The Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy

Programs in Psychodynamics (PiP)

pip-home-image

Program in Psychodynamics

At monthly dinners in faculty homes, residents join faculty members to socialize and discuss a range of topics related to psychodynamic psychotherapy.
PIP Co-Chairs:  Richard Schwartz, M.D. and Robert Waldinger, M.D.

Program Mission:

To foster the career development of residents with an interest in psychodynamic research, psychoanalysis, and psychodynamic psychotherapy, our program offers a flexible sequence of opportunities for additional academic and clinical pursuits in each of the four years of the residency. In collaboration with the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (BPSI), the Program in Psychodynamics allows residents to enhance and deepen their psychodynamic interests and to integrate in-depth psychodynamic training and scholarship into the rigorous clinical training provided to all MGH-McLean residents.

Program Goals:

Foster the career development of residents who will become leaders in the application of psychodynamic principles to clinical care.

Help residents acquire skills needed to become scholars/researchers in psychodynamically-related areas of inquiry.

Mentor residents who want to incorporate psychodynamic expertise in academic careers.

"Through the PiP, I’ve been able to get more intensive psychodynamic training, seeing patients more than once a week and getting mentored closely by superb clinical and research faculty at MGH, McLean, and BPSI. The automatic acceptance into the BPSI fellowship is truly a privilege."

Alex Keuroghlian, Class of 2014

Desired Outcomes of the PIP:

  • More in-depth experience in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
  • Understanding the evidence base for psychodynamic treatments.
  • Design and completion of a quantitative or qualitative research project or scholarly clinical paper suitable for national presentation.
  • Skills in teaching and supervising psychodynamic clinical work and readiness to embark on further training in psychodynamic research, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, or psychoanalysis.

Examples of Elective Tutorials/Seminars

  • “Practical Freud: An Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory”
  • “Great Concepts in Psychoanalysis”
  • “Process and Outcome Research in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”
  • “Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Love and Intimacy”
  • “The Neurobiology and Practice of Empathy in Psychotherapy”
  • “Medical Ethics and Boundaries in Dynamic Psychotherapy”
  • “Gender Issues and Psychoanalysis”
  • “Psychoanalysis and the Media”
  • Observed Psychotherapy Seminar (weekly all year)
  • “Shakespeare Meets Freud”

How to apply:

Email Drs. Richard Schwartz, Bob Waldinger, and Felicia Smith to let them know of your interest in the Program. Include a statement of your clinical and scholarly interests, and your CV.

Meet with Drs. Schwartz and/or Waldinger to discuss your interests.

If applying to enter the program as a PGY3 or PGY4:
Ask one psychotherapy supervisor to write a letter of recommendation and send to Drs. Schwartz and Waldinger.

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