The first psychoanalytic training center in lower Manhattan, WSI is grounded in the historic unfolding of psychoanalytic thought. Beginning with the work of Freud and his colleagues and expanded by object relations, subjectivity, theories of self,  WSI  today continues to contribute to the creative evolution of psychoanalytic theory and practice in the lay and professional community as we participate in a dynamic exploration of contemporary research and insights.

As a guiding principle, we believe, and it has been our experience, that self-awareness and an emotional understanding of the impact of one's personal history on one's present attitudes, motives, and actions can greatly aid a person in enlarging their freedom to make wise personal choices, to live to their greatest potential, and to make contributions to society.