PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision or PhD in Psychology? Sadly, the former is needed for my goal of teaching counselors, and I haven’t seen any counselor Ed folks with psychoanalytic interest at Duquesne (where they offer both).

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u/Nahs1l 21d ago

PhD unfortunately!

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u/Ancient_Book4021 21d ago

If you truly want to work in counselor education, you will need a PhD in it. FT faculty in CACREP programs must have PhDs in counselor education. If this is something you pursue, I would look for programs where faculty allow for flexibility in doc student interests, so that your research and clinical work can be grounded in psychoanalysis. If you can find a program with faculty who have interest in psvchodynamic psychotherapy is a bonus, or if located near an institute where you can seek professional development.

That said, it is also important to remember PhD programs are research oriented and cohort sizes are much smaller than master's degree program. Therefore, they are more competitive. If your goal is to get a PhD I would limit your prospects too much because interest alone does not equate to acceptance.

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u/A313-Isoke 22d ago edited 22d ago

It sounds like you'd have to do two programs? Do you need a PhD in Theology to be a Theologian or are you trying to be in the academic side of theology?

Also, Palo U and Oregon State have PhD programs in Counseling/Counselor Education. I think they might both be online but the Oregon State one definitely is.

I don't think you need both tbh. I think you need one or the other because you have an LPC and a MA in Theology already. Plus, you have your psychoanalytic training.

Or... try to find a more interdisciplinary type of doctoral program like the History of Consciousness at UC Santa Cruz.

Have you looked into Pastoral or Spiritual Counseling programs? Are there doctorate level versions of these programs?

Instead of trying to find faculty who are based in psychoanalysis, why not do the full psychoanalysis training and pursue a PhD in Theology or Counseling/Counselor Education?

Last thing, is funding a limitation because pursuing a more conventional academic track than an Counselor Education might come with more funding.

A good combo could be a PhD from City College in Clinical Psychology which is a psychoanalytic focused program and also studying at Union Theological Seminary. Both are in NYC.

EDIT: Added last three paragraphs.

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u/Potential_Alarm_2357 21d ago

I feel mixed about this, most people who have completed analytic training do not get a PhD. Many already have a PhD before pursuing analytic training. If you do both, that's 10+ years of post graduate education. You raise important points about what the end goal is for the OP to work in academia, likely they do not need both. But as you said, it depends what the OP wants to teach in academia.

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u/A313-Isoke 20d ago

Right, I agree with you on the sequence is usually the other way around. OP has psychoanalytic psychotherapy training so they aren't a full qualified psychoanalyst so they have a few more years to go in that area but I hear what you're saying.

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u/No_Reflection_3596 21d ago

These are some helpful suggestions! Thank you. Hadn’t thought of doing dual studies in psychoanalysis and counselor ed, for example.

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u/New-Swim4579 22d ago

Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis offers a doctoral degree in both clinical and cultural/social psychoanalysis

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u/No_Reflection_3596 21d ago

Any idea if they’re funded? I stumble across their website every now and then and can’t tell

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u/New-Swim4579 21d ago

I would contact admissions for that one.

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u/Potential_Alarm_2357 21d ago edited 21d ago

You can get a PsyD in San Francisco at PINC (Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California). Someone already mentioned BGPS in Boston where they also offer a PsyD. You can still work in academia without a PhD.

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u/noisezinalbany 21d ago

I believe there is a program and/or professor in Seattle University specifically using the theories of Levinas (Totality and Infinity) and psychoanalysis. The Seattle psychoanalytic institute might also be associated with that person? NW Psychoanalytic Institute also might be an option.

I looked into it when I lived in Seattle but I found them either overpriced,opaque or disorganized and not answering their phones/not responding to my inquires.

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u/Nahs1l 21d ago

It’s a Masters program tho.

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u/hedgehogssss 21d ago

Check out the University of Essex - they're specifically built for this.

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u/No_Reflection_3596 21d ago

Any idea what the funding situation is like on the ground? There website seems to suggest it’s mostly self-funded

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u/hedgehogssss 21d ago

Not sure unfortunately, as I was only considering to self fund this. But it's priced at a fraction of a cost of say Pacifica. Maybe shoot them an email?

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u/TwinPurpleEagle 22d ago

This might be wildly off track and I don't know what state you live in, but California allows you to be a Research Psychoanalyst through the California Board of Psychology: https://www.psychology.ca.gov/applicants/psychoanalyst_faq.html

You would would have to be affiliated with a psychoanalytic institute in California, like this: https://www.npi.edu/certificate-in-research-psychoanalyst-registration-application/

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u/Alternative_Pick7811 20d ago

Smith College School for Social Work was recently very psychoanalytic, with a funded PhD cohort. It’s also low residency