Mission

The Psychotherapy Institute (TPI) is a non-profit, member-led organization of mental health professionals dedicated to the study and practice of psychotherapy in the psychodynamic tradition. We understand sociocultural influences to be inherent in lifelong development and well-being. We believe that awareness of these dynamics is essential to the theory and practice of psychotherapy. TPI provides post-graduate training and post-licensure trainingopportunities for professional development, and affordable psychotherapy through its Community Clinic.

The Psychotherapy Institute Principles:

  1. TPI is dedicated to creating a diverse, affiliative professional community which values teaching, study, mentoring and volunteer service.
  2. TPI encourages and offers high-quality training for therapists at all levels of experience.
  3. TPI provides affordable, depth psychotherapy through our community clinic in Berkeley.
  4. TPI strives to stay true to its founding members’ vision of volunteer service in teaching, supervision and organizational leadership.
  5. TPI is committed to the exploration of multiple psychodynamic perspectives and the application of these perspectives in all that we do as an organization.
  6. TPI is committed to being inclusive, cultivating and modeling cultural humility [1], and acting in ways that support multiculturalism and diverse populations in its membership, clientele, and educational programing.
  7. TPI believes that on-going professional training is essential to the future of the mental health profession.
  8. TPI supports the exploration of the unconscious mind as fundamental to richer self-understanding and increased personal fulfillment.
  9. TPI contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of psychology through the dedicated study of the theory and practice of psychotherapy. In order to increase our skills and effectiveness as mental health professionals, we maintain an attitude of mutual support, curious humility and compassion.
  10. As awareness of social justice issues is consonant with psychodynamic practice, TPI may occasionally take a stand on current political and social issues.

Members and representatives of TPI agree to abide by these principles and all rules and regulations governing non-profit organizations including non-discrimination on the basis of, but not limited to: race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, immigration status, spiritual orientation, economic class, and physical ability.

Revised January 2019

[1] Tervalon, M.; Murray-García, J. (1998). "Cultural Humility versus Cultural Competence: A Critical Distinction in Defining Physician Training Outcomes in Multicultural Education". Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 9 (2): 117–125 – via Project Muse.