Prerequisites for training
Applicants are normally expected to have:
  experience of psychoanalytic psychotherapy or analytical psychology for a minimum of one year prior to starting the training
  a formal qualification such as a degree or equivalent professional qualification (e.g. CQSW, RMN, BACP accredited counselling qualification) and/or some experience within a relevant field such as education, health, welfare or community service, or the arts
  personal and professional qualities that make for a reliable psychotherapist
  An ability to cope with the academic content of the course is essential as the AGIP training is conducted at a postgraduate level

AGIP operates a policy of Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) where there has been appropriate prior learning.

Selection Process
Trainees will be selected on the basis of a written application (including a personal statement), two personal or professional references and two individual interviews.
AGIP does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability
Applicants should note that they will be required to undergo a police clearance through a CRB check immediately prior to the course.

AGIP's Training Programme is psychoanalytically based, founded principally on the theories of Freud, Jung, Klein, Winnicott and other Object Relations theorists.

An Infant Observation Course is included and an Experiential Analytic Group runs throughout the four years. Personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy with a Training Therapist approved by AGIP is a requirement.

The course is four years in length with extra time to complete clinical requirements. Teaching is grouped into three terms of ten weeks each year, with a half term reading week each term. The course is taught on Wednesdays from 5pm to 9.30pm plus two weekend days (either Saturday or Sunday) each term.

The syllabus is constructed as a means of enabling trainees to follow the development of psychoanalytic thinking and to view the areas of controversy within the field. Seminars are designed both around theorists who have contributed to the development of psychoanalytic thinking and the central psychoanalytic concepts that have evolved.

  Years 1 to 4: Seminar Course
  Years 1 and 2: Infant Observation Course
  Years 1 to 4: Experiential Analytic Group
  From Year 2: Clinical Work with Training Patients may commence
  During the course: a Psychiatric Placement in a psychiatric unit is required of at least half a day a week over a six month period
  Throughout the course until qualification: Personal Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

AGIP does not provide a training in group psychotherapy.
There is a weekly psychoanalytically-based group which provides an experiential setting for the exploration of various group perspectives. The group runs for the full four years of the seminar course.

A two-year Infant Observation Course initiates the clinical training. It gives trainees an opportunity to observe human development and developing relationships at first hand. Trainees visit a baby in its own home from as soon after birth as possible for one hour a week. In weekly seminars participants explore and reflect upon the meaning of what has been observed. Seminars are led by a psychotherapist experienced in the field of Infant Observation.

AGIP holds that sound personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy is fundamental in the training of a psychotherapist. Accordingly, trainees are required to undertake individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy with an approved training therapist. This should continue on at least a twice-weekly basis throughout the training period until Professional Membership is granted. Trainees are required to attend a higher frequency for a substantial period of the training. All these arrangements must be agreed with the Training Committee and applicants are advised to discuss their own situation with a member of the Training Committee at the earliest opportunity. Please contact the Administrative Assistant for the appropriate name and contact number

AGIP believes that psychoanalytic psychotherapists should be familiar with a wide range of psychological distress. Trainees are expected to have some experience of an appropriate psychiatric setting, such as a psychiatric hospital, day hospital, therapeutic community or community mental health centre. Some trainees may have gained this experience prior to starting the training and should advise the Training Committee of this.
Others will need to undertake a suitable placement of at least half a day a week for approximately six months as part of the training process. If necessary, tutors will help with arrangements for placements. Trainees are required to write a brief report of about 1,000 words on their placement.

Trainees may apply to the Training Committee for permission to work with training patients from the first term of their second year. The trainee's training therapist, group leader and tutor will be asked for their agreement. This is the only contact AGIP will have with a trainee's therapist.

Trainees are required, as a minimum, to work under supervision with two training patients: the first for at least two years at a minimum of two sessions per week, the second for 18 months for at least two sessions per week.

In addition to this basic requirement, trainees will be expected to build up a varied clinical caseload of patients with regard to type, frequency and duration. This caseload must also be adequately supervised.

Training patients are usually referred via the Fairbridge Clinic, AGIP's reduced-fee scheme for people on low incomes. However, AGIP cannot guarantee to provide training patients. Trainees may also find other sources of referral and these need to be approved by the Clinical Committee.

AGIP provides each trainee with a personal tutor who provides a link to the Training Committee and with whom the content and progress of the course, as well as any professional or personal difficulties, can be discussed on a regular basis. Trainees are required to attend two tutorials per term during the four year course, and subsequently three tutorials per year until qualification. The cost of tutorials during the four year seminar course is covered in the training fees. Tutorials after this are at the trainee's expense. Tutors should be consulted at all stages of training.

Towards the end of each academic year trainees prepare a 500 word self appraisal which is discussed with the tutor and is used as the basis for the tutor's annual report.

Within the AGIP house there is a library and a communal area for all members. Consulting rooms are available at reduced rates for trainees.

AGIP considers that written work is a helpful way of enabling trainees to integrate theoretical learning with their clinical experience. It is also a useful way of monitoring and assessing the trainees' levels of understanding. Therefore, trainees are expected to produce pieces of written work at regular intervals during the training.

Trainees will be asked to write:
  an essay on aspects of Freud's theory
  an essay comparing theories of Freud, Jung and Klein through their application to a chosen fairy tale
  an essay analysing a key concept from the second year's seminars
  short clinical papers summarising the development of their work with training patients.
  a brief report on the psychiatric placement.
  weekly process recordings of the infant observation
  an infant observation paper tracing the development of the individual baby observed.
  Other written submissions may be required as appropriate.

Trainees are required to produce a longer paper (10,000 words - called the 'Final Paper') towards the end of their training. All written work and participation in seminars will be monitored and assessed.

There are several components to bear in mind when planning to undertake the AGIP training:

Seminars and analytic groups: one evening a week, comprising three sessions of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes each, for three ten-week terms and two week-end days per term over four years.
Personal psychotherapy: a minimum of two sessions per week throughout the training, with a substantial period at a higher frequency.
Infant Observation: Weekly observation of a baby for one hour plus time to write the process recording
Training patients: at least two training patients each at a minimum of twice-weekly sessions (plus time to write up the sessions), together with an additional caseload.
Supervision: weekly individual supervision starting just before the first training patient is seen, weekly group supervision for the second training patient, and in addition, supervision for the additional caseload.
Psychiatric placement: if not fulfilled prior to starting the training, a six month part-time placement in an approved psychiatric setting.
Private study and essays: allow a minimum of five hours' study time per week during the seminar course. Additional time will be required for the longer essay towards the end of the training.
AGIP meetings: although optional, it is hoped that trainees will very quickly begin to play a part in the ongoing life of AGIP including attending meetings and AGMs.

To proceed to Professional Membership, trainees must successfully complete the following and then make application to the Training Committee:

  Regular attendance throughout the four-year seminar course and satisfactory completion of all written assignments.
  A 10,000 word essay (the 'Final Paper') on an approved topic, written in consultation with the tutor. The paper is assessed by two readers.
  Regular attendance at tutorials.
  A minimum of two years' adequately supervised clinical work as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist which includes at least one patient for a minimum of 2 years and a second patient for a minimum of 18 months (each with supervisors approved by the Training Committee).

The Training Committee will take into consideration the supervisors' annual and final reports and the trainee's attendance and participation in clinical seminars during the course.

If the Training Committee approves the trainee's application for Professional Membership, it submits it to the Council which is the body that makes the final decision and awards all categories of membership.