The programme is designed to provide professional training to suitably qualified and experienced practitioners to enable them to become psychosexual therapists. Workshops and seminars focus on psychosexual development, sexual functioning and dysfunction and its impact on both the individual and the couple.  You will be trained in the use of both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural interventions.  The 7,000 word dissertation provides an opportunity for you to research a topic based on a case study.  The examination will test your clinical skills.  By the time you graduate you will have completed a programme of theory and practice, equipping you to gain professional accreditation with appropriate bodies.

• First degree in any subject or equivalent professional  qualifications/experience
• TCCR Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Couple Counselling (since 2003) or equivalent – for example you may hold a postgraduate diploma in psychodynamic couple counselling from another organisation.  Alternatively, you might be eligible for BACP accreditation as a psychodynamic couple counsellor or a psychodynamic counsellor with a significant amount of training and clinical practice in working with couples.  Where equivalent training does not include sufficient psychosexual content you will need to complete the TCCR Certificate in Psychosexual Studies prior to embarking on the MSc module.
• Relevant work experience

• Appropriate personal qualities:

 i. Self-awareness, maturity and stability

ii. Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience

iii. Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course

iv. Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement

v. Ability to form a helping relationship

vi. Ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative feedback

vii. Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression

viii. Awareness of issues of difference and equality

ix. Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support

x. Competence in, or the aptitude to develop generic professional skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, selfmanagement

• skills, communication and interpersonal skillsCommitment to self-development
• Appropriate level of self-awareness in relation to motivation for learning about working with the sexual relationship
• You will be willing to adhere to the TCCR Code Of Ethics (www.tccr.org.uk) and the COSRT Code Of Ethics And Principles Of Good Practice. (www.cosrt.org.uk )

Admission with Advanced Standing

• If your first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
• If you apply to enter stages of the programme you may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement.  Where this is the case you must be able to demonstrate and evidence that you have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which you are seeking exemption

The MSc module runs for an academic year.  The teaching year begins in January and there are three terms of ten weeks each.  Seminars will run for an hour and a half weekly followed by a one and a half hour supervision group.  A minimum of two individual supervision sessions of one hour each are also given every term. There will be seven Saturday workshops (10 – 4).  The examination will be held at the end of the third term and the dissertation must be handed in by the February of the second year. Clinical practice continues throughout the year and may continue into the second year. Students are required to complete 120 hours.

Lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, film, experiential group work, self-directed study, clinical work, supervision, self reflective practitioner profile, assessed written work, presentation of seminar papers, training/professional logs, final dissertation.  Teaching will take place at The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships 70 Warren Street London W1T 5PB

There is a two part assessed examination entitled Clinical Competencies.  Part one is a one hour written paper and part two is a twenty minute group presentation.  You will also be required to present a self reflective practitioner profile and 2 case studies in note form,.  There is an externally assessed dissertation of 7,000 words.  Tutor reports and clinical supervision reports are also taken into account.

You will already be a qualified couple counsellor and you will work as a trainee psychosexual therapist within TCCR’s clinical service. Full administrative and professional support and consulting rooms are provided.  Where appropriate, you may be offered a placement with another agency.  In this instance casework will continue to be monitored by TCCR, in addition to which you will receive support from the placement agency

Seminars and workshops are interactive and group work and role play are used to enable you to develop your skills.  The dissertation provides you with the opportunity to write up your own clinical work and research a subject of particular interest to you.  Dissertation seminars and tutorials will support and develop your research skills.

The MSc programme is designed as a fourth year of training following on from the TCCR Graduate Certificate in Theory and Skills of Psychodynamic Couple Counselling and the TCCR Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Couple Counselling or equivalent. The training provides you with an integrated psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural model.  By completing a fourth year of training you will gain a professional qualification which satisfies the education and training requirements for COSRT Accreditation and UKCP registration.  You will, therefore, be eligible to practice as a psychosexual therapist.  This is an important consideration in the light of the forthcoming statutory regulation requirements for counsellors and therapists.  The programme also provides continuing professional development for qualified couple counsellors.

As a graduate you may chose to remain with TCCR for a period of time, in order to consolidate your clinical practice under supervision, and so become eligible for individual COSRT and UKCP registration. Encouragement is given to the pursuit of Continuing Professional Development, and you will be kept informed of training events.

As a graduate you can set up in private practice as a psychosexual therapist, confident in the knowledge that you hold a reputable recognised qualification.  Psychosexual therapists also work in a variety of settings such as counselling centres, clinics and hospitals.

You will be assigned a personal tutor, with whom you will meet regularly.  You will also join a supervision group which meets for one and a half hours weekly during term.  A minimum of two individual sessions of one hour each are also given every term.  Programme staff are experienced clinicians and visiting lecturers are acknowledged experts in their field.  Other staff, such as the head of Training and Organising Tutor are also available for consultation.  .  There is a small library onsite and you will also be eligible to use UEL’s library and to elect to join up to three other academic libraries.

• You will be part of a clinically focussed research institution of sixty years standing
• You will benefit from a good staff to student ratio.
• Because TCCR is a service agency, you may have access clients and be provided with the necessary rooms and administrative support.
• The programme location is close to, and easily accessible from, central London.
• There is a common room with free tea and coffee-making facilities.
• You will get reductions to TCCR conferences and events.