About IPSO

The International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization (IPSO) is an international association established for candidates in IPA training institutes. All affiliate members of CIPS (candidates at CIPS institutes) are automatically enrolled in the International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization and their IPSO membership dues are paid for by CIPS.

The International Psychoanalytic Studies Organization was founded in 1973 by two candidates, one from the UK and one from the USA, in response to the fact that there was (and still is) no membership category for candidates within the IPA. The IPA and IPSO are formally linked through the IPA/IPSO committee, which is composed of representatives of the IPSO Executive Committee and members of the IPA board. IPSO is a growing organization with new joining members from France, Germany, Eastern European countries, Moscow, Australia and Turkey. In Europe, IPSO is very active and most of the Societies/Institutes pay directly for their candidates or collect dues on behalf of IPSO. There are currently approximately 3,000 members.

IPSO offers its members the opportunity to communicate with candidates in analytic training around the world. IPSO holds a bi-annual Congress simultaneous with and in the same place as the IPA Congress. As of 2004, the IPSO Congress is linked with the IPA Congress and listed in the IPA Congress Program. IPSO publishes a scientific journal, organizes its own social and scientific events, and provides email list-serves for candidates in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. IPSO is also starting an exchange program where candidates can attend a member institute for 1 - 2 weeks as long as they speak the language. More information about IPSO can be found on the IPSO website.

In 2006, the CIPS board, considering the potential educational and professional value of IPSO membership to our students, voted to establish IPSO membership as a regular member benefit for all CIPS candidates (affiliate members). The CIPS board sees IPSO membership for our candidates as an investment in the education of our candidates as well as in our own organizational future. It is anticipated that involvement in the international psychoanalytic community will expand awareness of current clinical and theoretical developments around the world, while preparing students to assume active roles in the IPA upon graduation from institute training.