The Psychoanalytic Referral Service
     Working with an Analytic Candidate in Training

The Denver Institute for Psychoanalysis educates experienced licensed mental health professionals in the theory and practice of psychoanalysis. The Psychoanalytic Referral Service is an integral part of the Institute’s educational program.

Candidates in training as well as faculty and graduate analysts in private practice will negotiate a reduction in their customary fee for people who lack the financial resources for this intensive treatment. This includes students and individuals with restricted incomes who demonstrate the interest, ability and need to commit to a four or five times a week therapy for several years.

Psychoanalysis is a specialized and effective long-term psychotherapy for a variety of persistent emotional disorders and problems in living. People often seek and benefit from psychoanalysis after experiences with shorter-term therapies and/or medications that have not produced significant change in their personal or relationship problems.

Psychoanalysis focuses on an in-depth examination of all aspects of the person’s subjective experience and inner life. The benefits of psychoanalysis can be transformative: as the patient experiences the positive results of more flexible, adaptive and less reactive ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Freud originally defined a treatment success as one’s increased ability to work and love.

While sharing similarities with other psychotherapies, psychoanalysis is uniquely defined by its focus on:

• The influence of unconscious (outside of direct awareness) processes in the patient’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs
• The defenses we use to camouflage a fuller awareness of painful experiences and conflicts within ourselves and with others
• The significance and meaning of the patient’s past and its influence on the development of personality, relationships and current life problems

There is a several step referral process if you are interested in Psychoanalysis with a Candidate at the Denver Institute:

1. Please call the chair of the Psychoanalytic Referral Service, Dr. Sangeeta Patel at 720-446-9790 for a brief telephone call to answer any questions and gather some initial information.
2. Dr. Patel will then contact the candidates to determine their current availability.
3. The candidate will reach out to you to schedule 3 consultation sessions to determine if psychoanalysis is the best treatment for your needs.
4. There is a $150 fee for the evaluation.
5. Should it become clear that your treatment needs would be best served by another kind of treatment, other therapy options and referrals will be discussed.
6. Your personal financial circumstances will be discussed and taken into account in setting the fee for psychoanalysis.
7. The candidate will make every effort to negotiate an affordable initial fee for the treatment.

Inquiries and consultations are welcome from members of the public and referring professionals.

In the case of an emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local hospital.
The referral service process takes time and is not intended for immediate care.