MSc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

The course provides a comprehensive conceptual and critical understanding of the theoretical basis of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as a thorough training in the application of psychoanalytic theory to psychoanalytic clinical practice. This course is based in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Course Structure

The course is part-time, Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday during the academic terms and extending over three years. Progress through course is at the discretion of the Training Committee and is based on continuous assessment. The course is run in a three year cycle.

Course Components

1. Personal Therapy. Students are required to undergo personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy with an approved therapist at least twice a week until the completion of clinical training requirements. The M.Sc. programme requires that students must be in psychotherapy with a practitioner associated with the course, a list of whom may be obtained from the Secretary. A successful applicant already in psychotherapy for some considerable time, may request to continue with their current therapist provided that the therapist is a full member of the Irish Forum for Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy (IFPP), one of the professional accrediting bodies for psychoanalytic psychotherapy on the Irish Council for Psychotherapy.
2. Theoretical Seminars. The works of the major theorists are covered.
3. Clinical Seminars. Assessment, selection, and treatment issues are dealt with in lecture and discussion format.
4. Research Seminars.
5. Group Experience. Students participate in an experiential group for the duration of the course.
6. Infant Observation. This involves a course of weekly observation of a baby and mother in the home. Detailed observations are discussed in a weekly seminar.
   
   Years two and three also include:
7. Supervised Clinical Work. Students are required to have on-going cases during the second and third years of the course, subject to satisfactory completion of the first year. They are expected to treat two cases, one case for one year and the other for two years. One case must be seen weekly and the other twice weekly. Students are required to attend weekly case supervision with an individual supervisor during years two and three, for a total of at least eighty hours of individual supervision.
8. Academic Assessment. Students are required to submit term essays, a major paper and thesis

Requirements For Admission

Applications are invited from candidates who are graduates of recognised University courses, with a degree in Medicine or a 1st or 2nd class Honours degree in Psychology Social Studies or a related discipline. In certain circumstances, exemption may be granted on the basis of professional experience. There is a minimum age requirement of 26 years.

Qualifications

M.Sc in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (adult) is awarded on successful completion of the academic components of the three year programme and satisfactory progress in the ongoing clinical training.This qualification forms a part of the requirements for full membership of the professional accrediting body.

For information contact:

The Course Administrator
73 Quinns Road
Shankhill
Co. Dublin
Tel: + 353-1- 2722928

For applications contact:
The Graduate Admissions Office
Trinity College Dublin,
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-1-896 2182
Fax: + 353-1-671 2821

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