Psychoanalytic Observational Studies (ref. M7)
This course is suitable for those interested in applying detailed observation and a psychoanalytical framework to their professional work with children, young people and their carers.
Who is this course for?
• The course is multidisciplinary, aimed at workers in the public or voluntary sectors, working with children, adolescents and families in a variety of work in diverse social and cultural settings (eg social workers, adolescent and youth workers, teachers and teaching assistants, counsellors, youth justice, Connexions, creative therapists, psychologists, doctors)
• The course is a very popular choice for workers in the public sector who wish to enhance their skills within their chosen field of work.
• If you want to train as a child psychotherapist you must first complete this course (or its equivalent) before applying for the Professional Doctorate in Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Ref. M80).
Aims
• Develop observational skills in baby and child observation and in the work setting.
• Develop a psychoanalytic perspective on human development and interaction.
• Widen your approach to current work through a psychoanalytic frame of reference.
• Decide whether to apply for child psychotherapy training or other career development.
Content/Teaching components
Work discussion seminars (weekly)
Students bring detailed studies of their work for discussion in multidisciplinary seminars. This enables a wider acquaintance to be obtained with the different settings in which children are cared for by professional workers.
Infant Observation seminar (weekly)
This seminar, together with the Young Child Observation seminar, more than any other, is helpful in training students to become receptive observers
Psychoanalytic theory I (fortnightly)
Studies during the first year concentrate upon the work of Freud in the first two terms and more onto the writings of Abraham and Melanie Klein in the third term.
The aim of encouraging students to approach psychoanalytic theory from a historical point of view, descriptively and phenomenologically, is to foster an attitude of mind which views theories as ways of organising and describing observations and experiences, and evaluates them insofar as they lead onto further questioning and allow for the emergence of additional experience and observations.
Seminar in Child Development Research Work (fortnightly)
This is a one-year teaching event. The reading covers recent research in the field of child development with an introduction to its historical, cultural and biological context.
M7 Timetable (Year 1)
Student will either attend the seminars during the day or attend a combination of Monday and Wednesday evening seminars.
Student feedback
"The quality of teaching is exceptional. I cannot more highly recommend this course for the student who wants to learn more and develop further their insight into the complexity of human nature."
Closing date
26th June (late applications may be considered).
Time commitment
The teaching events require a minimum of six hours of weekly attendance either as a day release (Wednesday) or two evenings a week (Monday and Wednesday).
It is possible to carry on a full-time job during the course. The observations, the reading and writing required and attendance at seminars will take at least 15 hours a week.
Students based outside London (and those with pressing childcare issues) have priority for places on the daytime programme on the Tavistock Centre course.
Postgraduate Diploma – 2 years
MA – 3 years
Maximum time for MA - 6 years
Entry requirement
An Honours degree and relevant professional experience is usually required.
Exceptions can be made for experienced applicants without a First degree.
Personal analysis or psychoanalytical therapy is optional for students undertaking this course. Students who intend to apply for the clinical training should start analysis one year before they expect to begin clinical training if they are accepted.
Approximately 50 places are available each year.
Students are required to be working in a professional capacity with children, adolescents or families.
They are generally expected to have had at least one year’s experience of such work before commencing the course.
The work will usually be of a non-clinical nature, undertaken in an institution other than the Tavistock Centre.
Exceptionally, some students may be working in a clinical setting by virtue of their previous training and qualifications; they are required to consult their personal tutor before undertaking work as a psychotherapist.
It should be noted that the Tavistock Centre does not take any responsibility for finding work for students or for the management or supervision of their work.
Other centres of study
Birmingham
Bristol
Devon
Florence
Liverpool
Milan
Oxford
Equivalent courses are available in:
Leeds
Nottingham (some modules)
