Our history.

1945–1978

The first Milwaukee based psychoanalysts (Saul Pollack, John Usow and Samuel Black) trained at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis while living and practicing in Milwaukee.

1979

William Offenkrantz, training and supervising analyst at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, moved to Milwaukee to establish the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Foundation. The Foundation was made possible by a generous donation from a family grateful for the help of psychoanalysis. Dr. Offenkrantz forged a collaboration with the Foundation, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital (a private not-for-profit community teaching hospital) to bring psychoanalytic training to Wisconsin.

1980 to 1984

Five additional analysts moved to Wisconsin. David Black, son of Samuel Black, L. David Levi, Jon Meyer, Steven Steury, and Todd Davison. Joseph Kepecs served as a training analyst from Madison. Psychoanalysis was available for residents; training in psychoanalysis meant commuting to Chicago.

1993

Our first full academic courses were offered in Milwaukee, ending the need to commute for psychoanalytic training. Since 1993, The Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Institute (an affiliate of the American Psychoanalytic Association) trained four cohorts of psychoanalysts. At present, we partner with the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute to support psychoanalytic training.

1995–2026

In 1995, Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Society opens to the public. From 1980 to 1995, Milwaukee psychoanalysts met regularly together to discuss new ideas in psychoanalysis. In 1995 we invited the public to join in the joy of learning about psychoanalytic thinking. We host 6 or 7 meetings each academic year featuring psychoanalytic authors from across the globe to share ideas and discussion.

In 2026, the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Society and the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Foundation merged their missions to form the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Center, Inc.