The M.A. in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is a two-year taught clinical masters programme. This course provides a theoretical and critical understanding of the principles of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and the professional training necessary to practice this therapeutic method.  It is designed for those who seek to attain the professional position of psychotherpist or those who wish to apply psychotherapeutic principles to their working environments and employment practices.   

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is formulated from psychoanalysis, a discipline that is based on the work of Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has an undisputed place in Western culture and many of its concepts inform diverse fields of intellectual and artistic enquiry such as literary theory, law, sociology, cultural criticism,  women’s studies and queer theory.

The course is divided into three separate but strongly interconnected strands - psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and philosophy.  In addition to psychotherapeutic theory and practice, the course provides a comprehensive philosophy of the self and mind encompassing knowledge, ethics and analytic skills.  Students are required to attend lectures each week. Lectures are supported by seminars where students review material discussed in lectures and are encouraged to participate and debate course material and their clinical work. The clinical component of the course comprises taught elements - clinical case studies and clinical practice - and students are required to be engaged in clinical supervision and in personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.   Each student is required to have weekly clinical supervision as soon as they begin clincial practice, usually before Christmas in Year 1.  The responsibility to arrange clinical practice or placement rests with the student, although the Course Directors will give support and direction in this regard. 

In addition to attendance at lectures students are expected to have one further day available for work related to the programme   
including personal analysis, seeing one’s own clients, attending external individual supervision, and preparing and researching all course work.

Students may opt to take a daytime version of this Masters in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy course which takes place on two days a week, or they may opt for the evening version which takes place on three evenings a week.

The course is recognised by The Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland. (A.P.P.I.)