Our History

In 1973, the San Diego Psychoanalytic Society and Institute was accredited by the American Psychoanalytic Association as one of thirty-one constituent societies. The Board on Professional Standards of the American Psychoanalytic Association granted full accreditation to the Institute, as a center to conduct psychoanalytic training, in December 1977.

Subsequently, the Society and Institute merged in 1989, bringing together in one organization psychoanalytic training programs, scientific programs and collegial activities for its members, as well as educational meetings and activities for the larger mental health and lay community.

The name was changed to San Diego Psychoanalytic Center (SDPC) in 2014. (See Organizational Chart.)

SDPC currently has graduate members and members-in-training from diverse backgrounds and is a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association, the International Psychoanalytic Association, and FIPAS, the organization of southern California psychoanalytic institutes and societies.

The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center (SDPC) is a nonprofit corporation and is accredited by the California Medical Association and the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center is recognized by the California Board of Psychology, as an approved provider of continuing education credits.


The International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA) is an organization of over 100 psychoanalytic training centers around the world.  The San Diego Psychoanalytic Center is a member of the IPA.  Below you will find a link to a short film about Freud and the history of the IPA, including some footage with Freud himself speaking in English.  We are especially proud to present this film as it was created and produced by two of our own local members: Drs. Lee Jaffe and Nadine Levinson.  Enjoy!