Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)
Accredited IAPT Practitioner Training
2nd to 6th September 2013
VENUE: LEEDS
About the training
The training has been commissioned by NHS North of England for the Yorkshire and the
Humber region and will be provided jointly by The Anna Freud Centre and The Tavistock and
Portman NHS Foundation Trust at the Northern School of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
(NSCAP) in Leeds. The course is British Psychoanalytic Council accredited.
DIT is designed to be implemented by experienced psychoanalytic/dynamic psychotherapists.
The training follows the national training curriculum developed for the Department of Health
IAPT programme. It has two main parts: a 5-day taught course that follows the competency
framework for treating depression through DIT; and subsequent supervised and assessed
practice (two cases for 16 sessions each – all session taped) over approximately 6 to 9 months.
Competencies are assessed via the role play exercise at the end of the course, supervision and
the review of recordings of sessions.
The therapeutic model
DIT is the 16 session psychodynamic treatment for depression offered at Step 3 within IAPT. It
has been explicitly developed out of the Psychodynamic Competences Framework, which also
provided the basis for the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for psychological therapists
practicing in the UK. The Competences Framework describes a model of psychodynamic
competences based on empirical evidence of efficacy. It indicates the various areas of activity
that, taken together, represent good clinical practice. DIT is consequently drawn from those
psychoanalytic/dynamic approaches with the strongest empirical evidence for efficacy, based on
the outcome of controlled trials. It is specifically designed to address presenting symptoms of
depression and for delivery within the context of modern public health care provision in an IAPT
service.
Who is this course suitable for?
DIT is designed to be implemented by therapists with an interest in and experience of
psychoanalytic/dynamic psychotherapy. Only those individuals who a) meet the entry criteria
below and b) who pass the role play exercise at the end of the course can then go on to
supervised clinical practice in order to become practitioners in DIT.
The pre-entry requirements in detail:
 Evidence of a course of study (this could be through different courses over time) that
has exposed you to the fundamentals of psychoanalytic theory as specified in the
Psychodynamic Competences framework (www.ucl.ac.uk/CORE and below)

A minimum of 150hrs of supervised psychodynamic work (reference required)

At least one year of weekly personal psychodynamic psychotherapy/counselling

At least two years’ employment in an NHS or voluntary institution working in a
therapeutic capacity with patients with mental health problems

HPC, BPC, UKCP or BACP registration

We also require a letter from your employer/manager confirming their support for you
to undertake the necessary supervised and assessed practice (two cases for 16
sessions each – all session taped) over approximately 6 to 9 months following the
initial 5 day course.
Applying for the course
To book a place on this course please complete the form below and send to NSCAP along
with the required evidence of eligibility, CV and a letter of support from your current
employer/manager.
Contact person for queries:
Ellie Pekala
Course Administrator
NSCAP
Bevan House,
34-36 Springwell Road
Leeds LS12 1AW
Tel: 0113 3058750
Email: ellie.pekala@nhs.net
For queries related to IAPT service development and funding please contact:
Debi Hemingway
IAPT Project Manager
Yorkshire and the Humber SHA
Tel: 0113 295 2000
Debi.Hemingway@yorksandhumber.nhs.uk
Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)
Application Form: September 2013, Leeds
To book a place on this course you will need to evidence the following pre-entry requirements, along with
your CV and a letter of support from your current employer/manager.
Applicant Details (please type or write clearly)
Name:
Address:
Telephone no.
Mobile no:
Email:
Role:
Base address:
Employing organisation:
Please tick the box to indicate you can meet each requirement, and provide either a certificate or
reference from your training institution, supervisor or therapist as proof. Without this information it will not
be possible to process your application.
1. A course of study (this could be through different courses over time) that has exposed you to
the fundamentals of psychoanalytic theory as specified in the Psychodynamic Competences
Framework (www.ucl.ac.uk/CORE and below)
2. A minimum of 150hrs of supervised psychodynamic work (reference required)
3. At least one year of weekly personal psychodynamic psychotherapy/counselling
4. At least two years’ employment in an NHS or voluntary institution working in a therapeutic
capacity with patients with mental health problems
5. HPC, BPC, UKCP or BACP registration
6. Support from your employer/manager to undertake the necessary supervised and assessed
practice (two cases for 16 sessions each – all session taped) over approximately 6 to 9
months following the initial 5 day course (supporting letter required).
Applicant: Sign ………………………………….
Date ……………………
Please return application & supporting statements by 31st May 2013 To: ellie.pekala@nhs.net
Psychodynamic Competences Framework
These are the areas of competence relating to knowledge of psychodynamic theory which you will need
to evidence in your application that you have covered during the course of your studies unless you
already have a Diploma or higher qualification in psychodynamic counselling or psychotherapy.
Knowledge of developmental theory
An ability to draw on knowledge of the developmental factors that shape an individual’s experience of
themselves and others (i.e. the importance of early relationships/attachments).
An ability to draw on knowledge of the different types of personality organisations (i.e. neurotic,
borderline, psychotic)
An ability to draw on knowledge of the operation of defences throughout development
An ability to draw on knowledge of developmental psychopathology
Knowledge of an analytic/ dynamic model of the mind
An ability to draw on knowledge that we have a conscious as well as a dynamically unconscious mental
life
An ability to draw on knowledge of the different structures of the mind (ego, id, superego) and their
contribution to personality development
An ability to draw on knowledge of an unconscious inner world of object-relations that:

mediates the way people experience themselves and others

informs how people act in the external world.
An ability to draw on knowledge of, and respect for, the importance of the client’s imaginative life (e.g.
unconscious fantasies, dreams, metaphors) as a vehicle for understanding their unconscious experience
of themselves and others.
Knowledge of the core principles of an analytic/dynamic therapeutic approach
An ability to draw on knowledge of the affective and interpersonal focus of the therapy.
An ability to draw on knowledge of the rationale for closely tracking the therapeutic process (i.e. attending
closely to micro-processes in the therapeutic relationship so as gain a detailed understanding of the
client’s internal world of relationships and conflicts).
An ability to draw on knowledge of the rationale for adopting a primarily receptive (i.e. non directive)
stance in relation to the client’s communications so as to facilitate the elaboration of unconscious
meaning.
An ability to draw on knowledge of the importance of maintaining an open mind throughout therapy (
avoiding premature closure and tolerating ‘not knowing’, so as to avoid imposing assumptions about the
client’s difficulties or the direction of treatment)
An ability to draw on knowledge that the alleviation of symptoms is not normally regarded as the primary
target of the therapy, but is considered to be the outcome of an understanding of their unconscious
meaning