PPA Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training (Modified Entry Scheme)

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 therapist and patient

The programme follows all the clinical requirements of the full training. Modified entrants will be required to complete a minimum of 30 theoretical seminars offered by the PPA during the course of the training. The theoretical curriculum will be chosen in discussion with a personal tutor to supplement previous theoretical learning.

Trainees will undertake the treatment of two intensive training cases, each seen with weekly supervision, and will be required to attend weekly clinical seminars until qualification. Generally, MES trainees begin working with their first training patient in their second term on the training.

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.

MES trainees who have not undertaken a previous Infant Observation for a minimum of 12 months, will be required to undertake an Infant Observation course before qualification. Find more information on our Infant Observation course here.

Personal therapy, infant observation and psychiatric experience

Modified entrants are required to have undertaken a full personal psychotherapy/analysis at a frequency of at least 3 times weekly, for at least five years.

If previous intensive psychotherapy/analysis has not been undertaken, trainees will be expected to have started this with an approved PPA Training Therapist prior to starting the training.

For those who have completed a full personal psychotherapy/analysis, further therapy may be recommended following the selection interviews and may emerge as a requirement at the discretion of the PPA Training Committee during the training.

Trainees are expected to have completed an Infant Observation course. When an Infant Observation was not undertaken, trainees will be required to complete one during the training. Find more information on our Infant Observation course here.

Trainees are expected to have gained some psychiatric experience during their previous training. Those without psychiatric experience will be required to undertake a psychiatric placement during the training.

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 first year of the PPA training for modified entrants costs £4,244. This is is paid once, and contains the required 30 theoretical seminars.

From the second year onwards, the yearly fees are reduced to £1,994 until qualification.

If an Infant Observation is undertaken 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 trainee’s fees for their own personal therapy are negotiated with the Training Therapist on an individual basis. Similarly, when beginning to see 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.

View PPA Curriculum

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

The building has limited access – please email [email protected] or call us on 020 8452 9823 to discuss your needs.

If you are considering training with the PPA, please email the PPA Training Manager, ([email protected]), who will provide you with a preliminary questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is completed, you will be put 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.

Applications for the MES route may be submitted throughout the year.

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.