Institute of Psychotherapy & Social Studies Contextualizing psychoanalytic psychotherapy within contemporary cultures, languages and social identities
Institute of Psychotherapy & Social Studies Contextualizing psychoanalytic psychotherapy within contemporary cultures, languages and social identities
IPSS offers a Diploma in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Social Studies.
The clinical IPSS diploma entitles the graduate to be entered on the register of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) in the Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic (PP) Section.
The Diploma course take place on Tuesday evenings and on three Saturdays per year. The weekly seminars are taught over three terms of ten weeks for three years with subsequent years comprising a theoretical/ clinical seminar and supervision.
Supervision continues until the completion of the dissertation. The minimum duration required for UKCP registration is four years; the maximum duration for completing the Diploma is seven years.
The courses are part-time with attendance structured as follows:
Three seminars, reflecting the core concerns of IPSS, take place on each evening of the term, and continue throughout the training.
Tuesday evenings from 5pm–8.50pm, plus three Saturdays per year (until completion).
Tuesday evenings from 5pm–8.50pm, plus three Saturdays per year (until completion). Plus 36 hours mandatory weekly supervision per year (until completion). (Note: Supervision is not included in the fees).
One seminar per week plus supervision, and 6 or 7 Saturdays per year until completion (Note: Supervision not included in the fees).
In addition, many trainees attend clinical placements in a variety of settings, both in statutory and voluntary sector organisations. Training patients may be assigned to trainees through a referral system administrated by IPSS. The referrals come from a variety of sources: GPs, other professional sources and self-referrals.
This seminar leads into the primary topic of the whole course. Students are introduced to Freud’s own writing through some of his most evocative texts. It is an introduction to the founding concepts of Freud’s psychoanalysis, his papers on technique and his case histories, with subsequent developments and critiques of classical theory. Foundations are also laid for another major focus of study throughout the course: the concept of Object Relations through study of original texts by Klein and Winnicott.
This module aims to broaden analytic understanding and develop knowledge of the origins of the British / Independent / Middle School. The focus is on Object Relations Theory, looking at how the theory developed and at some of the seminal thinkers such as Klein, Segal, Fairbairn, Mahler, Guntrip, Balint and Winnicott. The focus moves to gaining some understanding of current developments and current theorists such as Bollas. Themes such as ‘transference’ will be woven in to the seminars in order to demonstrate how these aspects develop across theorists and over time.
The syllabus falls roughly into two halves: the exposition of ideas and the study of clinical papers including material from the student’s practice. It starts from the view that different models of the mind generate different clinical ideas and can be explained in these terms, at least in part. The aim is first to establish that there exists a context, both historical and institutional, within which the different strands of thinking develop. One of the most influential bodies of clinical thinking in this period has been that of Klein and her successors. This has strongly influenced, and to some extent, been absorbed by, other traditions: post-Keinians and Independent School.
Psychoanalytic concepts as well as principles of Psychoanalytic practice are elaborated starting from Freud’s ‘Papers on Technique’ and moving onto other more contemporary elaborations. This means studying psychoanalytic concepts such as transference, resistance, counter-transference, working alliance and interpretation. Starting with Freud and his contemporaries, historically and clinically interesting controversies have kept generations of psychoanalysts challenged and questioning their practice. The syllabus reflects the fact that there are no final answers but that clinical and theoretical dilemmas are very much part of the work, and that without them psychoanalysis would be like ‘painting by numbers’.
Child Development is taught as part of the Clinical Seminar. The syllabus reflects the tension between the theoretical and clinical aspects of the topic. Theories include Attachment theory, Object Relations theory and Kleinian theory, clustering around themes such as separation, trauma, playing and creativity. The seminars include experiential aspects, which aim to make the material personally meaningful.
The Clinical Seminar is also the platform for clinical presentations. ‘Work-in-progress’ and a case study are presented and assessed here. This gives the opportunity for all participants, pre-clinical beginners and advanced trainees, to listen and offer early as well as later pieces of work. For the presenter these presentations count as module 7/8. Exposure of own practice and the theoretical, clinical discussions in this yearly changing group, with some leaving and some joining, creates a background for integration on a personal and professional level.
The purpose of giving equal weight to the Psychoanalytic, the Clinical and the Social Critique Seminar is to underline the IPSS commitment to these three strands of the teaching and learning. The purpose of the Social Critique Seminar is to encourage the student right from the start to integrate both critical and interpersonal thinking, and to address the social context in which psychotherapy is embedded.
The essence of this doubly-weighted module is built around the idea of Critique. Engaging with Critique adds a crucially challenging dimension to the trainee’s learning process:
The Social Critique Seminar is taught over three years attended by all year cohorts as a rolling programme. It focuses on appreciation of the complexities of philosophical and methodological critiques contributed by traditions such as sociology, political philosophy, and psychology. The process of self-reflection also involves considering contextual issues of social responsibility such as race, ethnicity, culture, sexuality, gender and disability. In addition, single themes are discussed, such as Psyche-Soma, Group Process and Narcissism.
From one year before the course begins until completion, it is mandatory for trainees to be in psychoanalytic psychotherapy twice a week with a UKCP (PP) or BCP registered psychotherapist, who has a minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience.
From the beginning of the second year until completion of the dissertation, clinical trainees must be in supervision with an IPSS supervisor (usually one-to-one) for one hour per week for a total of 36 weeks a year.
Trainees will have a personal tutor.
Attended by all trainees, members and staff three times per year, The Forum is primarily a platform for the presentation of dissertations to the Membership of IPSS. Although not part of the formal assessment, the oral presentation in the Forum represents a rite-of-passage for the presenter, who joins the Membership at this point. Presentation of the dissertation at the Forum is obligatory for receiving the IPSS Diploma together with IPSS Membership. This entitles the graduate to be eligible for registration with UKCP. In exceptional circumstances, the dissertation may need to be presented in the Clinical Forum.
Assessment is predominantly by oral presentation and written work. The principle of peer-assessment is also part of IPSS culture, in that it encourages transfer of learning and critical thinking among peers.
At the Saturday Forum, there is also opportunity for members to present their work. Attendance for trainees is obligatory; for qualified members it counts as CPD. Non-clinical trainees can also present their dissertations here and have the benefit of hearing clinical presentations and engaging with their clinical colleagues.
We have extended the closing date for applications for courses commencing in October to September 1st. Where appropriate late applications will be considered by the Training Committee.
See details of the application process.
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