The Psychoanalytic Training

 

Do I have to be qualified as a mental health professional to train?

No. Applicants come from a range of different professions. Although it is often the case that applicants do have a previous training in a core mental health profession (psychiatry, psychology, social work or nursing) applicants from other professional or academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

Do I need to have clinical experience before I can apply?

There is no a-priori requirement for clinical experience. At the preliminary interview stage an individual’s clinical experience will be explored and it may be that an honorary placement in a clinical setting would be suggested as a way of gaining more experience. Once a candidate is accepted and registered, he/she, together with his/her progress advisor, will develop a programme that will provide the candidate with any clinical experience required for the training, in addition to conducting the analyses of two training patients.

 

Do I have to be in analysis in order to apply or to be accepted for the training?

No. There is no requirement to be in analysis before applying to do the training and this is not a reason to postpone the application process. However, many applicants are either in analysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy before applying to train as this can be an important way of helping to decide whether psychoanalytic training is the right choice for the individual concerned and can also be helpful in the application process. 

 

Is there an upper or lower age limit for training?

There are no age restrictions regarding applications for training. However it is worth remembering that psychoanalysis takes a long time to learn and this includes a long period after formal training is complete. For this reason it is better, if possible, not to leave the start of training later than necessary. On the other hand of course people develop and become ready at different rates and every applicant is assessed individually.

 

Are there any essential criteria for acceptance?

Beyond the requirement that applicants must have a degree or equivalent, the Institute discourages a tick-box type approach to applications to train. Becoming a psychoanalyst is a demanding course of work and any applicant needs carefully to consider his/her situation before undertaking such a commitment. The application process assesses each application on its merits and recognises a broad range of experience.

 

How can I know whether I would stand any chance of being accepted to train?

It is possible to have an informal discussion with a training analyst over the phone or by email independent of the application process. If you wish to do this, contact the Education Officer who will give you the name and contact details of a training analyst for an informal discussion.

The first stage of the formal application process is to send your CV with a covering letter to the Education Officer. You will then be offered a preliminary interview with a training analyst who will discuss your CV with you to help you to make a decision about whether to continue with the formal application.

 

         If I am turned down from the training can I re-apply?

Following submission of the application form, the candidate has two personal interviews with senior analysts and a decision is made by the Admissions Committee about whether to accept the applicant for training. Sometimes a decision is made not to accept the applicant immediately but to invite him/her to come to be interviewed again, which can be any time from 18 months to 4 years later, provided s/he starts or continues with 5 times a week analysis throughout that time. Whilst it can be upsetting not to be accepted straight away, this outcome is an indication that members of the Admissions Committee think that an applicant shows potential and it is often the case that those who reapply are successful when they are interviewed the second time.

Those applicants who are neither accepted nor offered the option of re-interview after the first time can apply twice more, up to a maximum of three applications. The Admissions Committee recognises that individuals do develop over time and there is
a very significant number of qualified members of the Institute, including some who now have considerable reputations, who were not accepted on their first or even second application.

 

 

Will I get feedback about my interview?

Following the outcome of the application process, unsuccessful applicants can meet with one of the analysts who conducted the interview (or another member of the Admissions Committee if they prefer) for feedback and a full discussion of the Committee’s decision.

 

What alternatives are there to training at the Institute of Psychoanalysis? Why should I train at the Institute?

There are two trainings available in the UK that confer eligibility for membership of the International Psychoanalytical Association. The training at the Institute is well established and has been running since 1924, whilst the training at the BPA has its first intake of students in 2010.

There are a number of differences between the two trainings. One of the most significant formal differences is that students undertaking the BPA training are required to be in their own personal training analysis and to see their training cases four times weekly, as compared to five times weekly at the Institute. The Institute of Psychoanalysis has a long standing international reputation, with world-wide links to other institutes. Our members are represented at numerous international conferences and workshops where the organization's widespread recognition and prestige attract opportunities to teach, supervise and participate in events across the globe. Training at our Institute thus offers opportunities to learn from psychoanalysts with international reputations as writers and scholars. Five times weekly analysis is intensive but given the high demands of undertaking any psychoanalytic training the Institute anticipates that it will continue to be the first choice for most applicants.

For those interested in less intensive trainings there are a number of psychoanalytic psychotherapy courses that make fewer demands on students, although they also provide a less rigorous training experience.
 

 

 

 

Isn’t it true that the training at the Institute is very expensive and costs much more than training as a psychotherapist? What are the costs of training?

The main cost of the training is the training analysis. In addition there are fees for seminars and supervision. The requirement of the Institute of Psychoanalysis is for trainees to be in five times a week psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy training organisations may require less intensive therapy or analysis (although trainees are often encouraged to undergo 4 or 5 times weekly analysis) While this may be cheaper, the difference is partially offset by the fees for seminars at the Institute (currently £450 per year) that are significantly lower than for most psychotherapy trainings.

 

 Is there any financial help available?

There is financial support available through a loan scheme. All students are eligible to apply for a loan (of up to a  maximum of £15,000). The loan is provided on favourable financial terms (payable interest free within seven years of qualification).

 

 

What does a ‘training analyst’ mean?

A training analyst is a senior analyst who, by virtue of his/her experience, has been considered sufficiently expert to undertake the analysis of candidates wishing to complete training as a psychoanalyst. In order to undertake the training trainees must be in analysis with a training analyst approved by the Institute of Psychoanalysis. Training analysts also provide supervision for students’ training cases.

  

How do I go about finding a training analyst?

The Education Officer of the Institute has a list of training analysts and can put you in contact with analysts who you can consult with a view to seeking an analysis.  The arrangement and fee for your analysis is a private arrangement between the individual and the training analyst.  

How long does the training analysis last?

All students are required to have been in five times a week analysis with a training analyst of the British Psychoanalytic Society for a minimum of a year before starting lectures and seminars and for the duration of the training. In very exceptional circumstances, when a candidate from the regions has to travel more than an hour to his/her analysis, and where the only possible alternative would be to have five sessions on four days, permission may be given following full discussion with the Chair of Student Progress Committee for the training analysis to take place four times a week, on four consecutive days.

  

What can I do if I am in analysis but my analyst is not a training analyst?

You should discuss your position with your analyst so that you can consider what steps you might take. In order to be able to start the training it is likely that you would need to arrange to work to end your analysis before starting with a training analyst.

 

What sort of time input is required?

The amount of time required for the training differs at different periods in the course of the training. In addition to the trainee’s personal analysis (five times a week for 50 minutes), the first year of training comprises seminars on two or three evenings of the week as well as an hour of infant observation. Subsequent years usually involve seminars on one to three evenings a week. In addition, usually from the second year onward there is the time commitment of seeing the first training patient and subsequently the second training patient (each five times a week) plus weekly supervision for each training patient. Whilst the number of hours differs slightly from year to year, it may be sufficient to allow trainees to register as students for the purposes of Council Tax and therefore be eligible for a 25% discount. Please note that the Institute will provide a letter stating how many hours you work; the local authority will then decide whether to grant an exemption.

 

I have a family and a busy job – how can I possibly find the time to train?

This is an important question asked by many people thinking of applying to the training. Whilst the demands of the training are high, there is also a fair amount of flexibility that enables students to plan the training to fit in with their particular circumstances. Some students spread the seminars over a longer period, or attend weekend seminars, so that they spend fewer evenings at seminars during the week. However, it is not possible to complete the training only through weekend seminars. In reality, trainees, many of whom are working full time alongside the training, do manage to find the time to meet all the requirements even though initially this may seem impossible.

 

 Do people take time out to have babies?

Yes. The training is flexible enough to accommodate the arrival of children and support is provided to enable parents to plan the subsequent structure of the training.

 

 Is it possible to train from outside London?

Yes, and applicants from outside London are welcome although there are significant challenges and it may not yet be possible for students to train from all regions throughout the UK. There are currently students training who live as far from London as Manchester and Sheffield. The Institute will help any applicants living outside London to consider how they might find a training analyst (there is a small but increasing number of training analysts living outside London). It is possible to participate in seminars via teleconferencing facilities, which enables students outside London to avoid the necessity of frequent travel.

 

How long does the training take?

The average duration for completion of the training is four to five years.  Some trainees manage to complete it in a shorter time (three years) and others may take longer, perhaps because of events such as having children. 

 

 

What is the range of psychoanalytic theory taught?

Training at the Institute of Psychoanalysis is founded on the work of Sigmund Freud and covers the major schools of psychoanalysis in Britain; Contemporary Freudian, Kleinian and Independent.  The Institute also links with European and worldwide psychoanalytical societies and there are opportunities for training with students from other countries at international conferences which facilitates exposure to a range of perspectives.
  

 

Is the training old fashioned and rigid?

The training is based on the teachings of Sigmund Freud – it is unapologetically Freudian. Drawing on this core of theory the BPAS is home to some of the foremost international thinkers working as psychoanalysts. Their work in developing contemporary theory ensures that clinical practice is inspiring and alive. The training is anything but old fashioned although it does aspire to be rigorous and disciplined.

 

Are written papers required?

The only formally assessed written paper required for the training is at the end of the course on Infant Observation.

 

What is the purpose of infant observation?

During the first year of training students make weekly visits to observe a mother and baby and participate in a weekly seminar to discuss their observations. The experience provides the opportunity to develop observational technique, to gain a theoretical and clinical understanding of the emotional development of infants, and thereby enhances clinical practice in a variety of ways.

 

Is it possible to combine the training with Child Analytic Training?

It is not part of the initial training to become a psychoanalyst but it is possible to start the child training after commencement of the second adult training case, provided the Education Committee is satisfied that the adult training is proceeding satisfactorily. If the training to become a child analyst is undertaken after qualification the possibility exists for it to be undertaken as part of the post qualification course to become a Fellow of the Institute.
  

 

What is needed for qualification? How are trainees assessed?

The major components of the training are:

• One year of infant observation followed by an assessed written paper.
  

• Completion of a number of compulsory and optional theoretical and clinical seminars.
  

• The supervised analysis of two training cases over the course of a minimum of two years and one year respectively, each five times a week.
  

• A personal training analysis (not part of the assessment).

 

Progress at all stages of the training is dependent on the recommendation of the Student Progress Committee. In the early stages the feedback of seminar leaders is important. In the later stages the assessment of the trainees two supervisors carries particular weight. Feedback reports are provided by each seminar leader for all seminars attended by the trainee. Supervisors provide six-monthly reports. The student is assigned a Progress Advisor who collates all reports and discusses these regularly with the trainee. Once all required components of the training are completed, the Student Progress Committee and the Education Committee consider all reports and decide on whether the trainee has developed to a point at which s/he can be recommended to qualify as a psychoanalyst.