Many people have very little understanding of what psychoanalysis is and what it can do for those who are in need of help. The purpose of this type of treatment is to help people to make changes in their lives, and to show them how they will be able to make their lives better through the development of insight into their own minds. In essence, psychoanalysis is meant to help people learn to make better, healthier choices in their lives. People may choose to visit a psychoanalyst for a host of different reasons, including depression, panic and anxiety attacks, and bad personality traits. Those who have compulsions and obsessions will often need to seek the help of a psychoanalyst as well.

Since many criminals, especially serial violent offenders, may have issues with compulsion control, visiting a psychoanalyst could help. It is easy to see how forensic psychologist would be able to benefit from knowing and communicating with a psychoanalyst.

What is the American Psychoanalytic Association?

The American Psychoanalytic Association, or the APsaA, is the oldest national psychoanalytic organization in the United States. Founded in 1911, the organization has been creating a professional place for psychoanalysts to come together where they can focus on research and education. The APsaA has 30 accredited training institutes and 39 affiliate societies. Currently, the APsaA has more than 3,500 members. They offer meetings each year in January and June.

Those who become members of the organization will find that it can offer some great benefits. The networking that one will be able to enjoy with all of the best minds in psychoanalysis is well worth the cost of membership, but there are also a number of publications and the annual meetings that help to add even more value. Some of the publications that members will have access to include The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Associations (JAPA), The American Psychoanalyst (TAP), and the quarterly newsletter Forward!.

In order to become a member, you would have to be a graduate or candidate of the APsaA training institutes and facilities, and a member of the IPA (International Psychoanalytical Association) or a graduate of an IPA component society.

The APsaA also offers associate programs for those that don’t meet the other criteria but who are interested in psychoanalysis. In most cases, this would be the ideal option for a forensic psychologist since most forensic specialists aren’t going to have the right background for active or professional membership in the group.

Forensic Psychologists May Want to Learn More

If you are a forensic psychologist, it might be in your best interest to learn a bit more about psychoanalysis as well as how it might be able to help you in your daily work. You will find that the techniques could be very beneficial and becoming a member of the APsaA might be possible as an associate. You would have access to all of the psychoanalysts who will be able to help you further your knowledge.

Please visit http://www.apsa.org/ for more information about the American Psychoanalytic Association.