The Associates' Programme The Associates' Programme integrates psychoanalytic thought with contemporary social and
cultural thinking by focusing on individual and residential psychotherapeutic practice.
The
programme is based on Arbours' extensive experience since 1970 of running therapeutic
communities and a Crisis Centre for people in severe emotional distress, including psychosis.
Arbours also offers a three year Training Programme in psychoanalytic
psychotherapy as well as a Psychotherapy Service.
The Associates' Programme, which starts in January every year, is suitable for those who are
interested in exploring psychoanalytic principles, and applying them in their work with
individuals, as well as in residential or other institutional settings. Participation in an
ongoing experiential group helps towards a dynamic understanding of the interpersonal as well as
the intrapsychic issues raised in the course. The one year course is complete in itself; and
also serves as a foundation course for those considering applying to the Arbours' three year
training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The course comprises three terms of ten weeks. The students meet on a Monday evening from 7pm to
10pm for a theoretical seminar followed by the experiential group. In addition, there are two or
three Saturday workshops each term. Associates are also expected to attend clinical seminars
with trainees from the Training Programme on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month during
term time from 8.30pm-10.00pm.
Associates are required to be in individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy at least once a week
with a psychotherapist approved by the training committee. Associates will be assigned a
personal tutor with whom they will meet twice a term.
Although not a requirement of the Associates' Programme, there may be some opportunities for
supervised placements during the year. These could be of particular interest to associates who
intend to apply for the Training Programme in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as associates
who have had little or no prior clinical experience. Placements are arranged jointly between the
community co-ordinators and the training committee.
Applicants to the Associates' Programme will attend two interviews and are expected to
satisfy the training committee as to their personal maturity, motivation and competence. Two
letters of recommendation are required from people who have known the applicants for at least one
year either in their professional capacities or during their studies.
Arbours operates an equal opportunities policy and welcomes applications from people from a wide
variety of backgrounds. The Association of Arbours Psychotherapists
and the Arbours Training Programme offer two bursaries each of
£1,000 a year to Asian, African or African-Caribbean trainees. Details can be obtained from the
training committee.
Associates may apply for acceptance to the full Training Programme in
psychoanalytic psychotherapy during the third term of the Associates' Programme. Acceptance
will be subject to the decision of the training committee.
The Training Programme
The Arbours Training Programme provides an intensive three-year preparation for the practice of
individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on understanding the inner worlds
and social relations of people in distress.
The programme involves lectures, seminars, workshops, personal psychoanalytic psychotherapy and
supervised training cases. Teachers are drawn from the Arbours Association and from a wide range
of other experts in specialised subjects. What makes the training at Arbours unique is the
requirement to undertake two supervised placements, one in the Crisis Centre, the other in one
of the Arbours residential communities. These placements give students the opportunity for sound
and varied clinical work, and complement the academic and theoretical aspects of the training.
Seminars are held on two evenings a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays, from 8.30pm-10.00pm;
there are three Saturday workshops each term. Most seminars take place at 6 Church Lane, London
N8. In addition, throughout the programme trainees are expected to attend fortnightly clinical
seminars on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month during term time. The experiential group
takes place twice termly.
Trainees are expected to undertake two clinical placements. The first is at an Arbours long-stay
community, preferably during their first year of training. The second is at the Arbours Crisis
Centre, working with the crisis intervention teams. Each placement is usually for a period of
six months to a year. We encourage trainees to do their long-stay communities placement on a
residential basis; however, the residential aspect of the programme is flexible, and can be
arranged to fit in with circumstances of work or family. We aim to make it possible for people
to remain in full time employment while completing all parts of the Arbours programme. Trainees
on placement receive weekly supervision and are required to write reports about their work in
the Community and Crisis Centre. These placements provide a unique opportunity for direct
clinical experience.
During the third year of training and subject to the decision of the training committee, trainees
will be referred two individuals for psychotherapy and will work under supervision for each
case. Referral of training cases is usually made through the Arbours Psychotherapy Service. To
complete the course, trainees present a final paper about their work with one of their training
cases.
Trainees are required to be in individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy at least three times a
week, starting upon acceptance to the programme and continuing for the entire period of their
training. Trainees meet monthly with their personal tutors and participate in a twice termly
experiential group.
The number of trainees accepted each year is limited. All trainees are expected to have
completed the Associates' Programme before acceptance into the Training Programme which
starts in January. Training fees are due before the beginning of each term and are reviewed
every year.
Upon successful completion of the course the trainee, subject to the decision of the training
committee, will be awarded a Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and be invited to join
the Association of Arbours Psychotherapists (AAP). He or she can then
attend the regular monthly therapists' meetings. All members of the AAP are included in the
Register of Psychotherapists of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy.
The Training Committee
Prue Cave (Co-Chair)
Trinidad Navarro (Co-Chair)
Tom Bradshaw
Hella Ehlers
Andreas Ginkell
Tom Ryan
Tamar Schonfield
Bruna Seu
Adrienne Swan
UKCP registered; Registered Charity No. 263608; Member of National Housing Federation; Registered under the Companies Acts
1948 & 1967. Registered Office: 6 Church Lane, London, N8 7BU.
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Download Associates' Programme Curriculum (pdf, 5.5 kb)