Welcome to the website for the Chicago Open Chapter for the Study of Psychoanalysis

We are affiliated with Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) of the American Psychological Association. Founded in 1985, our mission is to provide a forum for the discussion of various trends in psychoanalysis, and to promote the application of psychoanalytic theory to a wide variety of areas (including, but not limited to, anthropology, history, literature, and religion).

The Open Chapter strives to provide a democratic and egalitarian atmosphere for the exchange of ideas. Hence, although the organization sponsors presentations by nationally and locally recognized analysts, it does not view psychoanalysis as the sole domain of mental health professionals.

As its name implies, the Open Chapter is truly "open", in that it encourages the application of psychoanalytic inquiry to the work being done by other disciplines.