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Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theories and Concepts

A fascinating overview of psychoanalytic thought, and how it applies in clinical settings and human relationships.

Course facts

Course Structure: The course runs on Wednesday evenings 18:30 – 21:00, from September 2026 for 20 weeks
Delivery: Sessions will be online, with 50 hours of CPD
Cost: £1,235 - bursaries and instalment plans available

Group discussion

How does it work?

Each week there will be a seminar taught by a member of SIP followed by a facilitated discussion group. We will begin by looking at theories of mind, including Freud, Bion, Winnicott and the British Independent School, then go on to explore clinical phenomena which both inform, and have arisen from these theories.

The discussion group is a space in which you can explore how psychoanalytic thinking brings a rich perspective to everyday life. Your own insights and experience are welcomed. Participants also have the support of a personal tutor, use of SIP’s library and access to support to apply for further training.
Book stack

What topics will it cover?

The course will include topics such as: 
  • Freudian Theory
  • Jungian Theory
  • Kleinian Theory
  • The independent tradition
  • Dreams and dreaming
  • Bion
  • How does psychoanalysis work? 
  • The Oedipus complex
  • Narcissism
  • Projective Identification
  • Transference and Countertransference
  • Working with children and adolescents
  • Working with patients facing death and bereavements
Note book writing

Who's it for?

This course is ideal for: anyone with a personal or professional interest in psychoanalytic theory applicants to or psychotherapy training looking for an introductory course mental health practitioners, counsellors, psychotherapists and trainees from other modalities.

More short courses:

  • Research Evidence in Psychoanalytic Therapies: Implications for Theory and Practice

    Is psychoanalytic therapy effective? Can in depth work be scientifically informed without losing its humanistic soul?

  • Insiders and Outsiders: Encounters of a diverse kind

    An opportunity to reflect on issues of difference, inclusivity, the painful experiences of being disenfranchised within society and how these impact on our personal lives and therapeutic practice.

  • Contemporary Klein

    You will learn about Melanie Klein’s revolutionary and sometimes controversial developments in psychoanalytic thought, gained through her observation of infants, and how they are applied in clinical practice today.

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