Supervised clinical experience during training seeks to foster understanding in the areas of diagnosis, psychopathology, and psychodynamics. To foster the development of clinical skills, the curriculum is designed to integrate theoretical coursework with direct practice. Psychoanalytic candidates should begin to analyze their first case as soon as they have developed a basic understanding of the psychoanalytic situation and of the technique of starting a psychoanalysis. Ordinarily, this will be before the end of the first year of classes. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Candidates should begin identifying and working with suitable clients as soon as reasonably possible, planning to have at least one case in weekly supervision during the first year of training. 

The minimum supervision requirement for psychoanalytic graduation is as follows:

-At least 90 months of psychoanalytic supervision, distributed among at least 3 supervising analysts approved by the Institute.

-At least one case satisfactorily terminated, or alternatively, in an extended mid-phase.

-A substantial portion of the psychoanalytic treatment at a frequency of at least four times a week.

A "month" of psychoanalytic supervision means meeting with the supervisor 45-50 minutes once pre week, ordinarily to focus on a single case. Minor variations in the schedule, such as for brief illnesses or travel, do not affect the credit given.  Up to 12 months total of "preparatory" supervision, across all cases, may be counted toward the 90-month requirement. This refers to supervisory work around case selection, assessment of analyzability, transition from psychotherapy to psychoanalysis, etc. If this preparatory supervision occurs at a frequency less than weekly, it is credited proportionally.

A case, and therefore, the supervision becomes "psychoanalytic" (not preparatory) when the candidate and patient have begun to meet on at least a three-times-weekly schedule.