ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY - PSYCHOANALYTIC & PSYCHODYNAMIC SECTION
Cambridge Society for Psychotherapy CSP
41 Beaulands Close, Cambridge CB4 1JA
T: 01223 510 229
E:
W: www.cambridge-psychotherapy.org.uk
Contact Name:
Organisational History
The Society was formed in 1980 in the belief that learning can best proceed where the student is accorded the maximum possible opportunity for autonomy. The aim of the Society has been to provide a broadly based training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy which is responsive to individual differences in student needs. The Society is run collectively as a learning community in which students take the major role. The students are expected to take a full part in the organisation and administration of the Society.
Training Course Selection & Admission
Given the Society's stress on each student's responsibility for contributing to and shaping the training, great importance is attached to the process of selection. Personal qualities are regarded as more important than degrees or professional qualifications. Among the personal qualities looked for is the ability to digest and assimilate psychoanalytic knowledge and its critiques. The Society believes that it is important that all students have work and life experiences that involve responsibility to others. Before making a written application, prospective candidates meet at least one of the current students, may choose to meet a graduate member, and are asked to take part in a student group meeting. Applications will be followed as soon as possible by two interviews.
Training Course Requirements
PERSONAL THERAPY The Society regards this as the cornerstone of the training. Candidates are expected to have started in therapy at least a year before joining the student group. Prospective students may be given guidance in the choice of an appropriate therapist.
CLIENTS Students have usually been members of the training group for at least a year before beginning to work with their first client. In no cases do students see clients without supervision from an experienced therapist. The Society has a referral scheme for both low-cost and ordinary clients. Referrals to students are always checked out by an experienced member first..
Training Course Assessments, standards, role of training committee
Much value is placed on the student's capacity to self assess. Students are expected to initiate discussion with supervisors, fellow students and graduate members about when to begin to see clients or begin the process leading to graduation, before coming to their own decision. To help this, students are paired with each other and also with a graduate member for six months at a time and are members of a different cluster of up to five members (student and graduate) each year. All these offer possibilities for meeting and discussion with a range of different members and enable the student to assess his/her progress in becoming a therapist. The student is expected to appoint an outside assessor (not a CSP trained member) for their work in the last 9-12 months before graduation.
Since students begin with different experience and needs, the length of the training is not prescribed but is now at least four years. As mentioned previously, the point at which a student starts on the process leading to graduation is worked out in consultation with supervisors and the Society as a whole. The student must tell the Society as a whole of his/her intention to graduate in 9-12 months time and appoints a few student and ordinary members as well as his/her supervisor and outside assessor to mentor progress through meetings and discussion, both individually and as a group. The process has to be agreed by the Society and must include the opportunity for all members to discuss the candidate's work and to express any reservations about the candidate's readiness to graduate. Students graduate to become ordinary members of the Society by being presented and accepted as such at a regular business meeting.
Theoretical orientation
The student group meets once a week for seminars and clinical presentations, which offer a grounding in psychoanalytic theory and practice. Students also meet regularly in pairs or small groups for additional reading and discussion.
There is no "course" as such; the student group decides for itself which topics it wishes to study. Two ordinary (graduate) members of the Society are formally available to the group for advice on possible topics and related reading; they may also approach any member they would like to come and talk to them on particular areas of interest, or to join in discussion on clinical presentations.
Accreditation, graduation, membership
The whole Society meets at least once a month, and provides an opportunity for ongoing learning for all its members. There is also a monthly meeting for ordinary members to engage in professional discussion and learning. They can choose to be paired with each other (as well as with a student in some cases) for six months at a time, and expected to meet as suits them. The cluster system already described gives a good opportunity for people to exchange ideas about, for example, books to read or conferences to attend. From time to time the Society arranges small conferences, open to outsiders on matters of topical interest. All members are expected to sometimes take on one of the administrative tasks of the society - from chairing a meeting to participation in a working party on e.g. managing the admissions process.
Students' supervision always takes place weekly and individually. Some students choose to join a supervision group as well. These often continue after graduation and most members also continue in supervision, perhaps less frequently than weekly, though there is no requirement for them to do so. The various systems of pairings and clusters ensure that members and their work continue to be well known to each other.
Code of ethics/ethical principals
Is the organisation accrediting, training or both?
Is the organisation running a low cost scheme?
Does the organisation offer clincial services?
Does the organisation have members included in the UKCP national register?
Other Relevant Information
UKCP, 2nd Floor, Edward House, 2 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7LT
Email :