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

Date: September 2019

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.

The PGDip is BACP accredited.

Advanced Standing minimum 2 years

Applications accepted from January 2019. Deadline: 31st May 2019

Fees 2019-2020: Fees are in two parts:

Part 1: PgDip part of the course (Years 1-3) £5,500 per annum.

Part 2: MA module (Dissertation), 4^th year: The Theory, Practice and Research of Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy - £1,000

Students are sometimes required to remain in training for a fourth year, in order to complete clinical requirements.

Fees for Yr 4 students are £683 per term

Venue: Tavistock Relationships, 70 Warren Street, London, W1T 5PB

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.

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.

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 by the University of East London.

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

Catriona Wrottesley, Head of Studies (PGDip/MA Psychodynamic) and couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist.

Catriona has been a member of the Tavistock Relationships' faculty since 2012. She initially led and managed continuing professional development (conferences, lectures and short courses) and commissioned trainings before moving into her current role in 2016. She is responsible for the PGDip/MA in Couple and Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy. Catriona qualified as an individual psychodynamic psychotherapist with WPF Therapy and as a couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships.

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)
It also provides a route to the Professional Doctorate in Couple Psychotherapy.

Course dates & times

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

First year student contact hours

We now have options for an earlier and later start. Please see below for Year 1 teaching:

Wednesday – either 4.15–7.15 OR 6.00–8.45 (once the Wednesday time is chosen students must keep the same teaching slot for the year)

AND

Thursday 6.00–7.30

The course starts September 2018

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

Deadline for applications: Applications accepted from January 2019. Deadline: 31st May 2019

Application form is here.

To find out about applying for the next academic year you can sign up for one of our Open Evenings, located on or events page here.contact us;

The application processes and costs are as folows (subject to annual change):

An applicant is required to pay £120 at the point of application. This is made up of a £50 Admin fee and £70 interview fee. If they are not shortlisted for an interview, they will be refunded £70. The £50 is non-refundable and non-transferable. If they are offered an interview then the £70 is non–refundable and non-transferable.

If shortlisted, you will be required to attend a selection interview. As part of the selection process, in addition to a personal interview, applicants may be asked to attend a group selection exercise, led by two group analysts.

020 7380 8288 training@tavistockrelationships.ac.uk.