We are a community of people trying to navigate today’s world. As such, those affiliating with us may range anywhere from faculty and psychoanalytic candidates to one-time or periodic seminar participants.
Our institute was incorporated as the Center for Emotional Education in Boulder, Colorado in August 1978 by Dr. Miriam Bloom, a graduate of the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies in New York. In 1985 the name was changed to The Colorado Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies Inc. Subsequent incorporations were granted in March 1989 in New Mexico and April 1992 in California. Its purpose was to provide a center to learn and train in the field of modern psychoanalysis.
Our philosophy is inclusive as we appreciate the contributions of all schools of thought to our understanding of the mind. Integrating these diverse perspectives is an ongoing project in our school that takes place in our classes and conferences, which are based on an interactive and dialectical process, in which everyone participates in our quest for ever better understanding.
Because of the great geographical distance between where our students live and where we taught, CCMPS has pioneered distance learning since our inception.
We believe in a developmental approach to training analysts, where we aim to assist Candidates achieve the fullest expression of their innate potential through training analysis, supervision both in groups and individually, and through our classes where theoretical knowledge becomes understanding of one -self.
Our philosophy of educating is to foster open and flexible minds that can appreciate the diverse worlds of patients with all their cultures. To this end we teach widely diverse, and sometimes mutually antagonistic, theories of psychoanalysis, forcing students’ brains to deal with multiple points of view that all have relevance to understanding the patient. The work in class is focused on developing the ability to suspend judgement and prejudice and cultivating an attitude of open ended curiosity that refrains from premature conclusions.
Analysis is about speaking ones truth, and we expect students to speak up in class and in the online forums and let us know whenever they disagree with the teachers or the school about anything. We expect that all dialogues between CCMPS faculty and students be mindful of the I-Thou principle Buber describes, and the Modern Analytic insight that joining in with others leads to much better outcomes than authoritarian or top down approaches.
Classes are held through a conference calling system that allows each participant to be heard clearly, so that the experience is similar to sitting together in a circle without having to leave one’s home, office, or car. Participation and interaction is one of the requirements that candidates are evaluated on, and this format makes it easy to jump in and talk.
Training is always responsive to student needs. People who are independent and self motivated and who desire flexibility in their training thrive in our institute without walls.
Students can communicate with faculty, advisors and administrators either by phone, text or e-mail, allowing for individualized attention to their learning needs.
Classes, except for the supervision ones, are recorded and students receive links to the audio files for further review.
CCMPS uses the learning management system CANVAS in order to document and track students’ progress. Here students will submit their assignments, evaluate both the course and the institute, and be evaluated by the teachers.
Our residency requirement is our Summer conference, held the first weekend of June.
CCMPS values diversity of every kind amongst faculty and students, not only because it is right, but because of our just described desire for students to be exposed to the widest variety of human experience.
CCMPS does not discriminate with regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, age, religion, creed, gender identity, ancestry, marital status, or political affiliation, in any aspect of the training.
CCMPS endorses and employs the Code of Good Practice of the American Board for Accreditation in Psychoanalysis (ABAP) and their guidelines for ethical conduct and standards for professional practice.
Candidates are assigned an advisor from the faculty, who is not their analyst. They have access to their advisor through phone or email and have the right to a response within 48 hours. They can discuss any matter, and if not satisfied they can request a meeting with the training committee.
Candidates can also consult with any faculty they feel can address their concerns. They also can ask for assistance from other students, either in class or on the online forums.
Candidates will have yearly oral advisements with the training committee both to receive feedback as well as to have an opportunity to express any thoughts and feelings, requests and suggestions they may have.
Courses are offered in the fall, spring and summer. A conference is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico the first week of June as part of CCMPS residency requirement.
Classes are 15 weeks long and meet for 1 ½ hours each. If a class is scheduled to meet on a major holiday, we will postpone the schedule for that week.