- Overview
- Syllabus
- What we offer
- Requirements
Overview
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 psychotherapist 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 law, psychology, sociology, literary and cultural criticism, film theory, gender studies and theories of sexuality. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an approach to psychological suffering referred to as the "talking cure". The "talking cure" involves the act of speaking on the part of an individual to a psychotherapist who is trained to listen. The kind of listening involved rests on a particular concept of the way the mind functions, as a complex entity that resonates with both conscious and unconscious thoughts. The ability to listen calmly and without prejudice to another who is speaking requires considerable training.
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 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 including in-class analysis and research of clinical case studies and clinical practice. Extra-class requirements involve weekly attendance at weekly clinical supervision and attendance on a weekly basis at personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. Students are expected to have begun their clinical practice before Christmas in Year 1. The responsibility of arranging clinical practice and procuring clients rests with the student although the Course Director(s) will give support and direction in this regard. In addition, clinical placements in various clinical settings are available to students who meet the suitability criteria. Placements are applied for by students in the first year and second year of the programme.
In sum, in addition to attendance at lectures, students are expected to have at least one further day available to work related to the programme including personal analysis, seeing clients, attending external individual supervision, attending placement(s) and preparing and researching all course work.
Students may opt to take a daytime version 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 running of the daytime programme is subject to having adequate numbers of students.
The course is recognised by The Association for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy in Ireland. (A.P.P.I.)
Awarding Body
HETAC
Course Start Date
September 2012
Course Timetable
Detailed timetables will be available in Summer 2012. The course typically consists of three evenings of lectures per week. The academic year is 24 weeks from September to April and end of year examinations are in May.
Contact Details
Eve Watson, Head of Psychoanalysis
Email: eve.watson@independentcolleges.ie
Phone: 01-6725058, 01- 6355821
Course Duration
two years day-time/ two years evening-time
Course Fees
Full time: €6,600 per annum- Day-time (Payment plan options available)
Part time: €6,600 per annum - Evening-time (Payment plan options available)
Syllabus
M.A YEAR ONE
Psychotherapy: Theoretical Approaches I
Schools of Thought I
Child & Adolescent
Psychotherapy I
Society, Culture and Mental Health I
Forensic Psychotherapy I
Clinical Psychodiagnostics
Psychoanalysis I
Elementary Psychoanalysis
The Family and the Oedipus Complex
On Dreams
Philosophy I
Philosophy of the Mind
Philosophy of Science
Psychotherapy Practice I
The Practice of Psychotherapy
Clinical Focus: Suicide and Depression
M.A YEAR TWO
Psychotherapy: Theoretical Approaches II
Schools of Thought II
Child and Adolescent
Psychotherapy II
Society, Culture and Mental Health II
Addiction
Forensic Psychotherapy II
Psychoanalysis II
Freud and Religion
Language and Narrative
Psychosexual Development
Philosophy II
Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Research Methods
Psychotherapy Practice II
The Practice of Psychotherapy II
Clinical Practice and Supervision
Research Thesis (12,000-15,000 Words)
What We Offer
This programme is designed for those who wish to practice as professional psychotherapists, either within the health services or in private practice. The course will also be of interest to those who work with people in other fields and who wish to apply psychotherapeutic principles to their working environments and employment practices.
Psychotherapy aims to assist the individual to overcome the psychological difficulties that he or she might encounter in life. In order to do this, a psychotherapist must have a thorough understanding of how the mind works, how we adopt particular stances in relation to the world and other people, and how we develop particular interests.
Psychotherapy is a field that is rapidly developing in Ireland. Psychotherapists are employed in the health services and in many caring professional organizations which address mental health issues. Some psychotherapists also work in the prison service, dealing with both adult and young offenders. Many psychotherapists in Ireland work in private practice with clients who are referred by their GP or psychiatrist, or who self-refer in order to address particular issues in their lives.
Requirements
In order to gain admission to the M.A. programme, it is usually necessary to have achieved a 2.1 (honours degree) at undergraduate level. However, there are a number of other factors to be taken into account. Previous and ongoing experience in the area of counselling/psychotherapy/psychology or in a related field (e.g the medical and nursing professions, the caring disciplines, the social services, education and the not-for-profit sectors) is of benefit to an intending applicant.
As well as (a) downloading and submitting an application form along with relevant supporting documentation applicants must be (b) submit a personal statement of no more than 500 words and (c) attend for an interview
Applicants must be at least 23 years in January of the year of application.
