I am pleased to offer my strong support for Caroline Sehon as a candidate for President-Elect of the American Psychoanalytic Association.

APsA, like many psychoanalytic organizations today, faces a complex set of challenges that involve the transmission of clinical standards, education, research on the expanding effectiveness of psychoanalytic treatment, the seriousness and the stewardship of institutional responsibility across time. These challenges arise in the context of a rapidly changing scientific, social, and educational environment. As well, such challenges require leadership capable of maintaining psychoanalysis as a rigorous clinical discipline while engaging thoughtfully with contemporary developments. The task of the President, in my view, is to safeguard the conditions that allow clinical, educational, and institutional psychoanalytic work to remain coherent, generative, and alive.

 At the same time, the capacity of psychoanalysis to contribute meaningfully beyond the consulting room depends on the strength of its clinical method, its educational standards, and the seriousness with which analysts are trained. Engagement with the social world is not an alternative to clinical and educational rigor; it is a responsibility that must emerge from it.

Among the issues of major significance facing APsA in the coming years is the future of analytic training under evolving International Psychoanalytical Association requirements. As APsA navigates its current transitional status, questions concerning teleanalysis and distance-mediated training will demand leadership that is experienced, empirically informed, and capable of sustained dialogue at both national and international levels. These matters carry significant implications-not only for standards of training, but for the stability of institutes, access to analytic formation, and the future configuration of the profession itself.

Dr. Sehon has worked extensively in precisely this domain over many years, combining clinical seriousness with institutional leadership and active engagement in international research and educational discussions. Her long-standing involvement in teleanalytic training and evaluation equips her to approach these questions with the judgment, steadiness, and respect for psychoanalytic values that this period requires. Her sustained engagement with the International Psychoanalytical Association, including regular participation in IPA congresses and service in international committees concerned with child and adolescent psychoanalysis, further grounds her capacity to work thoughtfully within the IPA context during this period of transition.

Dr. Sehon's leadership reflects a clear understanding of this relationship. As a child analyst, she brings a developmental perspective to institutional life. In her leadership of a complex international institute, she has strengthened and expanded educational programs, including in teleanalytic training, while maintaining a disciplined commitment to clinical rigor, research, and evaluation.

I particularly value Dr. Sehon's recognition of the central role of psychoanalytic psychotherapy in contemporary mental health care. A renewed commitment to the serious teaching of psychoanalytic principles to psychotherapists, and to collaboration across psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, is essential if psychoanalytic thinking is to retain both its depth and its clinical effectiveness, particularly with more disturbed patients. Her work reflects an appreciation of this task, as well as openness to interdisciplinary dialogue with related sciences, including neurobiology and group psychology, without loss of psychoanalysis' distinctive clinical identity.

Dr. Sehon's own involvement in community-based psychoanalytic initiatives reflects her appreciation of the broader applications of psychoanalytic thinking. At the same time, her leadership stance maintains clarity about the specific responsibilities of a professional organization such as APsA: to steward the clinical, educational, and institutional foundations from which such engagement can responsibly proceed.

I have known Dr. Sehon over many years through professional collaboration and shared work in international psychoanalytic education. I regard her as a thoughtful, discerning, and inclusive leader, capable of tolerating complexity and difference while maintaining clarity about institutional priorities. I believe she is particularly well suited to help guide APsA through its current transitions in a way that supports continuity, renewal, and clinical seriousness.

For these reasons, I strongly endorse Caroline Sehon for President-Elect of the American Psychoanalytic Association.

Otto F. Kernberg, M.D.

It gives me pleasure to endorse Caroline Sehon for President of the American Psychoanalytic Association.

I have known Caroline for more than a decade and have found her to be a person of outstanding ability. She is an excellent analyst, an experienced and innovative administrator and a leader who has demonstrated a talent for bringing people of varying backgrounds perspectives and allegiances together to form a consensus that can lead to effective action.

In short, Caroline has just the qualities our Association needs at this time in our history. She will make a superb President.

Theodore J. Jacobs, MD

Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

Recipient of the Sigourney Award for Lifetime Achievement 

We've been following the election list and encouraged by the lively discussion. Hopefully it will lead to a better turnout. Bill Glover and I (JN) were on the IPA Board under president Bolognini. Among the accomplishments of that administration was the addition of "Democratic Governance" as a requirement for any new IPA groups and a transition to democratic governance for existing societies. That was the 4th leg of the prior 3 -legged stool. But democracy depends on an informed population actually voting. Apsa has had 10% voting in the past and in this election only the presidential spot presents us with a choice. We assume that the usual 10% have voted so this note is to the remaining 90% to urge them to do so.

We know both candidates but have had the most interaction with Caroline Sehon. In brief, these are the reasons we voted for her and urge others to do so as well.

She is a proven leader. David and Jill Scharff founded the IPI (International Psychotherapy Institute), and the International Institute for Psychoanalytic Training (IIPT) and are major contributors in many areas of psychoanalysis. Caroline is their  successor and it is a tribute the Scharffs and to Caroline that the succession has been so smooth, effective and productive. The history of psychoanalytic succession is quite bleak. When the charismatic leaders pass on what they have created and led the results often have not been good. The IPI, IIPT, the integrated child and adult training, the China programs and many other endeavors started and led by the Scharffs have all continued and grown under Caroline's leadership.

Responds quickly and effectively to crisis. Whoever becomes president will face crises from within the organization or external events which will affect all members. Covid was a major crisis for all analysts and the Association for Child Psychoanalysis quickly mobilized weekly meetings. Caroline was an immediate participant and shared with us her online work with young children.  Her flexibility and competence had a calming effect and instead of helpless panic the child analysts could respond with humor at the fun young children were having being in control of the size of the analysts on the screen (making them big or small) or turning it off or moving the tablet to make the analyst "seasick".    Her work with groups of Ukrainian therapists is life saving, especially when they feel abandoned by the USA. This is an outstanding example of using analysis to meet the needs of the community. 

She is a "Life Cycle Analyst". She is trained as a child, adolescent and adult analyst. Child analysts have since the beginning been responsive to the needs of the community and the "Psychoanalytic Study of the Child" has always contained articles related to the application of psychoanalytic knowledge to schools, climate change, delinquency, parent work , addiction and so forth and Caroline has quietly been at the forefront of such endeavors. For many years she and Virginia Ungar have led a discussion group at the APSA meetings examining the echoes of Childhood in adult work. This has now resulted in a book of that title edited by Caroline. She not only put the book together in record time but has also organized a series of talks by the authors as a regular online presentation to make the material more accessible to all. She is the author of many papers on the work done by IPI and IIPT in China all the while running all these organizations, being the current  Secrtary of APSA and thoughtfully answers all the questions and opinions expressed in the election list.

Preparing for the IPA consideration of APSA  distance training  initiatives. In 5 years the IPA will examine the APSA distantce learning initiatives. These initiatives in China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Turkey, the Middle East and more have been a source of patients and candidates for US institutes for many years.  Caroline's institute has been doing distance learning for many years and she has presented data illuminating different learning modalities. Her thoughtful approach to all matters will be crucial for APSA in the negotiations ahead.

Above all, Caroline has demonstrated the capacity in this campaign to listen carefully, consider specific and general dimensions of situations, and bring to bear knowledge from all levels in her thoughtful responsiveness. These are invaluable leadership capacities, critical to APSA's needs going forward. 

With best wishes to all for a healthy and peaceful New Year!

VOTE!!

Jack and Kerry Novick

I am delighted that Dr. Caroline Sehon, IPI Executive Director, who also currently serves as Secretary of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA), has been nominated by the Nominations Committee of the Board of the American Psychoanalytic Association for the office of the 2026 President-Elect.

As you know, this is an incredible honor and a testament to Caroline’s dedication, expertise, and leadership in the field of psychoanalysis.  I want to convey that this is a moment of immense pride for our entire IPI community to have one of our own leaders be nominated to a prominent national candidacy.

I want to let you know that I wholeheartedly recommend and endorse Caroline for the APsA President-Elect.  Having worked with her closely for the past 6 years, I can attest to her competence, intelligence, dedication, and her character.  I would like to ask all of you voting clinical members of APsA, both psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, to cast your vote for Caroline at the time the polls open.  Her vision and her commitment to excellence will undoubtedly serve APsA with distinction.  Furthermore, her success will rely on each and every vote of APsA members. 

Rich Zeitner, Ph.D., FABP, ABPP

Board Chair, International Psychotherapy Institute

I am writing with great pleasure to say that I am voting for Caroline Sehon in this election. After following the discussions on this election listserv, reading the statements and backgrounds of the candidates, and getting to know Caroline a bit, I am confident that she is exactly the highly qualified, highly experienced, deeply thoughtful person that we need as leader for APsa. Beyond her lengthy professional accomplishments serving both psychoanalytic groups and communities outside our field, she possesses the kind of temperament that we need. She has a long history as a leader working to find solutions that respect all sides while being clear in her own vision. She is invested in listening, not dying on the hill of her beliefs.

Caroline's experience and attitude are also a bulwark against our falling back into destructive fighting with each other over world events, or rancorous arguments pitting clinical work against social concerns. She is clear that her major focus as President will be psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic thinking and research, and supporting our members with their educational needs and clinical practice.

I am honored to vote for her and excited for the future of our organization with her as President.

Lance Dodes, M.D.

President, Psychoanalysis Now

Training and Supervising Analyst, Emeritus  Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute

Asst. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (retired)

Harvard Medical School

Faculty, New Center for Psychoanalysis Los Angeles, CA

I echo Cindy Lucas in her enthusiastic support of Dr. Caroline Sehon's  candidacy for APsA President Elect. In recent interactions with Dr Sehon by email and Zoom conversations I have found her genuine support for an inclusive APsA, poised to adapt to our expanded membership to be  deep and far ranging. Her wealth of experience, her responsiveness,  and her keen listening in the service of bringing diverse groups together respectfully under one large tent is unparalleled. I strongly and enthusiastically  support her candidacy.

Carol Reichenthal, PhD, 

Past Co-Chair APsA Psychotherapy Department

Past Chair Psychotherapist Associates Committee and Psychotherapist Committee (current Emerita consulting status)

Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute Brookline MA

I am pleased to offer my recommendation and full support for Dr. Caroline Sehon’s candidacy for president-elect of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA).  I have known Caroline for many years and have worked closely with her for the past six years in several faculty roles at the International Psychotherapy Institute (IPI).  We have faced demanding situations together, and I have come to know her well.

Caroline is a remarkably gifted person who gives herself fully to the people and organizations she serves.  She is intelligent, creative, reliable, respectful, ethical, energetic, and empathetic.  She is academically strong, an effective teacher, a clear writer, and a skilled mentor.  She understands group dynamics, both clinically and organizationally, and she brings considerable leadership strength to her work.  Under her guidance, IPI has grown and thrived beyond what we once thought possible.  She has led the institute through some of the most challenging transitions in its history, and her steady, tireless commitment has been central to that success.

Although her primary identity is that of a psychiatrist-psychoanalyst, Caroline also brings notable business acumen.  Through her professional relationships she has helped expand IPI’s Board of Directors and administrative team.  She contributes creative ideas in marketing and outreach, is proactive, and consistently takes initiative. Interpersonally, she is exceptionally attuned. She is generous with praise, attentive to individual needs and feelings, and able to hold the larger group’s wellbeing in mind at the same time. 

Over the course of my many years of leadership experience, Caroline is one of the most outstanding leaders I have known. I believe she has the qualities and experience to serve with distinction as president-elect in any organization, including APsA, which plays such a vital role in our profession.

Stephen B. Morris, PhD

Former President, Utah Psychological Association

IPI Board member, 2023-2024

Chair, IPI Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Pgm & Co-chair, IPI Strategic Planning Committee

Caroline Sehon is awesome.  In addition to being a highly regarded analyst and supervisor, she has held top positions for over 10 years at her analytic institutes: currently as Director of IPI (International Psychotherapy Institute) and previously as Chair of IIPT (International Institute for Psychoanalytic Training).   During  the Covid epidemic and now with a school that has a large international student body, she has skillfully managed huge changes, including the development of hybrid conferences, which are not easy.  The schools have thrived and grown under her leadership, as she mastered multiple business and managerial skills.  In difficult situations, Caroline maintains a positive supportive attitude and is readily available for consultations and problem solving.  Awesome indeed!

Linda Hopkins, PhD, 

IPI National Faculty Member, Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst and Author