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Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Birkbeck, University of London

Degree level: Postgraduate
Awarded by: University of London

Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy (Taught)

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Our MA and Postgraduate Diploma in Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy are offered in collaboration with Tavistock Relationships, a leading training and research centre in therapeutic and psycho-educational approaches to supporting couples. Why choose this course?

  • Both the MA and Postgraduate Diploma for this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to work as a psychodynamic psychotherapist and counsellor with couples and individuals.
  • You will gain an academic qualification as well as the clinical training experience required for accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).
  • Working with experienced practitioners in the helping professions, you will benefit from experiential learning and teaching techniques that foster discussion, creative and collaborative learning opportunities.
What you will learn Through experiential learning and your own experience of personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy, you will develop an analytical understanding of self and other, and interpersonal dynamics. A diverse range of family structures are studied on this course, and we encourage an inclusive approach to couple relationships through reading, discussion groups and self-reflection. Key areas of study include:
  • assessment of core issues presented by clients
  • principles of working psychodynamically with a focus on unconscious processes and transference
  • psychoanalytic models of the mind
  • historical development of psychoanalytic thought
  • complex theoretical concepts and how they are applied to the couple relationship.
How you will learn This course is available to study part-time in the afternoon and evening, with additional time commitments needed on other days with the start of your clinical placement and supervision in Year 2. You will also need to take part in a minimum of once-weekly, in-person individual psychoanalytic therapy for the duration of your training which must commence within two months of starting the course. You will learn through theory seminars, clinical workshops, self-reflective groups and small-case discussion clinical groups. You will also be supported by termly one-to-one continuous professional development meetings and weekly supervision with the start of your clinical placement. You will be required to undertake clinical placements under supervision in Years 2 and 3. Teaching and clinical work is based at Tavistock Relationships in central London, close to Liverpool Street station, with occasional sessions at Birkbeck's Bloomsbury campus. Highlights
  • Tavistock Relationships is the leading couple therapy centre in London. It has a long history in training, research and best practice.
  • You will become part of Tavistock Relationships' alumni group, enabling you to take advantage of its CPD and conferences that will keep you up to date with recent developments in the field and further develop your clinical practice.
Careers and employability On graduating, you can pursue the following career paths and opportunities:
  • as a professional couple and individual psychoanalytic psychotherapist, qualified to work in the statutory, voluntary or private sector
  • registration with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
  • a Diploma in Psychosexual Therapy and registration with the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)
  • entry into the clinical qualification in psychoanalytic couple psychotherapy which leads to registration with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
  • Tavistock Relationships and Birkbeck-run CPD courses for qualified clinicians
  • progressing your studies to PhD level at Birkbeck.
Graduates from this course have gone on to work in private practice, the NHS and at the Tavistock Relationships Psychotherapy Clinic.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Assessment includes process recording and recorded session analysis and evaluation, a couple theory paper, a clinical practice and theory paper and a seminar review paper.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Entry requirements

Our standard postgraduate entry requirement is a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) or an equivalent international qualification, Professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience are also taken into consideration positively and may be accepted in place of a degree. You will also need to have: a minimum of six months' voluntary or paid work experience in emotional and mental health wellbeing; Tavistock Relationships Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy or an equivalent level (Foundation/BACP Stage 2) psychodynamic or psychoanalytic counselling skills training. It would be an advantage to have undergone previous psychotherapy, preferably psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. We will request a short assignment from applicants without our standard requirements. On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve. You will be expected to attend psychoanalytic psychotherapy once a week within two months of starting the course

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

To be confirmed
Couple and Individual Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS