The practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy seeks to explore, understand and work in depth with the emotional problems of another. It necessarily requires a rigorous and thorough training which entails the therapist’s time and commitment and the capacity to explore themselves in their own personal therapy.

Our training is underpinned by a theoretical framework derived from the rich, longstanding and well-founded psychoanalytic traditions of Freud, Klein, Bion, Winnicott and the British Object Relations School, as well as contemporary theory and practice. Based on Freud’s discovery and elaboration of the unconscious and its effects in everyday life, the work explores the ways that unconscious aspects and conflicts of the personality may be hindering development and informing conscious choices in an unhelpful way.

Intensive Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy involves seeing a patient three times a week, usually on the couch.  This frequency, together with the psychoanalytic setting, enables a depth of contact between therapist and patient that is significant and effective. It is an internationally recognized standard of psychoanalytic work that can be practically manageable in terms of time, finance and fit with other demands of contemporary life.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy allows for a sustained and meaningful therapeutic relationship to develop, enabling both patient and therapist to explore and understand the patient’s difficulties and conflicts in their inner world, in the safe and contained setting of the consulting room. Treatment aims to reach beyond the initial symptoms which may have instigated the desire for therapy, to the underlying causes which reside in deeper layers of the personality. Working in this way can provide profound and lasting change for the patient, and hopefully a rewarding and creative experience for both therapist and patient.

The PPA (Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Association) is one of the membership and training associations within the bpf (British Psychotherapy Foundation). Applicants come from a wide range of backgrounds, including mental health and related professions, academia, the arts and others.

There are two routes to qualification – the full training and the Modified Entry Scheme (MES).

The full training is suitable for those who have not completed a previous psychotherapy training, and/or undertaken an intensive psychoanalytic personal therapy with a PPA approved therapist.

The MES route is for those who already have a qualification in psychodynamic or psychoanalytic therapy as an adult therapist, child therapist or couple therapist.

The PPA Training Committee is responsible for running all aspects of the training, including selection, curriculum and clinical work with training patients. Each trainee is supported throughout the training by an individual tutor who is a member of the PPA Training Committee.

The administration of the PPA Training is the responsibility of the PPA Training Manager, working closely with the PPA Training Committee and Sub-Committees.

The PPA qualifying course comprises the following strands:

• The trainee’s own personal psychotherapy/analysis at a minimum frequency of 3 times weekly with an approved PPA Training Therapist throughout the training. This is required to be in person.
• The completion of an Infant Observation for a minimum of 12 months if not already undertaken. This is required before proceeding to take training patients.
• A psychiatric placement undertaken for a minimum of 6 months early in the training for those without prior psychiatric experience.
• A clinical placement will be required for those with limited previous relevant experience.
• In-person attendance and participation in weekly theoretical and clinical seminars, at which trainees are required to present their clinical work for discussion.
• Undertaking clinical work with at least two intensive patients under supervision.
• The submission of six-monthly reports and a final clinical paper.

The theory and clinical seminars are held on Tuesday evenings between 6.30 – 09:45pm. There are two Saturday seminars per term, with additional plenary sessions with the PPA Training Committee. A further seminar, for those completing an Infant Observation, is attended, at a time to suit the individual during the first year (or two, if a two-year observation is undertaken). In exceptional circumstances, the PPA Training Committee may give permission for a trainee to attend seminars remotely.

Personal Therapy

It is crucial that psychoanalytic psychotherapists have a thorough knowledge of their own emotional conflicts and difficulties in order to be able to work in an appropriately professional way with their patients. We believe that a trainee’s personal psychotherapy is central to their development as a psychotherapist and is a core part of the training.

Therefore, we require trainees to be established in a minimum of 3 times weekly therapy before starting the training and until reaching qualification. This therapy should be undertaken with an approved PPA Training Therapist, which will ensure that the therapy and training are congruent with that which trainees are learning to practice.

Most applicants will be established in their personal therapy prior to application. If you are not yet in personal therapy with an approved PPA Training Therapist at the point of application, we can assist you in finding a suitable training therapist.

Infant observation

This component allows the trainee to gain first-hand experience of the development of an infant and their attachments, and therefore to develop a greater understanding of the early states of mind and human experiences which exist within us all. It also facilitates the development of a capacity to experience and observe intense emotional states both in the mother and baby and in the observer themselves.

Trainees are required to observe a mother and baby in the family setting once a week for an hour. Detailed reports on these observations are written, which are then discussed at a weekly seminar led by an experienced psychotherapist. The observations begin at birth and continue for a one or two years. The length of the observation is agreed with the family at the outset. A piece of written work on the observation is to be completed before beginning with the first training patient.

Find more information on our Infant Observation course here.

Selection

Selection of candidates for training is made on the basis of qualities directly concerned with the ability to learn and to function as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and each application is carefully considered on an individual basis.

Successful applicants have generally gained some experience of working with adults with emotional difficulties within a one-to-one relationship, either professionally or on volunteer basis. Most applicants have an academic qualification, but we also accept applications from those without formal higher education qualifications who are able to demonstrate the capacity to undertake the academic components of the course.

An application is likely to be strengthened by having some familiarity with psychoanalytic ideas.

Following acceptance onto the course, those without previous psychiatric experience will need to undertake a psychiatric placement, either before or during the training.

Those with little relevant clinical experience will need to undertake a clinical placement. All trainees need to be engaged in one-to-one therapeutic work with adults during the first pre-clinical year of the training as a foundation for working more intensively, and so that they can participate fully in the weekly clinical seminars.

Residence and Language

Enrolment on the PPA training does not currently qualify for a visa.

All applicants for the PPA training are required to have the right to remain in the UK, and to be in a position to support themselves financially during the training which is an intensive clinical training requiring long-term in person work with training patients.

The PPA training is delivered in English. Where English is not their first language, applicants may be asked to demonstrate that their use of spoken and written English is sufficient to participate in the academic and clinical components of the course.

Undertaking a clinical training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy represents a major personal investment in terms of time, finances and individual development. We are currently unable to offer financial support to trainees. However, we review our fees regularly with the aim to keep them as affordable as possible. The bpf does not subsidize transport or accommodation expenses.

Personal therapy and supervision are not included in the course fees.

When trainees begin their work with training patients through the bpf’s Clinical Services, the trainee will invoice the patient directly.

2025/2026 Course Fees:

The annual fee for the four years of the theory curriculum is £4,244.

Yr 1	Yr 2	Yr 3	Yr 4
£4,244	£3,966	£3,966	£3,966

If clinical work needs to continue beyond the four years, there is a reduction in the annual fee to £1,994.

If an Infant Observation is undertaken during the course, there is an additional fee of £1,653.

Trainees also pay an annual bpf membership fee of £144.45 which provides access to the bpf library, to PEPWEB (an excellent online resource of psychoanalytic literature), and access to bpf’s wide-ranging scientific and cultural life.

The cost of personal therapy is negotiated with the Training Therapist on an individual basis. Similarly, when beginning to work with training patients, the cost of supervision will be discussed with each Training Supervisor. Trainees will need to provide an appropriate setting to see training patients and this may involve room rental costs. 

PPA Curriculum

Attend our Virtual Open Day to watch a presentation about this course.

Contact us at [email protected] to discuss any access requirements.

If you are considering training with the PPA, please email the PPA Training Manager, ([email protected]), who will put you in contact with a PPA Training Advisor (a member of the PPA Training Committee). Before contacting the PPA Training Manager, please ensure you have carefully read the information on the PPA pages of the bpf website including the entry requirements.

PPA Training Advisors can help you prepare to apply, as well as answer questions about the structure, content and cost of the training. If your enquiry is at an early stage, the PPA Training Advisor can offer guidance with regard to the next steps to consider, including how to find an approved training therapist.

The application closing date for the January 2026 intake is 2 June 2025.

The bpf is committed to diversity and inclusivity in all the work we deliver. We are fully dedicated to promoting, maintaining and supporting equality of opportunity in all aspects of our organisation and, as such, the bpf welcomes applications from all sections of society.