Key information
Course code: CT-4
Start date: September 2026
Course length: Minimum of 2 years
Location & timing: Hybrid learning.
Teaching will take place in person in central London for two-day blocks at the start of each term. Weekly seminars and clinical supervision take place online, one afternoon per week during standard academic term time.
Teaching and supervision is provided by senior staff. All our trainings and supervisions are delivered by highly experienced staff at Tavistock Relationships.
Fees for academic year 2026-27:
Fees £6,691
Trainees are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for trainees continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Additional fees
Trainees will also be required to pay for the cost of personal therapy/personal analysis and DBS checks where this is part of the course requirements.
This two-year (minimum) advanced standing programme is a clinical training and clinical qualification in couple psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
This training provides a comprehensive understanding of psychoanalytic theory and techniques as they relate to the adult couple relationship and builds on and deepens the student's existing clinical experience. Clinical work with couples is provided through the Tavistock Relationships' clinical service, some of which is in co-therapy with experienced psychoanalytic couple therapists.
This is the only couple psychoanalytic psychotherapy training that leads to professional membership of the psychoanalytic section of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).
Why study the Advanced Standing Qualification in Couple Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy?
- Train with experienced practitioners in the helping professions such as child, group and adult psychotherapy, counselling, psychology, psychiatry or social work
- Co-therapy undertaken with senior staff
- Individual supervision, tutorials and clinical administration included in the fee
- A chance to be part of an institution with more than 75 years of training and research experience
- Benefit from Tavistock Relationships' long history of researching and writing about couple relationships
Accreditation
The course is accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC).
The course involves:
- Seminars in couple theory
- Weekly individual supervision and weekly clinical seminars
- Co-therapy with experienced couple psychoanalytic psychotherapists
- Support from a personal tutor throughout the course.
Our programme will be of interest to child, adult or group psychoanalytic psychotherapists who now wish to extend their clinical practice to the couple.
Assessment includes:
- Case reports
- A qualifying dissertation and couple assessment report
- Ongoing assessment by supervisors, seminar leaders, co-therapist and tutors. Location and timing
How to apply for this course
Applications are now open for September 2026 entry. When filling in the online form, please make sure to click the 'Save my progress and resume later' box at the top of the page to avoid losing application content.
For more information, please contact
Online information events
Learn more about this training programme by attending our one of our free online information events. It's a great opportunity to gather more information and ask any questions you may have.
View our online information events page for details of our next event.
Enquire about this course
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Course leader
Andrew Balfour is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist trained to work with couples and individuals and is also qualified as a clinical psychologist. He has many years’ experience of working psychotherapeutically with couples, developing new projects and conducting research. He has published many papers in the field and has taught and lectured widely both in Britain and abroad. Andrew was appointed CEO in May 2016.