The Irish Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (IIPP)

  In the early 1990s the Irish Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy was formed by a group of psychoanalytic psychotherapists, (all members of the Irish Forum for psychoanalytic psychotherapy (IFPP) - the professional body for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Ireland), with a view to providing training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with adults.

  In 1993, a three-year Diploma course in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy was established. The course was run under the auspices of the Institute.

  Discussions had begun with University of Dublin, Trinity College, in the Faculty of Health Sciences, about developing the course as an M.Sc., within the Department of Psychiatry. This came to fruition in 1997, in the course of the second intake, and in 1999, this group graduated.

Need for the Course

  1. With the increased public awareness in Ireland of mental health issues, and greater community concern about the psychological and social consequences of traumatic experience, there was a growing demand for specialized training in psychotherapy to equip professionals to provide appropriate services to meet these needs.
  2. While there are many valuable and effective psychological therapies available, the unique contribution of psychoanalytic training lies in the opportunity it offers for the in-depth study of the human psyche, including the conscious and unconscious mind. This equips graduates to work therapeutically with patients who require more in-depth and long-term treatment.
  3. Graduates are then equipped to make a valuable contribution in many areas, whether or not they become practicing psychoanalytic psychotherapists. Thus teachers, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists may use the training to contribute to their organizations in a variety of ways.

Aims

  The course is designed to provide post-graduate training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with adults, an approach which uses the therapeutic relationship between patient and therapist to facilitate the exploration, understanding and working through of the patient’s current difficulties and anxieties in the light of his or her early experiences.

  The first aim in developing the course was to provide a thorough and structured training in the theory and practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy with adults.

  From the beginning, the strong emphasis given to clinical training has been a distinguishing feature of the course.

  The theoretical foundations are broad based, drawing on the work of Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Bion and the British School, as well as contemporary thinkers. This aspect is important in that this training in adult psychoanalytic psychotherapy draws on the classical tradition and the British and American Schools.

Administration of the Course

  The Institute manages the course in conjunction with the M.Sc. programme in University of Dublin, Trinity College. It runs its own seminars and jointly manages the Low Cost Psychotherapy Clinic.

  Also, and most importantly, the Institute awards its own Clinical Diploma, which students receive when they have completed the clinical training requirements. The awarding of the M.Sc. may not be synchronous with the completing of these requirements. The clinical diploma is necessary for membership of the IFPP and therefore for obtaining insurance to practice.

Administration

  The course is co-ordinated and administered by a Training Committee, co-chaired by Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Julie Carmody, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist, and consists of colleagues who participated in setting up the course, and who continue to be involved as lecturers, supervisors and therapists.

Lecturers

  For the most part, lecturers on the course are psychoanalytic psychotherapists, with backgrounds in psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing and education.

The Irish Forum for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (IFPP)

  The Forum is the recognized accrediting body for psychoanalytic psychotherapists in Ireland. It is part of the Psychoanalytic Section of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy, which awards the European Certificate for Psychotherapy. Click here for more information about the IFPP.

Irish Council for Psychotherapy

  The Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) is an umbrella organisation for psychotherapists in Ireland. The aims of the Council are to regulate both the training and practice of psychotherapy so as to safeguard public interest, promote excellence in the profession and produce a register of Psychotherapists working in Ireland. Click here for more information about the ICP.




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The Irish Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy - 73, Quinn's Road - Shankill - Co. Dublin.
Phone: (+353) 1 272 2928
Email: IIPP Administrator
© The Irish Institute of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy - All Rights Reserved. (February 2010)