psychoanalyst
n. a therapist who has undergone special training in psychoanalytic theory and practice and who applies to the treatment of mental disorders the techniques developed by Sigmund Freud and others whose theories were built on Freud’s belief in unconscious processes. In the United States, psychoanalysts are usually trained first as psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or other mental health professionals and then undergo extensive training at a psychoanalytic institute. Those institutes that believe psychoanalysis is an independent discipline accept other interested and qualified professionals for psychoanalytic training. All recognized training centers require a thorough study of the works of Freud and others in the field, supervised clinical training, a training analysis, and a personal program of psychoanalysis. See also analyst.