This innovative, multi-disciplinary master's degree has been created for mental health and other professionals who are interested in developing skills and competences in psychotherapeutic approaches with complex cases and personality disorders within generic and forensic settings.
A collaboration between West London Mental Health NHS Trust and Buckinghamshire New University, the course provides the conceptual tools, their application to clinical work, a specialised group experience and a research dissertation to equip participants to orient themselves to the complex reality of their roles in mental health organizations.
By focusing on individual, group and institutional dynamics, this training is specifically designed to explore the preconditions for maintaining boundaries, ensuring relational security and delivering coherent, effective treatment interventions.
MSc graduates are eligible to apply for British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) registration as Psychodynamic Practitioners in Mental Health (General or Forensic). Successful graduates can apply to the Forensic Psychotherapy Society for a further clinical training of two years leading to a BPC qualification as Forensic Psychodynamic and Complex Needs therapist, with full membership of the Forensic Psychotherapy Society which is a new member institution of the BPC.
What will this course cover?
There are five distinct elements to this master's degree:
- an understanding of the basic theoretical framework of psychodynamic theory and practice
- an applied element to enable the student to reflect upon the emotional impact of being with the patient
- an understanding of group and organizational dynamics and how these shape all other relationships
- teaches a structured model of inter personal dynamic consultation for multi disciplinary teams
- support for undertaking a dissertation which includes a taught element of research methods.