Psychodynamic Thinking

Entry requirements

You will need to have a first degree or equivalent professional experience, an interest in applied psychoanalytic theory and current work experience that can be brought to the discussion group. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Our Graduate Certificate in Psychodynamic Thinking will teach you the basic elements of the psychoanalytic method, increase your self-reflexive capacity and develop your understanding of psychosocial perspectives. It provides you with meaningful continuing professional development (CPD) if you want to apply the principles and methods of psychodynamic counselling to your work or life. You will already have current experience of working in a helping capacity. The course will also be of interest to those who wish to study the psychodynamic method and its application to group processes, especially as a way of understanding human experience and behaviour in more depth. You will gain a deep understanding of the (unconscious) dynamics that occur in groups and organisations through participation in an experiential group, which is an unstructured group that studies its own processes. Being a member of the experiential group will develop your capacity for self-awareness and emotional sensibility, key attributes necessary for psychodynamic practice. Highlights: This innovative, creative and interdisciplinary course will help you become a competent, critical and responsible student of the social world and the psychological and social forces that shape individuals. Birkbeck has over 40 years' experience of teaching psychodynamic counselling and practice. The Department of Psychosocial Studies is genuinely interdisciplinary, with academics coming from backgrounds in anthropology, cultural and postcolonial studies, education studies, gender and sexuality studies, literary studies, critical psychology, psychoanalytic studies and sociology.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.