This year-long, online course will introduce you to some fundamental aspects of psychoanalytic theory in relation to human development and behaviour, including the unconscious mind, containment, object relations, transference and psychic defences.

Crucially, it will also give you the opportunity to observe and discuss the application of these theories in real-life contexts – deepening your understanding and allowing you to develop your capacity for reflective practice.

By the end of the course, you will have acquired a firm foundation of knowledge and skills – introducing ideas that help you think about yourself, your relationships and the world around you, and providing you with the space to consider your current role or start taking your career in a new direction.

Interested in finding out more? Join course lead Dr Peter Slater for an introductory online Open Event on Tuesday 13 April. Find out more and sign up to attend for free here.

The ‘Psychoanalytic Thinking at Work’ course will present a range of key psychoanalytic theories and discoveries – exploring how the human mind works and what makes us who we are; how psychoanalytic theory views human development and relationships; and the unconscious dynamics that govern group and organisational dynamics.

A summary of topics covered in the course can be found below:

Term 1:

• Beginnings
• Introducing the Unconscious
• Infancy and the idea of containment
• Early childhood and the Oedipal situation
• Adolescence and early puberty

Term 2:

• Adulthood and later life
• Klein and the Paranoid Schizoid Position
• Klein and the Depressive Position
• Projective Identification
• Transference and Countertransference

Term 3:

• • Psychic Pain and Psychic Defences
  • Trauma
  • Difference and Diversity
  • Psychoanalysis and Groups and Organisations

This course is for you if you wish to explore your interest in psychoanalytic psychotherapy or you may be thinking about taking your first step towards a formal qualification in this field.

In order to take this course, we ask that you have an interest in psychodynamic counselling, psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis, and a wish to make a deeper study of the human mind – either for professional reasons or for the purposes of your own personal development. We’ll ask you to tell us about why you are interested in studying with us in your online application form.

Interviews:

After you have submitted an application, we will ask you to provide us with the details of two referees, before inviting you to join us for a short interview with one of our Course Leads – this is an important part of the process, and a way of checking that this is the right course for you. You’ll be able to ask any questions you have about the course, discuss what you hope to take from it, and share your plans for your workplace observation. Our Course Lead, in turn, will ask you about your motivations for studying with us, and explore any relevant experience and interests which might inform your application.

Workplace observation requirements:

As part of the course, you will be asked to arrange a workplace observation in a relevant setting. This could be, for example, in a mental healthcare setting (e.g. a local mental health clinic or hospital), a charitable organisation (e.g. volunteering as a befriender) or an educational setting (e.g. a school or youth centre). Alternatively, if you currently work in mental health or allied health, teaching, social work, or in another supportive role, then this could be used for the purposes of your observation. If you’re unsure whether your current workplace role is suitable, or would like any further guidance on this aspect of the course, please download more information or contact us.

Assessment is based upon the following:

• A minimum group seminar attendance rate of 75% throughout the year
• Submission of eight write-ups (each of 1500 words) taken from observations from your work placement
• An optional submission of a Placement Reflection Paper, which, if undertaken, leads to achievement of a full Trust Certificate
• Successful completion of the above assessment components, without undertaking the optional Placement Reflection Paper, will enable you to receive a Course Participation Certificate.

This course is delivered over one academic year, starting in the autumn term, but you’ll have access to the course and its materials for 18 months in total.

The course provides 200 hours of learning material, the majority of which you can undertake at a time and pace that suits you. In addition, during term time, there will be weekly group webinars with a clinical expert and termly one-on-one tutorial sessions, which will give you an opportunity to ask questions, reflect on your learning and discuss your experiences.

Term dates for the coming academic year are as follows:

• Term 1: Monday 27 September 2021 – Friday 10 December 2021 (Half Term 25-29 October)
• Term 2: Monday 10 January 2022 – Friday 25 March 2022 (Half Term 14-18 February)
• Term 3: Monday 25 April – Friday 10 June (Half Term 30 May-3 June)

We plan to confirm the days and times of our live weekly seminars in May 2021. We will be aiming to accommodate international time zones as much as possible, so please do let us know of any scheduling needs by emailing us directly, or discussing these with a Course Lead during your interview. Please note that this schedule may then be subject to change up until the start of Term 1, although we will do all we can to minimise any disruption this could cause.

We anticipate that your termly one-on-one tutorials will take place during Weeks 5, 6 or 7 of each term, and available dates and times will be provided in Week 1, so that you can book a convenient slot through our online learning environment.

We anticipate that applications for this coming academic year will close at the end of August 2021.