A vibrant center for comparative psychoanalytic inquiry, research, and training.

The Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California (PINC) is a vibrant center for comparative psychoanalytic inquiry, research, and training. Since 1989, we have provided licensed mental health professionals the opportunity to study the full scope of psychoanalytic theory and to engage in research and clinical practice. Our training program—based on the tripartite model of course work, supervised analysis, and personal psychoanalysis—leads to a Certificate in Psychoanalysis.

Our dominant values of interdisciplinary inclusiveness, community collaboration, and participation in the evolution of psychoanalysis are all reflections of the spirit in which PINC was founded. Since 2004 PINC had been a Provisional Society of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA); PINC became a component society in July of 2009. While meeting IPA standards, PINC maintains its unique identity and continues to provide an innovative vision at the cutting edge of psychoanalysis.

What we offer

PINC is widely recognized within local, national, and international communities as a welcoming and intellectually rigorous community. In an atmosphere that encourages creativity and dialogue, we adhere to the highest standards of psychoanalytic training.
  • Certificate Program
  • Distance Learning
  • Community Psychoanalysis Track
  • Community Membership
  • Extracurricular Events
  • Referral Service

Our Mission

The mission of the Institute is to provide education, service, and research in contemporary psychoanalysis in Northern California. As an interdisciplinary center for creative psychoanalytic thought, we are committed to creating an atmosphere of intellectual excitement and mutual respect. The goal of the psychoanalytic training program is to create a lively community in which psychoanalysis may be studied both as an intellectual discipline and as a method of treatment. The program is guided by the assumption that psychoanalysis is an evolving discipline that is strengthened by the ongoing controversies among its various perspectives and by fertilization from other disciplines.

Board of Directors

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  • Kali Hess, MFT

    President

  • Bruce Weitzman, PsyD

    Past-President

  • Elise Geltman, LCSW

    President-Elect

  • To be elected

    Secretary

  • Kate Viret, PsyD, MFT

    Treasurer

  • Orion Rozsa, MFT
    Candidate Representative
  • Joanne Shurter, MFT
    Candidate Representative
  • Regina Shields, PhD, MFT
    Community Advisory Member
  • To be elected
    Community Advisory Member
  • To be elected
    Faculty Representative
  • To be elected
    Faculty Representative
  • Alice Shaw, PhD
    Graduate Representative
  • Suzanne Haas-Lyon, PhD
    Graduate Representative
  • Julie Leavitt, MD
    Member-at-Large
  • Carole Christensen, PsyD
    Member-at-Large
  • Sheila Longerbeam, PsyD
    Member-at-Large
  • Leigh Lyndon, PsyD
    Member-at-Large
  • Cynthia Colvin, PhD
    Personal/Supervising Analyst Representative
  • Barbara A. Baer, PhD
    Admissions Chair
  • Francisco González, MD
    Community Psychoanalysis Co-Chair
  • Rachael Peltz, PhD
    Community Psychoanalysis Co-Chair
  • To be elected
    Credentials Co-Chair
  • To be elected
    Credentials Co-Chair
  • Betsy Kassoff, PhD
    Curriculum Co-Chair
  • To be elected
    Dean of Candidates
  • Maureen Murphy, PhD
    Distance Learning Co-Chair
  • Tom Wooldridge, PsyD
    Distance Learning Co-Chair
  • Chuck Brandes, PhD
    Ethics Chair
  • Ortal Kirson-Trilling, PsyD
    Extra Curricular Education Co-Chair
  • Janie Riley, MFT
    Extra Curricular Education Co-Chair
  • Maureen Murphy, PhD
    IPA Liaison
  • Charles Spezzano, PhD
    IPA Liaison
  • Maureen Murphy, PhD
    (Interim) Membership Chair
  • Luca DiDonna, PhD
    Newsletter Chair
  • Bruce Weitzman, PsyD, MFT
    Nominations Chair
  • Kara Bunting, PhD
    Outreach Co-Chair
  • Jenna Roat, MFT
    Outreach Co-Chair
  • Terrance McLarnan, MFT
    Progressions Chair
  • Debbie Ghidinelli, MFT
    Referral Service Co-Chair
  • Michael Korson, MFT
    Referral Service Co-Chair
  • Eric Essman, MA
    Visiting Scholars Co-Chair
  • Nicolle Zapien, PhD
    Visiting Scholars Co-Chair

Our History