Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy (ref. D12)
This course enables professionals already working in mental health to improve their skills and understanding of the mind, and to develop an understanding of the unconscious at work.
Who is this course for?
This is a one-year introductory programme in psychodynamics and psychotherapy for staff in the public and voluntary mental health services.
The course is aimed at those practitioners who are looking for an opportunity to deepen their understanding of their clinical work, but who have only recently finished their professional training, or who have clinical experience and responsibility but no formal professional qualifications.
It is suitable for those interested in experience of psychoanalytic thinking and as an introductory course for those seeking a qualification in counselling or psychotherapy in the longer term.
Aims
• To develop an understanding of unconscious processes.
• To critically reflect on the importance of primitive ways of communicating in the work setting.
• To define and understand both individual and group processes which interfere with the therapeutic encounter.
• To introduce the range of psychotherapeutic work, including different paradigms and modalities within the public sector.
• To develop understanding of the relevant aspects of psychodynamic theory.
• To engage students in the application of psychodynamic theory to aspects of their own working life.
This course has been run at the Tavistock Centre for the past seven years. It was set up to fill a gap in the range of courses available to those working in the NHS and related areas who are concerned for the mental health of those in their care. Previously there was little training offered in the area of psychodynamic understanding at an introductory level.
Content/Teaching components
There are four elements to the training
1. Theoretical Seminars (9.30am - 10.45am)
2. Work Discussion Seminars (9.30am - 10.45am)
3. Experiential Group (11.30am - 12.45pm)
4. Individual Tutorials
Lecture Topics Overview
Beginnings
The context of the work
The Psychoanalytic Frame – Freud and the unconscious
Psychoanalytic concepts – transference and countertransference/phantasy/containment and reverie
The Psychoanalytic Frame – Klein and the paranoid schizoid position/depressive position
Infancy and childhood
Adolescence
Feelings and expectations of professionals in therapeutic relationships
Adult development and ageing
Trauma
Clinical supervision
Psychotherapeutic experience-projective identification
Feelings and expectations of clients in therapeutic relationships
Acting out
Separation, endings and depression
Risk assessment
Deliberate self-harm and suicide
Career choice and the unconscious
Evidence-based practice
The psychotic state of mind
Personality disorder
Group relations and institutions
Endings
Closing date
26th June (late applications may be considered).
Professional accreditation
Approved by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, under CPD Module C Recommended as a CPD course by the British Psychological Society.
Time commitment
The course consists of a half day session each week on Tuesday mornings, 9.30-12.45, over three 10 week terms.
Course Readings and Access to Library Resources
When you begin your course you will be issued with an online study pack which you can access via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Moodle. Having a study pack means most of your key course readings for the whole year will be available to you simply by logging onto your Moodle course page. You can then print off the readings as you require them. Our students find this resource invaluable and it means you can have 24/7 access to your readings. Readings that are not included in your study pack can be obtained from the Library once you have enrolled with the Library at the end of September.
The Tavistock and Portman Library is nationally recognised as a leading UK therapeutic resource. For more information about our library follow the link www.tavi-port.org/library
