Teaching the candidate in case seminar

There has been insufficient focus on the impact and usefulness of the case seminar for teaching in psychoanalytic institutes. In order to better understand case seminar, questionnaires were submitted to candidates, graduates, and faculty in two psychoanalytic teaching institutes. The responses indicate that the case seminar format should be standardized; level of experience of candidates should be similar; professors should examine suitability of the case beforehand; and candidates need to be prepared for the group process. Findings are useful in improving the teaching of psychoanalysis and encouraging the creative use of the candidate's self in psychoanalytic training.