Interpersonal Psychotherapy Training (IPT)

The six day course will provide experienced mental health professionals with an introduction to the IPT model. The course will 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. The course provides an overview of modifications of IPT for use with adolescent populations and with eating disorders and it application with anxiety disorders.

You will be required to attend a live, online introductory session 

You will receive access to pre-recorded lectures and video material one week before the course. The course will consist of three live sessions a day (each session will last for approximately 1 - 2 hrs) and self-guided learning. Networking group sessions will also be incorporated. 

The course pre-requisites are:

1. Evidence of completing a course of study in a model of psychological therapy

2. A minimum of two year of post-qualification experience delivering psychological therapy

3. At least two years’ employment in an NHS, private capacity or voluntary institution delivering psychological therapy with adults

4. Registration with a professional body (HPC, BPC, APC, BPS, UKCP or BACP registration, or an equivalent registration outside of UK)

Applicants should have a mental health qualification and at least two years post qualification experience of providing psychological therapy for people with mental health problems. Applicants, who have completed two years full time training in delivering psychological therapies e.g. final year clinical psychology trainees, are also welcome to apply. Applicants with a range of training backgrounds are welcome e.g. clinical and counselling psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, nurse therapists, social workers, occupational therapists, and GP’s. NHS Talking Therapies staff can attend this course and should indicate that they require NHS Talking Therapies compliant training when applying.

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

The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver this training. Prior to booking on, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you're able to join this training. 

Before the training, please test your equipment is working by going to Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.

If you are applying for Health Education England funding for NHS Talking Therapies places, please do not use the book now button.  Please follow the application process in the tab below. *Please note that the allocation of these places is subject to funding. 

If you are booking for a non NHS Talking Therapies  funded place, please use the book now button to pay and then follow the application process in the tab below. 

Please note if you are successful in gaining a place on the training you will be sent pre-training work to be completed which will take approximately 5 hours.

Some IPTUK training centres, including the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, have been accredited to provide NHS Talking Therapies and non-NHS Talking Therapies IPT training.

NHS Talking Therapies staff are required to complete this application form.

For a brief summary of IPT please see this article.

Non-NHS Talking Therapies bookings

Non-NHS Talking Therapies  applicants must fill in this application form.

Applications should be submitted in one email to IPT@annafreud.org

The course provides the first stage in working towards becoming an IPTUK Accredited IPT Practitioner. Following attendance on the course those wishing to become IPT practitioners are required to undertake supervision with an IPTUK accredited Supervisor. NHS Talking Therapies staff must arrange supervision that follows the IPT NHS Talking Therapies  protocol and must confirm the supervision arrangement before attending the course. Supervision must be arranged directly with the supervisor and will involve an additional fee. Supervision can be provided face to face or remotely e.g. telephone, Skype. Trainees can be directed to qualified supervisors across the IPTUK network.

Accreditation to practitioner level requires four cases to be supervised, with recorded sessions reviewed. Each case runs for 16 sessions (unless they are CAMHS cases, in which case it is 12 sessions). We suggest leaving a one month gap between starting each case, picking up a new case when the formulation has been agreed on the previous one. Trainees will be required to submit digital recordings of therapy sessions as well as written and verbal reports.

Typical cost for supervision on four cases in NHS Talking Therapies is £6,800. 

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) have several common features but they are not the same therapy and the approaches draw on specific and distinct competencies Read more