History

The New York Institute for Psychotherapy Training in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence was founded at the beginning of the new millennium.

Our sole vision is to help children.

The program was developed by enhancing the work previously accomplished by “The Child and Adolescent Therapy Training Program” at the New Hope Guild Community Mental Health Centers from 1972-1999.

In the early 1970’s, Jeanette Levitt founded and directed a Child and Adolescent Therapy Training Program, which offered low cost, quality training to therapists who worked with children at the New Hope Centers. In 1985, Dr. Norma Simon became the Program Director until 1995 when Dr. Phyllis Cohen took over the Program for the following five years.

In an effort to maintain the original mission of the New Hope Guild, in 2000, a group of faculty members collaborated in beginning a new training program. Under the leadership of Dr. Phyllis Cohen, Director, Dr. Carole Grand, Clinical Coordinator, Ms. Mary Tirolo, Co-treasurer, Ms. Gloria Malter, Co-Treasurer, and Ms. Karen Cadwalader, Assistant Program Director, the New York Institute for Psychotherapy Training was launched. The Program received a provisional charter as a Training Institute, and became an accredited, free-standing Training Program in 2002, offering a certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy to its graduates. In 2005, Dr. Tracy Simon joined the Program’s Executive Board as the Associate Program Director.

From its inception, the Program has graduated over 120 qualified child therapists who have worked with hundreds of children and parents. These therapists now teach and supervise countless others in the field. 

In addition to offering a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, the program is also planning to offer an Overview of Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in its one-year Continuing Education Program. The NYIPT program proudly maintains a faculty of 35 teachers, supervisors and administrative staff. While offering invaluable training by its highly regarded faculty, the Program continues to build its community outreach and collaboration with child mental health facilities in the five boroughs of New York City.