Advanced Psychotherapy Training

The Advanced Training Program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (ATPPP) is a program of the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society (TPS) that is designed to help front-line mental health professionals apply the knowledge and clinical techniques from psychoanalysis to their work with patients and clients.

The ATPPP offers a two-year course of integrated seminars combined with case supervision by Psychoanalysts, and is based on a tri-partite model of didactic lectures, clinical supervision and personal psychotherapy.

The program is open to regulated mental health professionals residing in Canada who have demonstrated knowledge, skill, and aptitude for psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Clinicians from the Colleges of Medicine (Family Medicine, Psychiatry), Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Registered Psychotherapists will be considered for admission.

All applicants must have had clinical experience to be considered for admission. In addition to the written application process applicants will be interviewed by two senior clinicians associated with the program.

Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of investigation, theorizing, and psycho-therapeutic treatment requiring specialized education and training over many years. This approach to certain forms of mental illness and emotional and behavioural disorders was articulated and organized first by Freud and his followers. The evolution of its findings, theories, and techniques has continued to the present day, informing many contemporary schools of psychodynamic and other psychotherapies. Psychoanalytic psychotherapists are among the most highly trained practitioners in the field of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

The ATPPP is a two-year program in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, with a new class starting every two years. It was inaugurated in 1991 and has graduated over seventy trainees from a wide variety of disciplines, including social workers, psychologists, family doctors, psychiatrists, nurses, lawyers, and clergy. During the rigorous training, trainees develop a sophisticated understanding of the clinical techniques and theoretical complexities of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and its application to a wide range of patient/client populations.

NEW: The upcoming 2025/2027 ATPPP class will be offered using a hybrid model: in person and via Zoom.