A primary function of the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute is the training of psychoanalysts. As a treatment, psychoanalysis is based on the observation that individuals are often unaware of the connections between their emotions and their behaviors. When normal development is impaired by a conflict or trauma, the aim of treatment is the resolution of the unconscious conflicts impeding development. Analysis is an intimate partnership between the patient and the analyst. The patient becomes aware of the underlying issues, not simply intellectually, but emotionally, through the experience with the analyst. Successful treatment increases emotional capacity, alters psychic structures, and facilitates healthy growth. Psychoanalysts strive to listen to and understand their patients. This emphasis differentiates analysts from other mental health professionals who prescribe either medicine or behavior modification. Candidates for Adult Psychoanalytic Training require the maturity, integrity, and character necessary to function as a psychoanalyst.