CAPA's 2-year Basic Training Program students attend Theory, Technique, and Continuous Case Seminar courses for 1.25 hours per week each, for a total of 3.75 hours of weekly class time. Coursework includes weekly reading assignments, lectures, full class discussions, seminar style discussions, and written homework assignments. Simultaneously, trainees participate in at least 30 sessions of individual supervision each training year. Individual supervision enhances the classroom learning experience, deepens students’ work with patients, and prepares students to submit the psychodynamic case formulation for graduation. It is recommended that trainees contribute to their CAPA experience with optional personal treatment, embracing the full training experience. Students may apply to be matched with a personal treater for psychotherapy (1-2x weekly) or psychoanalysis (3-4x weekly) through CAPA's optional Treatment Program, at an additional cost.

Each year, CAPA invites 40 applicants to the Basic Training Program, although the size of the class may vary slightly from year to year under special circumstances.

CAPA's mission is to train the leaders of the next generation of Chinese psychodynamic psychotherapists. To this end, only people who will reside full-time in China throughout their training and who are planning to work in China throughout their careers are eligible to apply for CAPA Training.

Basic Training Goals and Learning Outcomes

Participants in the program will:

• Develop a strong foundation in psychodynamic psychotherapy concepts through courses in Theory, Technique and Continuous Case Seminar, delivered by highly qualified faculty from around the world.

• Apply theories and techniques learned in coursework to real-time work with patients.

• Deepen their clinical skills through weekly individual supervision and experience the benefits of the long-term supervisory dyad.

• Have the opportunity to engage in optional personal treatment (psychotherapy or psychoanalysis) to further their personal and professional growth.

• Enhance their ability to help clients better understand themselves, their conscious and unconscious processes, and change their maladaptive behavioral patterns in their lives by making more satisfying and productive choices.
  
  

Basic Training Course Outline

Along with the dynamic Continuous Case Seminar course, CAPA’s Theory and Technique courses provide a strong foundation in the topics below:

Watch a short video describing the application process.

Admission Criteria and Prerequisites for Basic Training

English: Applicants must be able to read up to 120 pages in English each week, converse in English at a professional level, and write in English without help from AI. CAPA will screen and assess each applicant's receptive and expressive English language skills.

Whenever possible, CAPA encourages applicants to submit a TOEFL score, but it is NOT REQUIRED. Only scores from a TOEFL test taken in person at a test center qualify; scores from the TOEFL iBT Home Edition taken at home do not. If you have taken the TOEFL exam within the last 2 years, please have ETS send your scores directly to CAPA using the designated institute code: G506 - China American Psychoanalytic Alliance.

Prior Experience: Applicants must have significant professional clinical experience with clients/patients prior to submitting their application. This experience must include individual psychotherapy, preferably with some clients/patients treated:

• long-term

• twice a week or more

• in the following settings, listed in order of preference: university health/counseling centers, hospital outpatient departments, private psychological service agencies, private practice, EAP services.

Prior Education: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree. Applicants with a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a related area of psychology, or with a medical degree, are preferred, but not required.

Access to Long-Term Patients: Applicants must have access to adult clients/patients who can be treated long-term (preferably for a year or two), at a frequency of at least once a week and preferably twice a week or more.

THE BASIC TRAINING APPLICATION WILL OPEN ON

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026 at 9:00AM Eastern (NYC) time.

TO APPLY FOR THE 2027-28 BASIC TRAINING PROGRAM, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

• If this is your first time applying, please register here: https://portal.capachina.info/register

• If you have previously applied and have a CAPA account, sign into your account here: https://portal.capachina.info/login

Once you are signed in, the link to the application form will appear on your dashboard AFTER November 2, 2026 at 9:00AM Eastern (NYC) time.

THE BASIC TRAINING APPLICATION WILL CLOSE ON

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2027 at 9:00AM Eastern (NYC) time.

2027-28 Year 1 Tuition Costs:

• $4,390 USD - to be paid to CAPA

• $50/session for Supervision (A minimum of 30 supervision sessions per academic year are required, totaling $1,500 USD) - to be paid directly to your assigned CAPA supervisor.

• Total costs for 2027-28 Year 1 are: $4,390+$1,500 = $5,890 USD 

(Tuition payments are final, and tuition and supervision fees are subject to change.)