The Harlem Family Institute

08/01/2025

The application deadline for the psychoanalytic training programs at the Harlem Family Institute has been extended until August 20. Start an application here: https://buff.ly/xLE1Kmw

The Harlem Family Institute offers affordable and culturally sensitive training in psychoanalysis and psychodynamically informed psychotherapy, with the goal of empowering and strengthening mental health care for children and adults in underserved communities in our city. Our courses are open to aspiring clinicians with a master's degree in any field recognized by the NYSED, whether or not they are already licensed in a healthcare or mental-health profession. Unlicensed candidates pursue our Licensure-Qualifying Program in preparation to sit the NY State licensing exam, while already licensed candidates follow our full Program in Psychoanalysis.

06/11/2025

Applications for our psychoanalytic training programs are open through June 30. Click here to start an application: https://buff.ly/1lvvE08

04/23/2025

Join us on Friday, May 9 at the Schomburg Center to learn about the Harlem Family Institute at our annual Open House. Learn more about our training programs for aspiring psychoanalysts and our affordable clinical mental health care work in the Harlem community. As part of the the information session, journalist Lee Hawkins will discuss his critically acclaimed new book, I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free, with two leading psychoanalysts, Dr. Lee Jenkins and Dr. Kirkland Vaughans. Doors open at 6:30 PM for refreshments and the event begins at 7 PM.

Learn about our training of aspiring psychoanalysts and join a psychological discussion with journalist Lee Hawkins about his new book.

03/05/2025

The Harlem Family Institute will pay tribute to Stephen A. Kurtz, one of the Institute’s founders, on March 14, the first anniversary of his passing. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ted Parker, a psychoanalyst graduate of HFI and close colleague of Stephen, at 10 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (211 West 141st Street, New York NY.)
All are welcome, and all are encouraged to share any memories or photos of Stephen or commentaries on his work at the reception.

The Harlem Family Institute will pay tribute to Stephen A. Kurtz, one of the Institute’s founders, on March 14, the first anniversary of his passing. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ted Parker, a psychoanalyst graduate of HFI and close colleague of Stephen, at 10 AM at St. Charles B...

12/05/2024

This Saturday, December 7: Dr. Gil Kliman presents on the tragic consequences of institutional prejudice against children and its implications for clinical and forensic practice, in the fifth installment of our virtual discussion series "The State of the World." More information and registration on Eventbrite:

Dr. Gilbert Kliman speaks on entrenched institutional prejudice against children and its traumatic effects in the foster system

12/03/2024

On this GIVING TUESDAY, the Harlem Family Institute needs your tax-deductible support to continue our work supporting the mental health and well-being of our neighbors in underserved communities in New York.

The Institute trains aspiring psychoanalysts – mental-health professionals who provide the most in-depth psychotherapy. Since 1991, we have trained diversity-sensitive psychoanalysts in our small clinical sites in Harlem and elsewhere, where they offer free and low-fee clinical services to children, teens, parents and others through psychotherapy and play therapy.

Through play therapy, we offer youngsters a safe space to express their feelings, to learn to use their strengths to manage the challenges they face every day, and to discover new ways
to relate to the world. We have served hundreds of parents and children through our school- and community- based playroom treatment centers, where we offer consistent, long-term therapy and play therapy. Clients meet at least weekly with their therapist and work together to address difficult issues through play or talk.

The candidates who study in our programs - many of them clergy and other leaders and helpers from the same communities where we operate - are able to develop careers as advanced mental-health professionals. The Institute can admit suitable candidates, whether licensed or not, who hold an advanced degree in any field. Graduates of our Licensure-Qualifying Program may immediately sit the state exam to become Licensed Psychoanalysts.

Your generous contributions are essential to continuing our free/affordable psychotherapeutic work with children, adults, and families, and educating the diversity-sensitive clinicians of tomorrow. This year in particular, as we work to open our upcoming Margaret Morgan Lawrence Family and Child Development Center, we are counting on your support to help us establish this much-needed community resource.

PLEASE VISIT THE LINK BELOW TO DONATE! The Harlem Family Institute is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is a publicly supported organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permited by law.

LINK TO DONATE: https://hfi.nyc/hfi-support.php

12/01/2024

Join us this Saturday, December 7, for the fifth installment of our online "State of the World" discussion series, as Dr. Gil Kliman presents on societal prejudice against children and offers case studies of some of its tragic results in the institutional foster system. More info and registration on Eventbrite:

Dr. Gilbert Kliman speaks on entrenched institutional prejudice against children and its traumatic effects in the foster system

09/13/2024

Coming up on Saturday, September 28: our online series "The State of the World" continues with an exploration of community psychoanalysis in Colombia. Clinicians Maria Cecilia Sanchez, Camilla Gutierrez Cardoso, and Silvia Rivera Largacha will present their own personal experience of subjects including the power of community psychoanalysis to help populations suffering from violence and conflict, and lessons to be learned from Indigenous resistance. More info and registration here:

Camila Gutierrez Cardosa, Silvia Rivera Largacha and Maria Cecilia Sanchez discuss the experience of community psychoanalysis in Colombia.

08/31/2024

Registration is now live for our upcoming installment of the ongoing series "The State of the World", welcoming three experienced clinicians from Colombia in conversation on their experience of the challenges and promise of community psychoanalysis, its role in helping individuals and societies heal from violence and trauma, and its implications for Indigenous communities. Read more and register to attend on our Eventbrite page:

Camila Gutierrez Cardosa, Silvia Rivera Largacha and Maria Cecilia Sanchez discuss the experience of community psychoanalysis in Colombia.

08/30/2024

The virtual discussion series "THE STATE OF THE WORLD" continues at the Harlem Family Institute on Saturday, September 28, with three highly respected clinicians from Colombia presenting on the issues facing community psychoanalysis, with a particular focus on responding to the needs of marginalized and Indigenous communities. Save the date - more info and registration coming soon!

06/06/2024

Join us this Saturday, June 8, for our annual Virtual Open House, and learn more about our training programs to become a community-based psychoanalyst. More info and registration link at our website:

We’re seeking applicants with advanced degrees in any discipline and the self-awareness, intuition, curiosity and passion to become Licensed or Certified Psychoanalysts through our psychoanalytic training programs.   *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   LEARN MORE ABOUT ...

04/27/2024

TODAY AT 11 AM! Join us online for Ankhi Mukherjee and Neil Altman in conversation on Prof. Mukherjee's new book, "Unseen City: The Psychic Lives of the Urban Poor". More information and registration here:

HFI welcomes Prof. Ankhi Mukherjee in conversation with Dr. Neil Altman, exploring the lives of the urban poor through a psychoanalytic lens