PGDip/MA: Couple & Individual Psychodynamic Counselling/Psychotherapy

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Details: This guide outlines the three new pathways that students can take to become a qualified couple or psychosexual therapist.

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Details: Find out what a former student thought of the MA in Couple & Individual Psychodynamic Counselling & Psychotherapy

Key Information

Start date: September 2020

Fees: £5,900 for Year 1

How to apply: Apply using the application form at the foot of this page

Course length: PgDip: 3 years, taught part-time. MA: 3-4 years, taught part-time. The MA dissertation will be completed in the 4^th year, along with the completion of any clinical requirements.

Qualification:
Professional qualification and clinical training

The PGDip is BACP accredited. Advanced Standing minimum 2 years

Venue: Tavistock Relationships, 56-60 Hallam Street, London, W1W 6JL

Course code: CT2

Enquire About This Course

Overview

The PGDip/MA in Psychodynamic Couple and Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy is a unique three-year psychotherapy training that qualifies practitioners to work with both couples and individuals.

Tavistock Relationships specialises in couple relationships and is the leading couple therapy centre in London but many individuals also choose to come to Tavistock Relationships for therapy because at the core of many of the issues or dilemmas seen in the consulting room is often a relationship difficulty of some sort.

Our experts lecturers are highly reknowned and respected in our field and also in the national sphere. For instance, read about a recent piece by Head of Course, Catriona Wrottesley in The Guardian here.

Another unique feature of TR’s psychodynamic psychotherapy training is that clinicians receive specific psychosexual training which enables them to work sensitively, knowledgeably and skillfully with this area of the couple’s intimate relationship. Individuals encountering psychosexual and intimacy difficulties may be seen in TR’s clinical service and clinicians are trained in how to help those who may not yet have been able to have a sexual relationship or who have developed particular difficulties in sustaining one.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for those who have had some relevant work experience, such as in social work, the legal profession, the NHS, voluntary organisations or those who have attended the Introductory Course in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Alternatively, you may be an experienced individual psychotherapist or couple therapist and may be eligible for entry with advanced standing. This could enable you to complete the taught part of the programme in a minimum of two years. Please see the Advanced Standing tab for more details.

Access:

At present there is no lift access to our 4th floor training room.

Our trainings take place on upper floors, from Spring 2020 they will be accessible by lifts with the following specification: Type 1 provides only limited accessibility for persons using a manual wheelchair as described in EN 12183:2014 or an electrically powered wheelchair of class A described in EN 12184:2014. This car accommodates one wheelchair user without an accompanying person.

Accreditation

The PGDip part of the MA is BACP is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and successful completion of programme MA in Couple & Individual Psychodynamic Counselling & Psychotherapy at Tavistock Relationships leads to the award of Master of Arts.

accredited course logo

Course Content

Four core academic modules in skills, psychoanalytic thought, couple theory 1 & 2
Three core professional modules in clinical technique, essentials and research
Self-reflective practice groups
Weekly group supervision and 300 hours of clinical case work undertaken at Tavistock Relationships
Weekly clinical seminars when undertaking clinical work
Written work
Support from a personal tutor throughout the course

A requirement of the course is that all students have personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy of at least once a week for the duration of the course.

Is the Masters for you?

If you are thinking of undertaking study to work with couple and individuals, how do you know if it's right for you?

We have a few guiding principles to ask yourself. Succesful applicants for our masters' qualifications can often answer 'yes' to more than one of these questions:

Are you educated to degree level or equivalent?
Have you had personal therapy?
Have you worked in a field involving providing professional support to an individual or group of individuals, eg Social Work, Teaching, Nursing etc?
Have you ever undertaken volunteer counselling, eg Samaritans or something similar?
Are you: reflective, insightful, empathetic, curious and non-judgemental?

Although these are just a guide, if you have any number of the above experiences or traits, this will help you at the start and throughout your journey to professional qualification.

Advanced Standing

If you are an experienced individual psychotherapist or a couple therapist, you may be eligible for entry with advanced standing. This could enable you to complete the taught part of the programme in a minimum of two years.

Advanced Standing Course content and structure

Self-reflective practice groups
Weekly group supervision and 300 hours of clinical case work
Weekly clinical seminars when undertaking clinical work
Personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy of at least once a week for the duration of the course
Support from a personal tutor throughout the course

Assessment includes

Couple theory paper, case study, oral presentation
A qualifying dissertation and couple assessment report
Ongoing assessment by supervisors, seminar leaders, self-reflective group conductors, and tutors

Course Leader

Julie Humphries, Director of Studies and couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist.

Julie has been a member of the Tavistock Relationships faculty since 2011. She initially led and managed short courses, then became Head of MA in Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy and then moved into her current role as Director of Studies in 2016. She is a couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist and also undertakes training and supervision..

What can it lead to?

Qualification after successful completion of the course

You will become a professional couple and individual counsellor and psychotherapist equipped to work in either the statutory or voluntary sector and as a private practitioner in the field of relationship counselling and psychotherapy.
You will be eligible to apply for individual accreditation with BACP once the required client hours have been completed
Entry with Advanced Standing into the MA in Couple Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CT1A)and registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
Entry into the Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy and registration with the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT).

Course dates & times

3 years, part-time. There may be more time involved to complete the clinical requirements and dissertation.

Contact Hours

First year students (2020/21)

Option 1:

Tues 6.00pm–7.15pm

Weds 5.30pm–6.45pm, 7pm–8.30pm

Option 2:

Weds 3.30pm – 4.45pm

5.30pm–6.45pm, 7pm–8.30pm

Entry requirements

You will be expected to have a first degree or equivalent professional qualification/experience and relevant work experience (paid or voluntary work in the caring professions or work requiring a high level of interpersonal skills) or to have completed the Introductory Course in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy (PC1).

You will be expected to attend psychoanalytic psychotherapy once a week on commencement of the course.

Further information

How to apply

There is an application fee of £120 (£50 non-refundable application fee + £70 interview fee).

Please note that Hallam House is a period property, and that due to the size of the lift shaft, the lift that is being installed is not DDA compliant and does not meet the minimum requirements for wheelchair access. Once the lift has been installed early this year we will know whether it will be possible to accommodate very slim wheelchairs. Unfortunately this means that our training events and courses at Hallam House are not currently accessible for wheelchair users.

Download the application form here: