Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis

organization, Illinois, United States

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June 24, 2026

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The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, established in 1932 by Franz Alexander, is a key institution in the field of psychoanalysis. Alexander, often called the father of psychosomatic medicine, led the institute until 1956, focusing research on emotional disturbances and their connection to physical illness.1

Psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental disorders, was pioneered by Sigmund Freud. It emphasizes unconscious mental processes and uses techniques like free association to explore repressed experiences and their impact on personality structures: the id, ego, and superego. The institute also had ties to the University of Illinois Medical School.21

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Franz Alexander
…in 1932 to establish the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, which he directed until 1956. Under his leadership, the institute attracted many analysts and students who conducted extensive research on emotional disturbance and psychosomatic disease, identifying various disorders with particular unconscious conflicts. This work is represented in his book Psychosomatic Medicine:…
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…in 1932 to establish the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, which he directed until 1956. Under his leadership, the institute attracted many analysts and students who conducted extensive research on emotional disturbance and psychosomatic disease, identifying various disorders with particular unconscious conflicts. This work is represented in his book Psychosomatic Medicine:…
Read More