Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Entry requirements

To undertake this course, you need to:

• have a good honours degree, or have completed our Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy course;
• hold a professional qualification in mental health or have at least six months direct experience of working, volunteering or shadowing in a psychiatric setting;
• are established in therapy with a BPC-registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist or psychoanalyst (not a psychodynamic psychotherapist) prior to starting the course, or ideally by the time you apply – please note that you cannot start your clinical work with a patient until you are settled in your personal therapy for at least six months.

Personal suitability for the work is also an important factor that will be assessed at interview.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This four-year, part-time course will equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to practise as a psychodynamic or forensic psychotherapist in a wide range of settings.

Students may choose to graduate after three years (and successful completion of the dissertation) with a Master’s degree, or complete the full four years of training and also be eligible to practise as a psychodynamic or forensic psychotherapist.

This training is for mental health professionals working across a wide range of sectors – you might be a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or nurse, or be in another mental health role in the NHS, voluntary or private sector.

The training is also suitable for those who do not have a clinical background in mental health, but who have completed some psychoanalytically informed introductory training and a psychiatric placement prior to applying.

This course is validated by the University of Essex, and accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).