During this two-year course you will visit an infant and primary carer in their own home for one hour a week, and observe them going about their ordinary, everyday lives. You will also attend weekly 90 minute seminars during term time where students discuss their observations in confidence with an experienced psychotherapist.
You will have the opportunity to think, in great detail, about a carer and baby in the first couple of years of the baby’s life, and learn how the ordinary challenges and pleasures of family relationships are negotiated. This experience aids your understanding of human development and psychology while becoming a skilled and thoughtful observer.
You will be supported to find a family during the early stages of the course.
Aims of the course
- To develop an observational stance which is the bedrock of the analytic position. This is why it is an essential component of our Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training.
- To become a skilled and thoughtful observer
- To learn how early experiences and patterns of relating can persist into adult life
- To fulfil the requirement for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training
Assessment
Students produce a 3,000 word paper (plus up to 1,000 words of observational material) at the end of the course. This is optional for those not wishing to apply for clinical training with SIP.
Support and Resources
- Our courses are taught by experienced psychotherapists
- You will have the support of a personal tutor throughout the 2 years.
- Seminar groups are small and typically include first and second year students
- Access to SIP’s library.
- Support to prepare for application for clinical training
Course Delivery Seminars are currently on line, however if we have enough applicants wishing to attend in person we may start a new Bristol based group.
Personal therapy This course inevitably touches on your own early experiences. You are therefore encouraged to be in at least weekly personal therapy with a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. If you are preparing to apply for clinical training, please refer to the personal therapy requirements for your intended course.
Application
- Our primary group is now full. Please apply to join a waiting list for a second group – applications now open until 31st July 2025
- The application process includes your application form, references, and interview.
- We will process applications as they come in and you will know if you have been successful within 6 weeks.
- We accept applications from those who require one year of Infant Observation for other training providers.
More information
Time commitment
Whilst seminars are scheduled so more than one Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice course can be undertaken in the same academic year, it is important to be realistic about the time commitment when deciding which courses to take in any one year.
You should also factor for time spent reading, travelling and, for those seeking to apply for clinical training, weekly training therapy.
| Course | Time commitment |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts | 70-minute seminar followed by a 1 hour discussion group each week (on a Wednesday evening) across two 10-week terms |
| Contemporary Klein | 90 minute seminars each week across 2 10-week terms (Spring and summer) |
| Classical Freudian Theory | 90-minute seminar each week (on a Monday afternoon or evening) across three 10-week terms |
| Work Discussion | 90-minute seminar each week (on a Monday afternoon or evening) across three 10-week terms |
| Infant Observation | 90-minute seminar each week (on a Monday afternoon or evening) across six 10-week terms + weekly 1 hour observation |
Assessment
For those attending SIP’s Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts or Classical Freudian Theory courses, reading may be required prior to a seminar but there are no papers or assignments to complete
For those attending SIP’s Infant Observation and Work Discussion courses, you will be encouraged to complete a paper (and are required to, if wishing to apply to one of SIP’s BPC-accredited clinical trainings). Those who submit and pass the paper will be awarded a SIP certificate. Those who elect not to submit paper will receive a CPD certificate of attendance.
Venue
Our Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice courses are delivered online.
Entry requirements
Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts
No minimum entry requirements.
Classical Freudian Theory
No minimum entry requirements.
Infant Observation
Applicants are required to attend an interview and pass an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. Applicants are also encouraged to be in (at least) weekly psychotherapy with a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
Work Discussion
You should work or be volunteering in a situation that is primarily aimed at helping others. You should have regular one-to-one contact with, for example, clients, students or patients, and the contact should not be diluted by too great an administrative role.
This course might be of interest not only to counsellors and psychotherapists, but also to people working or volunteering in teaching, medical roles, social work, caring settings, support work, advice agencies, or befrienders and buddy roles. Completion of this course (or equivalent) is a requirement for our clinical training.
Contemporary Klein
You should have some existing understanding/study of psychoanalytic thought.
Course fees
| Course | Fee payable |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts | £1,199 (includes £100 deposit, payable upon acceptance of offer of a place) |
| 2025-26 Contemporary Klein | £1,199 (includes £100 deposit, payable upon acceptance of offer of a place) |
| 2025-26 Classical Freudian Theory (CFT) | £1,650 (includes £200 deposit, payable upon acceptance of offer of a place) |
| 2025-26 Work Discussion (WDG) | £1,650 (includes £200 deposit, payable upon acceptance of offer of a place) |
| 2025-26 Consecutive CFT/WDG course discount | £1565 (includes £200 deposit) – we offer a 5% discount on the second year of consecutive CFT/WDG |
| 2025-26 Infant Observation (IO) | £1,650 per year (includes £200 deposit, payable upon upon acceptance of offer of a place) + £53 DBS check fee (if required) |
In addition to training fees you should budget for such things as training therapy, supervision, books, stationery and travel.
>> Please ensure you read over SIP’s payment terms and conditions here.
Iris Tute Bursaries
This is a small fund open to anyone applying to join SIP’s Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice courses who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing their interest in psychotherapy. Subject to funds, SIP offers a limited number of £200 bursaries to help students with course fees.
The deadline for applications for Iris Tute Bursary Fund support for the 2025-26 academic year (1st September 2025 – 31st August 2026) is 31st August 2025.
>> SIP’s Iris Tute bursary application form can be completed online here.
The fund is named The Iris Tute Bursary in remembrance of the work and generosity of Iris Tute, a former member of SIP who wanted psychotherapy and training in psychotherapy to be as accessible as possible.
SIP’s Welsh Bursary Fund
The Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy (SIP) has received a generous donation aimed at supporting the promotion of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic thinking and practice in Wales.
The objective of The Welsh Bursary initiative is to promote the application of psychoanalytic ideas and techniques for a range of educational, health and welfare services in Wales. It also offers financial support to students and trainees who would otherwise be unable to pursue their interest, study, and training in psychotherapy with SIP.
The Welsh Bursary Fund may assist with, for example, running or attending a workshop, or subsidising travel costs, supervision or academic resources for SIP students or trainees, up to a maximum sum of £3,000.
The deadline for applications for Welsh Bursary Fund support for the 2025-26 academic year (1st September 2025 – 31st August 2026) is 31st August 2025.
>> SIP’s Welsh Bursary Fund application form can be completed online here.
How to apply
We encourage you to make contact prior to application by, for example attending one of our free online zoom information sessions
Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice Course Application Form | Equality Monitoring Form
Application closing dates and course start dates:
| Course | Application closing date | Course start date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts | 14th January 2026 | |
| 2025-6 Contemporary Klein | 14th January 2026 | |
| 2025-26 Classical Freudian Theory | 31st July 2025 | 25th September 2025 |
| 2025-26 Work Discussion | 31st July 2025 | 22nd September 2025 |
| 2025-26 Infant Observation | 31st July 2025 | 22nd September 2025 |
Please note:
- If you have particular access needs please let us know as soon as possible so that we can discuss how best to meet these.
- Courses will only run in any academic year subject to sufficient applications.
- We follow an equal opportunities policy in our selection procedure.
- We reserve the right to alter our existing constitution, criteria for membership, training procedures, timetables and assessments.
What next?
- On completion of SIP’s Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts course you may wish to apply to join other Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice courses as either a stand-alone course, or as part of ongoing training to become a BPC-accredited psychotherapist.
- For those wishing to apply to our BPC-accredited clinical training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, completion of Classical Freudian Theory and Work Discussion is required.
- For those wishing to apply to our BPC-accredited clinical training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, completion of Infant Observation (2 years), Classical Freudian Theory and Work Discussion is required.