[The-Lacanalyst] Regulations in the USA

Mon Sep 29 01:57:18 UTC 2025

This is important to me because in California or the US in general I am not
able to get a degree or license in my own field.

I can only obtain from the other something I don't want and that
misrepresents me.

On Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 6:54 PM Aviva Euripides <euripides.aviva at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Then why defer to the misrepresentation on the part of the other?
>
> I am aware that for financial reasons I practice under my license.
>
> But I have added on my own description of my work - after my name and
> license information I have written the word Lacanalysis.  I don't document
> like this for insurance based patients on billing paperwork.
>
> I have recently switched from Lacanalysis to Topologos Lutecium Domain as
> here people can easily find us.
>
> Is this illegal or unethical in some way?
> It seems wise to alert people to my/our work for a myriad of reasons.
>
> Aviva
>
> On Sun, Sep 28, 2025, 3:16 PM John Gasperoni via The-lacanalyst <
> the-lacanalyst at lutecium.org> wrote:
>
>> Kristopher,
>>
>> This has been my understanding for as well.
>>
>> john
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Sep 28, 2025, at 1:49 PM, Kristopher Lichtanski, PhD, LMHCA via
>> The-lacanalyst <the-lacanalyst at lutecium.org> wrote:
>>
>> Greetings everyone,
>>
>> It is wonderful to be back in the fold(s)! I am looking forward to this
>> update while recommending caution due to the following existing
>> information. BTW - not starting a debate nor taking any sides on this
>> matter whatsoever, but I want all to be updated with the most current
>> developments in CA regarding the term and practice of "psychoanalysis."
>> -Kristopher
>>
>> **********************
>> In California, the Board of Psychology (BOP) protects against unlicensed
>> psychoanalysis by defining it as a form of psychology, which requires state
>> licensure. While a "research psychoanalyst" designation has existed, recent
>> legislation transferred the regulation of this limited license to the BOP
>> to better protect the public. [1
>> <https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/>,
>> 2
>> <https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/>,
>> 3
>> <https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/research-psychoanalyst/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20timeline%20for%20the%20transfer?,and%20the%20regulation%20of%20research%20psychoanalytic%20institutions.>,
>> 4 <https://www.psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/sb_815.shtml>]
>>
>> Psychoanalysis as a form of psychology
>>
>>    - California's Business and Professions Code includes
>>    "psychoanalysis" under its definition of the "practice of psychology".
>>    - Under state law, anyone who represents themselves to the public as
>>    a psychoanalyst and receives a fee for services must be a licensed
>>    psychologist or meet other specified statutory criteria. [1
>>    <https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/>,
>>    5
>>    <https://content.next.westlaw.com/practical-law/document/I644487bc798e11d98c82a53fc8ac8757/National-Ass-n-for-Advancement-of-Psychoanalysis-v-California-Bd-of-Psychology?viewType=FullText&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)>
>>    ]
>>
>> The "Research Psychoanalyst" exception
>>
>>    - A limited practice: For years, a special "research psychoanalyst"
>>    license was regulated by the California Medical Board. It allowed certain
>>    graduates of approved psychoanalytic institutes to practice on a limited
>>    basis, as an "adjunct to teaching, training, or research".
>>    - Restrictions: These individuals could not spend more than one-third
>>    of their professional time on fee-based services and had to primarily be
>>    engaged in teaching, training, or research. [2
>>    <https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/>,
>>    6 <https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/naap_v_ca.htm>, 7
>>    <https://www.reddit.com/r/psychoanalysis/comments/1gpocdo/how_to_practice_psychoanalysis_in_california/>,
>>    8
>>    <https://www.reddit.com/r/psychoanalysis/comments/1gpocdo/how_to_practice_psychoanalysis_in_california/#:~:text=It's%20true%2C%20in%20CA%20if%20you%20have,with%20aka%20training%20at%20an%20accredited%20institute.>
>>    ]
>>
>> The 2025 regulatory transfer
>>
>>    - New oversight: Effective January 1, 2025, control of the Research
>>    Psychoanalyst Program was transferred from the Medical Board of California
>>    to the California Board of Psychology.
>>    - Consumer protection: The BOP's 2024–2028 strategic plan outlines
>>    the addition of research psychoanalysts to its regulated population. This
>>    move is intended to place all mental health practitioners under the
>>    oversight of a board specifically focused on psychological services,
>>    ensuring better public protection. [3
>>    <https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/research-psychoanalyst/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20timeline%20for%20the%20transfer?,and%20the%20regulation%20of%20research%20psychoanalytic%20institutions.>,
>>    4 <https://www.psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/sb_815.shtml>, 9
>>    <https://www.psychology.ca.gov/forms_pubs/strat_plan_24_28.pdf>]
>>
>> Legal challenges to the licensing scheme
>> The BOP has successfully defended its licensing authority against legal
>> challenges from psychoanalysts.
>>
>>    - In the case *National Association for the Advancement of
>>    Psychoanalysis v. California Board of Psychology* (2000), a federal
>>    court rejected arguments that the licensing laws violated the First and
>>    Fourteenth Amendments.
>>    - The court found that the state's regulation of mental health
>>    professions is a valid exercise of its power to protect the public health
>>    and safety. [6
>>    <https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/naap_v_ca.htm>, 10
>>    <https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/NAAP_v_CA_brief.htm>, 11
>>    <https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/naap_v_ca.htm>, 12
>>    <https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/ChilesvSalazar_AmiciStatesBrief.pdf>
>>    ]
>>
>> [1]
>> https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/
>> [2]
>> https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/228/1043/478769/
>> [3] https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/research-psychoanalyst/
>> <https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/research-psychoanalyst/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20timeline%20for%20the%20transfer?,and%20the%20regulation%20of%20research%20psychoanalytic%20institutions.>
>> [4] https://www.psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/sb_815.shtml
>> [5]
>> https://content.next.westlaw.com/practical-law/document/I644487bc798e11d98c82a53fc8ac8757/National-Ass-n-for-Advancement-of-Psychoanalysis-v-California-Bd-of-Psychology?viewType=FullText&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)
>> [6] https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/naap_v_ca.htm
>> [7]
>> https://www.reddit.com/r/psychoanalysis/comments/1gpocdo/how_to_practice_psychoanalysis_in_california/
>> [8]
>> https://www.reddit.com/r/psychoanalysis/comments/1gpocdo/how_to_practice_psychoanalysis_in_california/
>> <https://www.reddit.com/r/psychoanalysis/comments/1gpocdo/how_to_practice_psychoanalysis_in_california/#:~:text=It's%20true%2C%20in%20CA%20if%20you%20have,with%20aka%20training%20at%20an%20accredited%20institute.>
>> [9] https://www.psychology.ca.gov/forms_pubs/strat_plan_24_28.pdf
>> [10] https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/NAAP_v_CA_brief.htm
>> [11] https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pro_lic/naap_v_ca.htm
>> [12]
>> https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/ChilesvSalazar_AmiciStatesBrief.pdf
>>
>> *********************************************
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 1:42 AM Jacques B. Siboni via The-lacanalyst <
>> the-lacanalyst at lutecium.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Dear colleagues
>>>
>>> Yesterday at a day to give a tribute to Jean-Michel Vappereau
>>> I had the pleasure to reconnect to Scully-Robert Groom, a colleague
>>> living partly in Berlin and Los Angeles. He gave me great
>>> legal information regarding the legal statute of psychoanalysis in the
>>> USA.
>>> I discovered that except for New York State and Massachusetts, the
>>> statute is similar to France's!! Anyone in the 48 other states can
>>> decide they work as psychoanalysts as a private practice. They can put
>>> a placard saying so in front of their office.
>>>
>>> I have registered him on the lacanalyst mailing list. Robert can you be
>>> kind enough to explain the situation which is so seriously misunderstood
>>> by psychoanalysts in the US.
>>>
>>> Tell us
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>>
>>> Jacques
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> The-lacanalyst mailing list
>>> The-lacanalyst at lutecium.org
>>> https://lutecium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/the-lacanalyst
>>>
>>
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>
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