Who is a Psychoanalyst?

Before beginning an analysis, the practitioner's credentials should be known.
Psychoanalysts trained under the auspices of the Australian Psychoanalytical Society have had very rigourous and extensive clinical education.
Candidates accepted for training must meet high ethical, psychological, and professional standards. Candidates are medical practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or other health professionals who have have had intensive clinical experience. On being accepted for training, they follow a structured program of theoretical and clinical seminars, have thorough supervision on training cases, and have their own personal psychoanalysis. The training program usually extends over five to seven years. On completion, candidates become Associate Members of the Australian Psychoanalytical Society and Members of the International Psychoanalytical Association, the body which monitors standards for Psychoanalytical practice world wide, and which has over 10,000 members.