child & adolescent psychotherapy training
Since 2014 IPCAPA at the British Psychotherapy Foundation (bpf) and the Anna Freud Centre/UCL have collaborated to produce an innovative and exciting Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. This four year full time programme will lead to the award of DPsych and professional membership of the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) as well as the bpf.
course content
The IPCAPA at the bpf training in child & adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy professional doctorate has been designed to provide trainees with an excellent clinical training, fully integrated with a knowledge and experience of the research skills that will be necessary for those working in the modern NHS.
The theoretical orientation of the clinical training represents the thinking of the Independent School within the British Psychoanalytic movement and also provides Freudian and Kleinian thinking, both classical and contemporary. It allows trainees flexibility and scope to find in time their own theoretical position. Additional Jungian theory modules are provided for Jungian analysands on the Jungian pathway.
The training aims to provide a thorough understanding of normal child development, childhood psychopathology and psychotherapeutic techniques linked with direct experience of clinical work, enhanced by research knowledge and skills.
As well as receiving direct teaching on research methodologies and how to evaluate others’ research findings, participants in the course will undertake a research project on an area of significance to the child psychotherapy profession. Participants will be helped to develop an approach to research that will be able to make a serious contribution to the future of the child psychotherapy profession.
This course has been created with an emphasis on the practical research skills that will be needed by a modern practitioner and designed specifically to be completed within four full-time academic years. In this integrated programme research thinking will sit alongside the clinical programme so that graduates from the programme will become able to use research to further and deepen their clinical practice.
structure
The training is offered in a small-group setting and aims to provide a thorough understanding of normal child development, childhood psychopathology and psychotherapeutic techniques linked with direct experience of clinical work and enhanced by expert research skills. The course is designed to provide the theoretical and practical context in which trainees develop skills in assessment and treatment of a full range of disturbances in children and adolescents.
Each trainee spends most of their training getting hands on experience in a clinic setting. Trainees work within the NHS usually in funded posts.
In order to fulfil ACP requirements each trainee:
- sees three children in intensive psychotherapy (one child of 5 years or under, one primary school child, and one adolescent), a minimum of three times per week, with individual weekly supervision for each case.
- Trainees are also required to have experience of using an evidence based evaluated form of time limited work, treat at least five children once or twice a week, to, to work with parents, and to undertake diagnostic assessments.
- They are also required to have experience of consulting to and networking with other professionals who are working to promote children’s well being.
All trainees are required to be in personal psychoanalysis with a bpf approved therapist, at least four times per week throughout their training.
The training takes a minimum of four years, and is accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists(ACP). All trainees are eligible for NHS work on qualification.
research element
The taught research element of the programme is mainly provided at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and the clinical element at the bpf. Please check your timetables carefully for venue information.
pre-training requirements
Please refer to the attached preclinical requirements document for pre-clinical requirements.
person specification for training
training requirements
Prospective applicants are advised to contact Edina Kernbaum via ipcapatraining@bpf-psychotherapy.org.uk. A member of the training staff will then be in contact with you to guide you through the process.
Applicants will need to meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must have a 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent) OR a Masters from a UK & University in a relevant subject.
- Applicants will have carried out a course of study at Masters level or equivalent comprising observation seminars and a taught theoretical component.
cost
Our training is funded and quality assured by Health Education England, via the regional offices. A limited number of training posts are offered by the NHS, for which trainees can apply.
The posts are four year fixed term training contracts, usually based in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team, and provide funding, time for study and training as well as the opportunities to meet all the clinical requirements of the training. We have a number of posts across London and the South East of England.
For trainees who are able to consider a self-funding option you would need to cover the costs of the training whilst in an honorary training post (either in the NHS or in the voluntary sector).
In 2020/21, IPCAPA at the bpf is delighted to be able to announce a programme of financial assistance for trainees from the Evelyn Phipps Memorial Fund. The fund is named for Evelyn Phipps (1955-2018), who graduated from the child and adolescent psychotherapy training at the Anna Freud Centre in Hampstead, and worked for many years at the Centre, in the NHS, and in private practice in London and Norwich. She was known for her work with troubled children and young people.
The fund intends to help those trainees at the start of their training on the Doctorate in Independent Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy who are not in receipt of an official source of funding for their training and are “self-funding”. The bursary will cover the four years of the training and provide up to £15,000 per annum. For more information please contact Edina Kernbaum on ipcapatraining@bpf-
how to apply
Those seriously interested in training are advised to seek further information at a very early stage to make sure all entry requirements have been met.
To apply, please email Edina Kernbaum via ipcapatraining@bpf-psychotherapy.org.uk for an application pack or alternatively download the application form below.
All application forms must be received by Sunday 3rd January 2021.
Applicants need to be accepted on to the training before subsequently applying to register as students at UCL.
View the Selection Process document
Applicants need to be accepted on to the bpf training before subsequently applying to register as students at UCL.
resources
Our 4-year full-time programme leads to the award of DPsych and professional membership of the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) as well as the bpf, and eligibility for work in the NHS.
contact us
If you have any questions please contact IPCAPA Training Coordinator Edina Kernbaum:
e-mail: ipcapatraining@bpf-psychotherapy.org.uk
phone: 020 8438 2412
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.