MDCS40380

The supervision of clinical practice has two modes: weekly small group supervision in a group of maximum 4 students with an experienced psychoanalytic supervisor; and weekly, over 25 weeks, one-to-one supervision with an experienced psychoanalytic supervisor. Students get their clinical experience in appropriate psychotherapy, mental health and social care settings. Central to this work in these different settings is the task of listening and responding psychoanalytically to the material articulated by the patient/client. In this way students receive a highly focused training in the technique and practice of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Practical questions, such as how to commence work as a psychotherapist, how to maintain a correct position vis à vis the patient, the early sessions, the place of interpretation, the role of the transference, etc. are all looked at in detail. Central Freudian texts on psychoanalytic technique are used as a basis for the discussion of ongoing clinical formation in the small group, with students presenting their active case material in rotation for peer and tutor supervision. One-to-one supervision provides a weekly opportunity to speak through sessions with individual patients/clients.