Skip to content

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Training: Perinatal

This six-day course provides introductory training for practitioners working in perinatal specialist services in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT).

About this training

This six-day training, including two half-day refresher sessions, is designed for practitioners working in perinatal specialist services and is the first step to becoming an IPT practitioner. The training reflects the IPT competency framework, and the trainers are accredited with IPT UK.

Two of the trainers are perinatal leads working in specialist services and the third has conducted specialist IPT training and research with perinatal practitioners. Standard IPT practitioner training has been adapted to reflect the evidence base for IPT used perinatally, collected over more than 20 years, and the specific challenges of perinatal care.

The training is delivered through a mix of didactic sessions, small and large group work and clinical examples and role play.

Trainees will be expected to participate in weekly supervision and work towards completion of IPT UK Accreditation for Practitioner Training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression Level B. Supervision will be provided by an IPT UK accredited supervisor on four cases covering at least two different focus areas.

This training aims to:

  • provide experienced mental health professionals with an introduction to the IPT model and its use within perinatal specialist services

  • cover the knowledge competencies for IPT with depression and an introduction to the skills competencies, which will be developed more fully in supervised clinical casework.

Who is this training for?

This training is open to those working in Perinatal Specialist Services.

The training pre-requisites are:

  • evidence of completing a course of study in a model of psychological therapy

  • a minimum two years of post-qualification experience delivering psychological therapy

  • at least two years of employment in a within a specialist perinatal service for adults with mental health difficulties (at least 0.6 WTE clinical contact time)

  • at least one of the following:

    • British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive (BABCP) Accredited

    • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited

    • British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) Registered

    • Health and Care Professions Council registered as a clinical, counselling or forensic psychologist

    • National Counselling Society (NCS) Accredited Professional registrants

    • United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) Registered as a Psychotherapist or Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

    • In the following cases applicants must evidence in addition (via supervisor report) that they have a minimum of 100 clinical hours of providing a recognized individual psychological therapy with adults:

      • Professional registration as Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists registered with the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists (ACP)

      • Art, Drama or Music Therapists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

      • Psychiatrists registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and having completed Higher Specialist Training in psychotherapy.

The training is not suitable for applicants who wish to acquire basic therapeutic skills. IPT is not a Step 2 intervention, and therefore not suitable for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the latest trainings, conferences and events at Anna Freud.