Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy – Intermediate Certificate

This course is for practitioners wanting an in depth understanding of brief psychodynamic therapy. In particular, the course will help practitioners develop a deeper understanding of the framework and techniques used in briefer and more targeted forms of psychodynamic therapy. While psychoanalytic therapy typically takes years of training to become proficient, this course is designed to allow mental health practitioners to begin to use psychodynamic interventions immediately in their own work. Practitioners may wish to utilises the techniques as an adjunct to their existing therapy technique or utilise the information provided in this course as a framework for their therapy.

The course draws on the intensive short term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) and related brief psychodynamic therapy frameworks. ISTDP packages the models, ideas, and tools used in other psychodynamic therapies in a structured and ready to implement format. Importantly, practitioners can use the techniques from this course in long term and non-intensive therapy or used it in an intensive way to achieve progress in very short time frames.

The course begins with an introduction to the evidence base for the therapy and the general framework for sessions. Following this, it covers theoretical models of psychodynamic therapy (Freudian and Malan) which underlie many of the techniques covered in the course, emotions and impulses which typically underly suffering, anxiety systems which trigger psychological defences (isolation of affect, repressive, and fragility), the relationship between depression and anxiety systems, and specific psychological defences therapists routinely observe in session (tactical, repressive, regressive, and character defences).

The course contains technical information suitable for mental health practitioners who are looking for continued professional development. The course contains a series of quizzes to assess understanding of the course materials and will provide resources participants to download and retain after completion of the course.