The Tavistock adult psychoanalytic psychotherapy training (M1)

Entry requirements

In order to undertake this course we ask that you:

• have a working knowledge of psychoanalytic theories and technique
• have a graduate degree
• have undertaken at least two years of weekly personal psychotherapy with a BPC-registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist or psychoanalyst of at least five years standing
• commit to undertaking intensive, personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy with a BPC-registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist or psychoanalyst of at least five years standing for the duration of the course, meeting a minimum of three times per week
• have a minimum of three years’ clinical experience, including at least 18 months of work with a patient in weekly psychotherapy, supervised by a BPC-registered psychoanalytic psychotherapist or psychoanalyst.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC), this course offers advanced psychoanalytic psychotherapy training within a specialist Mental Health Trust, preparing graduates for work in a wide variety of settings.

It offers a unique combination of intensive analytic teaching and practice, alongside additional opportunities to gain experience in the application of psychoanalytic ideas to a variety of patient groups – both in mental health and general medicine.

The training follows the British Object Relations school of psychoanalysis. You will study the history of psychoanalytic theory – from Freud to all the major contributors to psychoanalysis in Britain, including contemporary clinicians who have influenced current practice and thinking.

You will explore current psychoanalytic thinking about the developmental tasks of infancy, childhood, latency and adolescence, personality structure and psychopathology, psychosomatic disorders, and theories of depression and anxiety.

All aspects of analytic understanding and technique, including transference, countertransference, free association and dreams, will also be covered.

In addition, there are opportunities in your clinical placement at the Tavistock to gain additional specialist experience in applications of psychoanalytic theory – including work with trauma and group psychoanalytic psychotherapy.