Whilst this is a two-year course, we do accept applicants who require one year of infant observation for other training providers. Trainees visit an infant in their own home for one hour a week and observe the mother/baby couple, and other family members if they are present, going about their ordinary everyday lives. Trainees also attend thirty 90-minute seminars each year where observations are discussed, in confidence, with an experienced psychotherapist.
You will have the opportunity of thinking, in great detail, about a mother and baby in the first couple of years of the baby’s life and will learn how the ordinary challenges and pleasures of family relationships are negotiated. This experience aids an understanding of human development and psychology while becoming a skilled and thoughtful observer. If you work in a relevant occupation, or go on to train as a psychotherapist, it provides essential learning about how early infantile experiences and patterns of relating persist into adult life. Importantly, this course develops an observational stance which is the bedrock of the analytic position which is why it is deemed an essential component of our Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training.
This course inevitably touches on your own early experiences and you are encouraged to be in at least weekly personal therapy with a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
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 |
| 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 three 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. As one of the leading psychotherapy training institutes in the South West UK, we have members and associates throughout the region which means that both training therapy and supervision is available to those based in Bristol as well as further afield.
Entry requirements
Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts
No minimum entry requirements.
Classical Freudian Theory
Applicants with no previous experience of psychoanalytic theory should complete SIP’s Introduction to psychoanalytic theories and concepts course
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.
Course fees
| Course | Fee payable |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts | £1,047 (includes £100 deposit, payable upon submission of application) |
| 2023-24 Classical Freudian Theory | £1,491 (includes £200 deposit, payable upon submission of application) |
| 2023-24 Work Discussion | £1,491 (includes £200 deposit, payable upon submission of application) |
| 2023-24 Infant Observation | £1,491 (includes £200 deposit, payable upon submission of application) + £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 2023-24 academic year (1st September 2023 – 31st August 2024) is 31st July 2023.
>> 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 2023-24 academic year (1st September 2023 – 31st August 2024) is 31st July 2023.
>> 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 an Open Evening event (normally held in March and/or May each year).
| Fundamentals of Psychoanalytic Thought & Practice Course Application Form – (171KB DOCX) | >> Download |
| Equality Monitoring Form | >> Complete online |
Application closing dates and course start dates
| Course | Application closing date | Course start date |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories & Concepts | 22nd October 2023 | 1st November 2023 (See term dates here) |
| 2024-25 Classical Freudian Theory | 30th June 2024 | 16th September 2024 |
| 2024-25 Work Discussion | 30th June 2024 | 16th September 2024 |
| 2024-25 Infant Observation | 30th June 2024 | 16th September 2024 |
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.