Criteria and Guidelines for Accreditation as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist with IPSS
Applicants for individual accreditation as a Psychodynamic psychotherapist may already be fully registered with UKCP under another College or be a student member of UKCP. They may also be a member of BACP or hold an ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy).
Applicants will be seeking accreditation as an individual Psychodynamic psychotherapist through a combination of relevant previous training and direct patient work.
a) For applicants without a completed or a full formal training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, professional equivalence may be achieved based on the CPJA Standards of Education and Training. Applicants who have a qualification in psychodynamic counselling for example, in addition to meeting all clinical supervision and personal therapy requirements, may be accredited if they can demonstrate sufficient additional relevant Master’s level CPD study comparable in depth and breadth with the CPJA Standards of Education and Training
b) Applicants with sufficient theoretical study demonstrably meeting the CPJA Standards of Education and Training thresh-hold requirements, may be accredited on condition they have achieved the following minimum clinical criteria:
• Personal Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis - Although it can be interpreted flexibly, this will normally have been for a minimum of 4 years in total, of which a minimum of two years (continuous) must have been once (or more) a week. We would also expect a substantial overlap with the psychodynamic clinical work for which the applicant wishes to be accredited. The applicant’s therapist(s) will normally have been an accredited psychodynamic psychotherapist/psychoanalyst from the CPJA (UKCP) or BPC (or equivalent) and themselves have had at least five years post-qualification experience. This is a requirement in relation to the period of once (or more) weekly psychotherapy.
• Have themselves offered psychodynamic psychotherapy once a week to at least one client/patient for no less than a continuous 12- month period (under appropriate weekly psychodynamic supervision). This will be considered the applicants ‘training case’.
• Significant additional once a week clinical experience under psychodynamic supervision.
It is imagined that whilst some applicants will meet the above criteria at the point of applying, others may not. For the latter, you are welcome to apply on the basis that further personal therapy, CPD and/or supervised practice will be undertaken with an IPSS approved psychodynamic psychotherapist/supervisor before accreditation is appropriate.
Guidelines on Previous Training
1. A postgraduate course/training with a completed academic element (including essays/assignments). The course should include at least 250 hours of formal teaching time (or 500 hours, if tutorials, supervisions, groupwork, and any infant observations are also counted).
• Over three or four years (any ‘introductory’ year is not counted).
• Main Psychodynamic theories and methods have formed a major part of the teaching.
2. Infant development - Training in infant development and/or baby observation.
3. Knowledge of and experience of working with serious mental disorders. This could include a psychiatric placement.
4. Clinical seminars - Demonstrating the use of supervision to inform clinical practice.
5. Assessments and Formulation - Proven ability to undertake Psychodynamic psychotherapy assessments and create a Psychodynamic formulation of the patients presenting issues based on, but not limited to, understanding of unconscious processes.
6. Candidates should demonstrate a basic understanding of research techniques and their application to the investigation and evaluation of psychotherapeutic interventions from assessment to treatment end. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to accurately understand and interpret the findings of research in journals and other sources, alongside demonstrating a capacity to critique these.
Whilst a verifiable Master’s degree is not a requirement of accreditation, all submitted work will be assessed at Masters level using the assessment framework provided here: IPSS Master's Level Assessment Criteria and must meet the CPJA Standards of Education and Training thresh-hold requirements in full.
If the completed postgraduate training was in psychodynamic counselling, integrative psychotherapy, music or art therapy, or other allied discipline, then the applicant will need (by way of equivalence) to demonstrate sufficient post qualification Master’s level CPD study across the theoretical field of individual adult Psychodynamic psychotherapy before being considered for Stage 3 accreditation.
Guidelines on the Experience of Personal Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis
To achieve accreditation, the applicant will need to demonstrate substantial personal Psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with an accredited practitioner. Although it can be interpreted flexibly, this will normally have been for a minimum of 4 years in total, of which a minimum of two years (continuous) must have been once (or more) per week. We would also expect a substantial overlap with the Psychodynamic clinical work for which the applicant wishes to be accredited.
The applicant’s therapist(s) will normally have been an accredited Psychodynamic psychotherapist/psychoanalyst from the CPJA (UKCP) or BPC (or equivalent) and themselves have had at least five years post-qualification experience. This is a requirement in relation to the period of once (or more) weekly psychotherapy.
In working towards full UKCP accreditation, IPSS may offer recommendations to support relevant applicants in meeting the above personal therapy requirements at their own cost as considered individually appropriate.
Guidelines on Direct patient work and the Experience of Supervision
The applicant will have had substantial Psychodynamic supervision with a suitably experienced Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic practitioner and experienced supervisor. This would normally be individual (one on one) and weekly for the full duration of the once per week ‘training case’.
Other once a week work will also have been closely supervised. Furthermore, it is also considered best practice that the applicant’s current and ongoing work continues to be supervised.
Given the above requirements, it is unlikely that any applicant with less than three years of direct patient work with their own individual clients/patients will be considered ready for accreditation as a psychodynamic psychotherapist.
Supervisor references will be required and may be verified.
In working towards full UKCP accreditation, IPSS may offer recommendations to support relevant applicants in meeting the above supervision requirements as is considered individually appropriate. However, the responsibility to find suitable clients/patients and fund supervision remains with the applicant.
