New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis (NJI)

The New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis (NJI) is a nonprofit psychoanalytic training institute in Teaneck, New Jersey, founded in 1972 ^[7][1]. Its advanced program was the first formal psychoanalytic training program for non-medical professionals in New Jersey to be accredited by the American Board for Accreditation in Psychoanalysis, Inc. (ABAP), and the institute is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP) ^[7][8]. NJI offers three postgraduate programs, taught online, and partners with the Neil Wilson Psychoanalytic Clinic, through which candidates treat patients under supervision ^[1][9]. The institute states that it has certified more than 100 analysts since its founding ^[10][7].

History

• 1972 — First class held in September, in a rented office suite in a medical professional building at 800 Teaneck Road, Teaneck ^[10][7].
• 1980 — Incorporated in April as a nonprofit under the name The Psychoanalytic Training Institute of New Jersey, Inc., and relocated to a Dutch Colonial brownstone house at 800 Catalpa Avenue, Teaneck ^[10][7].
• 2008 — Moved to its present location at 121 Cedar Lane, Teaneck ^[10][7].
• 2022 — Marked its 50th anniversary ^[10][7].

NJI was co-founded by two graduates of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis (NPAP), Joel Bernstein and Neil Wilson, and its training program initially followed the NPAP program ^[10][7]. During the first year, courses were taught by Bernstein, Wilson and Michaela Babakin; William Krawosky and Art Robbins joined the faculty the following year ^[10][7]. According to the institute, it was chartered to offer a comprehensive postgraduate psychoanalytic training program to a broad base of qualified professionals and to establish a psychoanalytic community in New Jersey ^[7][11].

Training programs

• Introduction to Psychoanalysis Program — A one-year foundation in the principles, theories and techniques of psychodynamic psychotherapy, leading to a completion certificate ^[12][13].
• The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program — A postgraduate program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with children and adolescents, leading to a completion certificate ^[14][13].
• Advanced Psychoanalytic Certification Program — A five-year program leading to New Jersey State Certification as a Psychoanalyst ^[15][13].

All three programs are open to graduate-level professionals from a variety of disciplines and are taught online ^[13]. The Introduction program comprises eight online courses; a completion certificate requires six courses and 20 hours of supervision with an NJI-approved supervisor ^[12][16]. Course credits may be transferred if a participant is subsequently accepted into the Advanced Psychoanalytic Certification Program ^[12].

The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program comprises 11 online courses and four specialized tutorials, and requires 104 hours of supervision with an approved NJI supervisor, 140 documented clinical hours with children and adolescents, and a final case presentation paper ^[14][13]. Each tutorial consists of four 75-minute individual sessions with the instructor ^[14].

The Advanced Psychoanalytic Certification Program requires a 30-course, five-year curriculum; 450 hours of personal psychoanalysis, of which 150 hours must be at three sessions per week and which must begin no later than the second year; supervision with three NJI-approved control analysts (78 hours with each of the first two and at least 52 with the third); and a final case paper with an oral defense before a committee ^[15][16]. To be eligible to write the final case paper, a candidate must have seen a patient in three-times-weekly analysis for at least two years, and must remain in supervision until certification is achieved ^[15][16]. From the third year until certification, candidates are required to maintain a minimum of eight clinical hours per week and to see at least two patients three times weekly ^[16].

Curriculum and course structure

The advanced curriculum is organized by year, with course codes prefixed F (fall) and S (spring) and numbered 100 through 500 by year of training ^[17][18][19]. Fall subjects include Basic Concepts in Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Theory of Early Development, Transference, Psychopathology I, Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreams I, Ego Psychology, Narcissism and Narcissistic Disorders, Self Psychology, Borderline Disorders, Psychic Trauma and Termination, alongside case seminars ^[17][18]. Spring subjects include Introduction to Freud, Developmental Theory: Latency through Adolescence, Countertransference, Psychopathology II, Object Relations, Relational Concepts in Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Study of Depression, and Psychoanalysis as a Science ^[19]. Elective seminars have also been offered, including Introduction to French Psychoanalysis and Experiential Group Therapy ^[20][21][22].

Classes run 105 minutes without breaks and are delivered as live, fully interactive Zoom webinars ^[18][19][23]. Attendance at all classes is mandatory, and more than two absences results in an incomplete and no course credit ^[16]. The institute states that distance education courses must meet the same standards as in-person training and that distance learning students have access to the same academic and student support services as in-person students ^[4][23].

Admissions

• Open to applicants holding a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution ^[24].
• Applicants must submit a statement of purpose, résumé or CV, professional references and academic transcripts ^[24].
• A $50 application fee must accompany the application ^[25][24].
• Applicants are interviewed by a member of the Admissions Committee before review by the admissions committee ^[25][24].

The institute lists physicians, psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, psychiatric nurse practitioners and other mental health professionals among those eligible to apply, and states that qualified non-mental health professionals may also apply ^[25][24]. NJI states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief or creed ^[25].

• Transfer candidates must complete the new-candidate application process; transfer credits from accredited institutions are considered case by case and each course must be approved by the Training Board, with official transcripts and syllabi submitted for review ^[26].
• Visiting candidates are non-matriculating students who may register for courses but are not officially admitted; a master’s degree or higher is required ^[27].
• Interns may take courses without charge and pay no matriculation fees; credit is given for courses taken as an intern if the intern later becomes a candidate ^[28].

Tuition and fees

For the 2026 academic year, the institute listed the following:

• Fall courses: $400 each ^[18]
• Spring courses: $350 each ^[19]
• Fall semester registration fee: $115, including a one-year Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing (PEP) subscription and one-year PACO membership ^[18][29]
• Spring semester registration fee: $115 for new candidates, $50 for candidates registered the preceding fall ^[19][30]
• Application fee: $50 ^[31]
• Matriculation fee: $100 to $250 depending on program; $250 for advanced candidates, including PEP Web access ^[32]
• Leave-of-absence matriculation fee: $250, including PACO membership and PEP Web access ^[33]
• MONJI membership dues: $360 full, $100 associate ^[34][35]

Supervision fees are negotiated directly with an NJI-approved supervisor and may not exceed $125 per session; the institute maintains a list of flexible-fee supervisors ^[14][15]. First-year candidates are eligible for 20 hours of low-cost supervision at no more than $50 per session ^[12][16]. Fees for personal psychoanalysis are likewise negotiated directly with an approved analyst ^[15]. Sources differ on the visiting-student charge: program pages state a $35 semester registration fee ^[27][36], while the checkout page lists $30 for each of the fall and spring semesters ^[37][38]. Advanced candidates, recent graduates who have completed coursework, and faculty taking courses pay no registration fee ^[37].

Under the tuition refund policy, a candidate withdrawing before the fourth class session receives a refund of one-half of the associated tuition, excluding the $115 registration fee; after the fourth session there is no refund, and monies paid are applied as a credit should the candidate return ^[4][5].

Clinical services

The Neil Wilson Psychoanalytic Clinic, an NJI partner organization, has provided services since 1972 and was created to offer low-cost therapy to community members ^[9][6]. It offers psychotherapy and psychoanalysis for adults, adolescents and children, as well as group therapy including bereavement, social skills and chronic health condition groups; it does not provide psychiatric treatment or medication ^[6]. Therapists include externs, interns and psychoanalytic candidates, all working under supervision ^[6]. The clinic states that starting fees are set at modest rates, with a sliding scale based on ability to pay, and that no one is turned away because of limited financial resources ^[6]. The clinic also runs an externship and internship program and rents office space by the hour, day or month ^[6][39].

Continuing education and events

• NBCC — NJI is an approved continuing education provider, ACEP No. 5822, for licensed professional counselors ^[40][41].
• ABAP — As an ABAP-accredited institution, NJI is an approved entity to provide continuing education for New Jersey psychoanalysts ^[40][41].
• New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work — Co-sponsors programs for continuing education credit for New Jersey social workers ^[40][42].
• Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP) — Co-sponsors programs for psychologists; ACAP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists ^[40][41].
• Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology — Co-sponsored the Spring 2026 workshop for psychologists ^[42].

NJI runs fall and spring conferences, a summer workshop series, open houses, film screenings and an annual spring brunch at which recent graduates are recognized ^{[43][44][45][41]}. Cancellations more than 72 hours before an event receive a refund less a $25 administrative fee; cancellations within 72 hours receive half the registration fee, and same-day cancellations are not refunded ^[46][47]. The institute publishes a periodical, Viewpoints in Psychoanalysis ^[48].

Governance

• Board of Trustees — Janice Victor and Kaitlin Vanderhoff, Co-Chairs ^[49][16]
• Training Board — Richard Alperin and Sheldon Weiss, Co-Chairs ^[49][16]
• Executive Board — Leah Slivko, Chair ^[49][16]
• Membership Organization of NJI (MONJI) — Suzanne Saldarini, Chair ^[49][16]
• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program — Jodi Kosofsky, Director ^[50]
• Neil Wilson Psychoanalytic Clinic — Anthony Breit, Clinic Director ^[6][51]

NJI describes itself as a volunteer organization whose faculty and boards are staffed by professionals who volunteer their time ^[7]. Administrative roles include an administrator, a bookkeeper, technical support and a webmaster ^[52][16].

MONJI is the institute’s membership organization; full membership confers eligibility to teach and supervise at NJI, listing in the referral directory, and access to PEP, while associate membership is open to advanced candidates who have completed the 30-course advanced curriculum ^[53]. The Psychoanalytic Candidates Organization (PACO) enrolls all candidates automatically and elects representatives to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Board ^[54].

Policies

The institute’s policy booklet for the 2025–2026 academic year sets out standards on accreditation and ethics, equity and inclusion, ADA accommodations, continuing education, course confidentiality, distance learning, library resources, records release and retention, tuition refunds and visiting students ^[16]. Candidates, faculty and members are expected to observe the ethics of ABAP and NAAP as well as those of their own discipline and professional organization ^[8][16]. NJI states that it follows FERPA requirements and retains student records for a minimum of seven years after graduation or withdrawal, releasing them only with written student consent ^[4]. ADA accommodations are available on request, with at least 14 days’ notice before a course or program start date ^[4][5].