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You are viewing a course in < Psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience
Postgraduate degree

Clinical Psychotherapy MSc

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This is a unique course that brings together psychoanalytic thought with biological and cognitive processes as well as a strong foundation in research methods and analysis. Study at King’s renowned Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) where you will learn from world-leading experts and practising psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychiatrists. You will be introduced to foundational papers and special topics in psychoanalysis from psychosomatic disorders to neuroscience, as well as research-led advances in biological and cognitive processes, individual differences, and social processes. Clinical placements are embedded in the course. You will benefit from our extensive links with the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, including the National Specialist Self-Harm Service, and 10 Windsor Walk - an award-winning community service that provides psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy. We welcome recent graduates as well as experienced professionals seeking to advance their knowledge and skills in psychoanalytic theories, clinical application to common mental health issues, and to the interface between mental and physical health. Our course will provide a strong foundation in theory and research methods that is linked to real-life clinical cases. We offer teaching by world-leading experts and practicing clinicians who are also psychotherapists and psychoanalysts along with clinical placements. Our course is suitable for students who would like to broaden their knowledge and skills as well as for students who would like to progress into professional qualifications.

Key benefits

  • King’s is ranked 2nd in the world for psychology and psychiatry (US News Best Global Universities 2024-25).
  • Teaching is led by active psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and consultant psychiatrists, working in South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SlaM) - the largest mental health Trust in the UK, offering the widest range of mental health services in the UK and providing specialist National NHS services.
  • Access to state-of-the-art equipment at the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, MRC Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (the only Mental Health specific centre of its kind). Access to EEG and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in Centre for Affective Disorders.
  • Clinical placement opportunities, giving students an experience in the work of the wide variety of services in the South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust and related disciplines within the wider King’s Health Partners (KHP).
  • Students who are interested in training for qualification in adult psychodynamic psychotherapy following British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) criteria and who have the requisite experience following BPC requirements would be helped to find clinical training and supervision.
  • The course is offered both part time (2 years) or full time (1 year) to fit the around your work or personal commitments.

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Employability

We have created the course to appeal to different levels of experience or learning. You may already be working with vulnerable people in a mental health or social care capacity (including psychiatry, psychology, social care, nursing) and looking for further training in psychoanalysis.

You could be a psychology graduate looking for a Master’s course with a clinical component as a stepping-stone to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or Professional Doctorate in Counselling and Psychology. Perhaps you come from a different field but are looking to change career to practise as a clinical psychotherapist. Or you may be interested in pursuing an academic research career in this field.

With clinical experience from highly sought-after placements, you’ll gain skills that you can use every day in your professional career. And being taught by our clinically active academics, you’ll have the cutting-edge knowledge you need to take your next steps.

Upon completion, you will have a solid understanding of the concepts, theories and practice relevant to clinical psychotherapy. You may go on to enhanced careers in mental health as clinicians and/or policy makers, conduct further full-time study in an academic research environment (e.g. PhD) or in taught clinical courses (e.g. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) or, gain employment in an academic, clinical or pharmaceutical organisation.

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Employability

We have created the course to appeal to different levels of experience or learning. You may already be working with vulnerable people in a mental health or social care capacity (including psychiatry, psychology, social care, nursing) and looking for further training in psychoanalysis.

You could be a psychology graduate looking for a Master’s course with a clinical component as a stepping-stone to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or Professional Doctorate in Counselling and Psychology. Perhaps you come from a different field but are looking to change career to practise as a clinical psychotherapist. Or you may be interested in pursuing an academic research career in this field.

With clinical experience from highly sought-after placements, you’ll gain skills that you can use every day in your professional career. And being taught by our clinically active academics, you’ll have the cutting-edge knowledge you need to take your next steps.

Upon completion, you will have a solid understanding of the concepts, theories and practice relevant to clinical psychotherapy. You may go on to enhanced careers in mental health as clinicians and/or policy makers, conduct further full-time study in an academic research environment (e.g. PhD) or in taught clinical courses (e.g. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) or, gain employment in an academic, clinical or pharmaceutical organisation.

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