The Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center is an accredited nonprofit educational organization that provides quality training and continuing education in psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy. The PPC serves as a resource to the community of Pittsburgh through education, consultation, and outreach programs including the Clinic Without Walls.

The Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Society was first organized in 1959 and accepted as an Affiliate Society by the American Psychoanalytic Association, a national organization devoted to psychoanalytic practices and education the following year. It became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1961.

The Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute was formed in 1964 by a group of psychiatrist-psychoanalysts, primarily from the University of Pittsburgh, and the Institute operated under the umbrella of the University. In 1974, the Institute became an organization independent from the University, and in 1975 became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

From 1978-1983, The Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center provided pro-rated fee therapy to adults, adolescents, and children who could not afford private psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The staff was comprised of 10-15 well-qualified psychotherapists who were supervised by psychoanalysts. The Center was supported by the Staunton Farm Foundation and patient fees.

In early 2001, The Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Society was merged into the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute, with the resulting corporation renamed the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (PPSI).

Affiliated organizations include the Pittsburgh Coalition for Dynamic Psychotherapy (PCDP) that has provided low-cost psychoanalytic psychotherapy services to the community at large since it was established in 1995, and the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Foundation (PPF), founded in 1988, which provided analytic educational programs to the Mental Health Community and the Pittsburgh community and raised funds to support both the PPSI and PCDP.

A merge took place between PPSI and PPF in July 2007, and the new organization is the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center. This consolidation is intended as a way to improve efficiencies, decrease operating costs, and provide a stronger and clearer message in order to provide more care and help to the public at large.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We recognize that psychoanalysis was born and developed in a cultural milieu in which racism, antisemitism, misogyny and discrimination based on age, gender, religious affiliation and sexual orientation were pervasive.  Psychoanalysis was also shaped by colonialism, imperialism and white privilege.  However, we believe that as psychoanalysts our shared values include tolerance of difference, seeking emotional truth, empathy and listening, understanding the role of individual and collective trauma, diversity in every sense of the word and fundamental human equality.  Therefore, we commit ourselves to an ever growing awareness of these oppressive forces within our culture, our psychoanalytic institutions and ourselves and to the ongoing effort to eradicate these phenomena to the best of our ability.

In consonance with the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, or any other PPC administered programs, including its continuing education programs.

Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center
401 Shady Ave

Suite B101
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Phone: 412.661.4224
Email: administration@pghpsa.org

Do you have any questions, requests or suggestions? Let us help you! 

Program Grievance Procedure

Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles, and those of the American Psychoanalytic Association.  PPC will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.  The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the Education Committee. 

While Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts are made to anticipate concern, there will be occasional issues which come to the attention of the staff that will require the attention of and /or action on the part of the staff or a volunteer officer of Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center.  

All concerns will be immediately written up whether regarding a speaker, the content, format or other matter, and the following steps will be taken:

-The Education Committee will determine how best to resolve the issue. 

- A formal letter will be drafted by the Head of the Education Committee to the individual with the grievance offering the agreed upon resolution.

Grievances are to include the following:

• Name:
• Email:
• Phone Number:
• Name of Program With Which Grievance is Connected :
• Issue to be addressed:
• Desired Corrective Action Requested:
• The complaint can be mailed to the attention of:

Mia Bernard

Executive Director

Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center

401 Shady Avenue B101

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

412-661-4224

administration@pghpsa.org