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Psychodynamic therapy for practitioners: books, training, videos and tests

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a family of therapies that draw on psychoanalytic theory. The therapist and client look at difficult feelings, patterns that repeat in significant relationships and the relationship between them; formats range from short-term to longer-term work.

The method in short

Roots
Psychoanalytic theory: UK trainings teach Freud first, then Klein, Winnicott and Bion
Short-term form
Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP): individual sessions, usually 8 to 16 in the NICE depression guideline
UK qualifying training
Part-time, four years or more, with personal therapy throughout; qualifies you to work with clients once a week

Primary sources: NICE NG222: depression in adults, short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy, British Psychotherapy Foundation: qualifying trainings, Tavistock: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (M58)

We give you information and answer for how we select it. Check terms, prices and dates with the organiser.

Psychodynamic books

Whole shelf, 36 books
Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis
Introductory Lectures on PsychoanalysisSigmund Freud
The Interpretation of Dreams
The Interpretation of DreamsSigmund Freud
The Language of Psycho-Analysis
The Language of Psycho-AnalysisJean Laplanche, Jean-Bertrand Pontalis
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis
Psychoanalytic DiagnosisNancy McWilliams
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's Guide
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner's GuideNancy McWilliams

Psychodynamic training

We do not run courses. Each programme has a link to the organiser and a check date.

Tavistock Education and Training, London

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (M58/BM58, London)

A four-year part-time course: a Master's degree after three years, then a further year of clinical training. Teaching starts with Freud and moves to Klein, Winnicott and Bion, with weekly clinical placements and weekly personal therapy. The page says university validation and BPC accreditation are still subject to approval, and that applications for the current entry are closed.

Format
Part-time, in person or blended
Language
English
For
A good honours degree or the Trust's introductory course, mental health experience and weekly personal therapy with a BPC-registered therapist
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

British Psychotherapy Foundation (bpf), London

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Training

A part-time qualifying training that leads to work with adult clients once a week. It starts with a Foundation Course, then placements and work with training patients; most trainees need four years or more. The bpf page states accreditation by the British Psychoanalytic Council.

Format
Part-time, in person with some online seminars
Language
English
For
The bpf Foundation Course or an equivalent one; applicants must hold indefinite right to remain in the UK; personal therapy is expected throughout
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Anna Freud, London

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT): 5-Day and 20-Day training

Training in dynamic interpersonal therapy, a 16-session manualised psychodynamic protocol for mood disorder that was developed out of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic competences. The 5-day course is for dynamically trained practitioners; the 20-day programme also admits counsellors and psychotherapists without a psychodynamic background.

Format
See the organiser
Language
English
For
5-Day: psychoanalytically or dynamically trained practitioners; 20-Day: counsellors and psychotherapists, including those without a psychodynamic background
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Tavistock Education and Training, London

Complex Trauma: the Tavistock Model (D19)

A two-year part-time post-qualification course for psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapists who want to specialise in work with traumatised adults. It combines a clinical placement, weekly experiential and supervision groups and academic modules; the page says the BPC has recognised it, so graduates can be designated Specialist Trauma Psychotherapists. The page says applications for the current entry are closed.

Format
Part-time, blended
Language
English
For
Accredited psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapists and psychoanalysts; the page lists the registers (BPC, BACP, UKCP) that applicants must belong to
Organiser’s siteChecked: November 1, 2026

How to choose a programme

  • Recognition. A professional association registry or an accredited provider list.
  • Practice. Hours under supervision and live discussion of your own cases.
  • Teachers. Experience in this particular method.
  • Outcome. A certificate, a path to certification or only knowledge.
  • Entry. Whether you need a base qualification and proof of practice.

Psychodynamic videos

All videos on methods

Peter Fonagy "Attachment Theory and Psychoanalysis: The Need for a New Integration?"

Channel: Anna Freud · Checked: November 1, 2026

A lecture from the June 2014 alumni conference at the Anna Freud Centre on bringing attachment theory and psychoanalysis together. The video has a one-line description and no chapters.

Open on YouTube ↗

Mary Target "The increasing role for attachment and mentalization models within clinical analysis"

Channel: Anna Freud · Checked: November 1, 2026

A talk from the same 2014 alumni conference on the growing role of attachment and mentalization models in clinical psychoanalytic work. The video has a one-line description and no chapters.

Open on YouTube ↗

Establishing safety when individuals come for their first therapy appointment by Dr Joanne Stubley

Channel: Tavistock Education and Training · Checked: November 1, 2026

A short clip from a Tavistock clinician with practical tips on creating a safe space from the very first therapy appointment.

Open on YouTube ↗

Psychodynamic associations and institutes

Practitioner registries, training standards, conferences. The links go to official sites; the descriptions are ours.

United Kingdom

Anna Freud, London

A UK charity that works in research, training and practical support for professionals who work with children and young people. Its training list includes dynamic interpersonal therapy and mentalization-based treatments.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

United Kingdom

British Psychotherapy Foundation (bpf)

A UK training and membership organisation for psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and Jungian psychotherapists: foundation and qualifying trainings, a library and the British Journal of Psychotherapy.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Europe

EFPP

The European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy links national networks of associations for work with adults, children and adolescents, groups, and couples and families. It holds conferences and section study days and publishes an e-journal.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

United States

AAPDPP

The American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis offers an annual meeting with CME hours, monthly virtual sessions (the Frame Series) and the journal Psychodynamic Psychiatry. Membership is open to physicians, psychiatrists, residents and medical students.

Official siteChecked: November 1, 2026

Tests and scales for Psychodynamic

All tests

Short scales to see the starting level and change over time. They are screening, not a diagnosis.

Many tests can be sent to a client as a link (a button on the test page), and the result comes to your email. If answers show signs of risk, the test shows help lines.

Psychodynamic questions

How do I choose a psychodynamic training?

Check what the programme qualifies you for (for example, work with clients once a week), whether personal therapy and supervision are required, and who accredits it. UK trainings at the Tavistock and the bpf expect personal therapy throughout, and the bpf states accreditation by the British Psychoanalytic Council.

How is psychodynamic therapy different from psychoanalytic therapy?

They share a theoretical base (Freud, Klein, Winnicott, Bion) and differ mainly in frequency and depth. At the bpf the psychodynamic training qualifies you to work with clients once a week, while its psychoanalytic training prepares for at least three times a week.

Which scales are used with psychodynamic therapy?

Two scales in our catalogue fit this approach: the DSQ-40, a questionnaire on defence styles with 40 items and mature, neurotic and immature factors, and the ACE questionnaire on adverse childhood experiences. Both can be sent to a client as a link.

What are the entry requirements for a training?

They depend on the country and the provider. The Tavistock M58 asks for a degree or an introductory course, mental health experience and weekly personal therapy; the bpf training also requires indefinite right to remain in the UK. Read the entry requirements on each programme page.

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