Overview
Our training in psychodynamic psychotherapy is accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and qualifies candidates to work with patients once or twice a week, in time-limited or longer-term psychotherapy, in both agencies and private practice.
The aim of our clinical training is to provide you with thorough theoretical knowledge, sound clinical skills as well as an ethical and professional approach to practice. It provides a solid foundation for a career working as a psychotherapist. We have an up to date approach to training and, rigour in assessing readiness to work with patients and to qualify as a psychodynamic psychotherapist Once qualified you will be eligible for membership of SIP and registration with the BPC.
More information
Duration
The clinical training is likely to last for four, or more, years: three curricular years (when you attend theoretical seminars) and generally at least one post-curricular year (when you attend clinical seminars and continue with your clinical work under supervision). The number of years you will have as a post-curricular trainee will depend, in part, on how long it takes you to complete all elements of the training including accruing sufficient hours of supervised clinical work.
Assessment
The training committee monitors the progress of trainees through a process of regular reports and reviews in addition to the assessment of your written work.
Time commitment
Training starts in September (Click here for term dates).
- Personal therapy: 2 (therapy) hours
- Supervision: 1 (therapy) hour for each training patient (and time for additional patients)
- Clinical work: 1 – 2 (therapy) hours for each training patient
- Theory and clinical seminars: 3 – 4.5 hours (term-time only) on a Thursday afternoon and/or evening
This weekly estimate is provided as a rough guide and depends in part on how many training patients you are seeing concurrently and, at what frequency. Naturally you would also need to factor in time for reading, writing clinical notes and papers, and travel for example.
What next?
Training in psychodynamic psychotherapy enables you to become a member of SIP and registered with the BPC. You can work in private practice or in an agency setting offering up to twice weekly psychodynamic psychotherapy either short or long term. As a member of SIP you can get involved by becoming a SIP committee member.
Venue
All of our courses and trainings are delivered in central Bristol. However, as a training institute for the South West our membership is drawn from across the region and both training therapy and supervision is available in Bristol and beyond.
Application and fee information
Entry requirements
- Pre-clinical training: you should have completed pre-clinical training in Work Discussion and Classical Freudian Theory either at SIP or another BPC training institute. Equivalent learning will be considered. You should have completed a written paper for Work Discussion.
- Personal therapy: you should have been in a minimum of twice weekly therapy with a SIP approved training therapist for at least one year prior to the start of training.
- Qualification and professional experience: in psychotherapy, counselling, or the broader mental health field. However, suitable applications from candidates who do not meet this requirement will be considered.
- Experience of working in a psychiatric setting: If you have not worked in a psychiatric setting you will need to find a suitable placement either during the pre-clinical stage of your training or before the end of the first year of your clinical training.
Training fees
2022-23 Training Application Fee | £179 |
2022-23 Curricular | £3,854 per annum |
2022-23 Post-Curricular | £443 per term |
In addition to training fees you should budget for such things as training therapy, supervision, books, stationery and travel. Please also note that we review fees each year and a slight annual increase should be expected.
Please ensure you read over our payment terms here.
How to apply
Applications open from 1st January each year. We encourage you to make contact prior to application by, for example, attending our Open Day normally in March each year.
Application closing date: 31st March to start the following September
Please contact us if you are considering applying after the closing date.
Application forms and guidance:
Psychodynamic Application Form – (77KB DOCX) | Download >> |
Equality Monitoring Form | Complete >> |
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.