British Psychoanalytic Council
Encyclopedia
The British Psychoanalytic Council is an association of training institutions, professional associations and accrediting bodies which have their roots in established psychoanalysis
and analytical psychology. They bring together approximately 1400 practitioners of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy
(including psychoanalysts, Jungian analysts
and child psychotherapists) who as individuals become registrants
of the BPC.
The BPC (then the British Confederation of Psychotherapists) was formed on 8 March 1992, emerging from the United Kingdom Standing Conference for Psychotherapy (now the UKCP) as a specifically psychoanalytically-oriented organisation.
The BPC accredits the trainings of its member institutions, ensuring that they meet published training standards. Some of these are member organisations of the International Psychoanalytical Association.
The Government is in the process of creating a statutory framework for the registration of psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, by the Health Professions Council
. It is anticipated regulation will come into force by 2011.
The BPC, together with each of its member institutions, aims to protect the public by setting out the appropriate standards of professional conduct, and a Code of Ethics, which describes the responsibilities of psychoanalytic psychotherapists. There are also comprehensive complaints and disciplinary procedures, which include the sanction of striking a practitioner off both their organisation’s membership list and the BPC’s Register. The detailed fitness to practise policies are all published on its website or are available from the BPC office.
. Alternatively, they may find it useful to have an initial consultation with a psychotherapist who would be able to advise on the best approach. Most of its member organisations operate a referral service.
If they decide that psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the right choice for them, they can either contact a therapist directly or go through a referral service. It is preferable to use the BPC website as this will contain the latest updated information, including whether the therapist is still a BPC registrant in good standing.
based, emotional and relationship problems. This can enhance their ability to manage their own feelings, life and their dealings with others, and by doing so can reduce symptoms and alleviate distress. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy creates a setting in which it is possible to experience and reflect on a person's difficulties as they manifest themselves in the relationship with the therapist which develops in the process of treatment. This form of therapy is not limited to dealing with what can be thought of as mental health problems. Many people who experience a loss of meaning at certain points in their lives or are seeking a greater sense of fulfilment can be helped by this approach.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is based on the observation that people sometimes try to deal with problems by trying to keep them out of their minds as a way of getting rid of them. However, they will continue to have an important effect on feelings and behaviour. Early experiences are important in shaping the way the mind works but a large part of our mind operates outside of one's consciousness. From an early age, people find ways of managing their experiences and this influences how we cope in later life. With the therapist's help a person can gradually come to understand these experiences and make sense of how we have dealt with them. This leads to a process of change, which takes place through the psychoanalytic session.
The psychoanalytic psychotherapist will reveal little about himself or herself. Although they may appear to be somewhat detached, the approach helps patients to express unconscious wishes and conflicts. The difficulties that patients may have in their lives, especially past conflicts, are reflected in the relationship between the therapist and ourselves. Although this experience can be uncomfortable, it is the basis for providing the kind of insights that help us to tackle problems.
Registrants of the BPC on Wikipedia: Mike Brearley
, Connie Booth
, Peter Fonagy
, Carol Leader
, Juliet Mitchell
, Susie Orbach
, Andrew Samuels
, Mark Solms
, Estela V. Welldon
, Robert M. Young (academic)
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and analytical psychology. They bring together approximately 1400 practitioners of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
(including psychoanalysts, Jungian analysts
Analytical psychology
Analytical psychology is the school of psychology originating from the ideas of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. His theoretical orientation has been advanced by his students and other thinkers who followed in his tradition. Though they share similarities, analytical psychology is distinct from...
and child psychotherapists) who as individuals become registrants
Licensure
Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives a "permission to practice." Such licenses are usually issued in order to regulate some activity that is deemed to be dangerous or a threat to the person or the public or which involves a high level of specialized skill...
of the BPC.
The BPC (then the British Confederation of Psychotherapists) was formed on 8 March 1992, emerging from the United Kingdom Standing Conference for Psychotherapy (now the UKCP) as a specifically psychoanalytically-oriented organisation.
Annual register
It has an annual register of those practitioners who meet its fitness-to-practise standards. Promoting professional standards and acting as a voluntary regulator of the profession is a key role of the BPC. Its registrants work across the public, voluntary and private practice sectors; many are senior clinicians in the core mental health professions and make important contributions to research in this field.The BPC accredits the trainings of its member institutions, ensuring that they meet published training standards. Some of these are member organisations of the International Psychoanalytical Association.
Practise requirements
An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register. BPC registration then continues to be governed by a range of fitness to practise requirements:- The therapist must be a member of good standing of their own professional institution (which is a member institution of the BPC)
- They subscribe to and are governed by the BPC’s published Code of EthicsEthical codeAn ethical code is adopted by an organization in an attempt to assist those in the organization called upon to make a decision understand the difference between 'right' and 'wrong' and to apply this understanding to their decision...
- They are regulated by the BPC’s Complaints Procedure
- They must maintain an annual programme of continuing professional developmentContinuing Professional DevelopmentContinuing professional development or Continuing professional education is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives.-CPD research:...
(CPD), monitored and approved by the BPC, which includes consultation on their clinical work, attending lectures and courses and a broad range of professional activity.
Training and qualifications
The preparation and training for becoming a psychoanalytic psychotherapist is lengthy and rigorous. The British Psychoanalytic Council requires its member institutions to maintain high standards, particularly in the selection of those who want to become psychotherapists. Most applicants for training will already have a background in medicine, psychology or social work and will also have experience in the mental health field.Safeguarding the public
The individual organisations that train psychotherapists have always been self-regulating. Over the last twenty years, however, there has been an increase in the number of institutions and range of psychotherapies on offer to the public. The British Psychoanalytic Council is one of a number of bodies which exist to protect the interests of the public by promoting standards in the selection, training, professional association and conduct of psychotherapists. It is the primary body for psychoanalytic psychotherapy in the UK.The Government is in the process of creating a statutory framework for the registration of psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, by the Health Professions Council
Health Professions Council
The Health Professions Council is a statutory regulator of 210,000 health professionals from 15 professions in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 2003 under the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, to replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine ....
. It is anticipated regulation will come into force by 2011.
The BPC, together with each of its member institutions, aims to protect the public by setting out the appropriate standards of professional conduct, and a Code of Ethics, which describes the responsibilities of psychoanalytic psychotherapists. There are also comprehensive complaints and disciplinary procedures, which include the sanction of striking a practitioner off both their organisation’s membership list and the BPC’s Register. The detailed fitness to practise policies are all published on its website or are available from the BPC office.
Finding a therapist
If someone feels they need psychotherapeutic help, they may wish to get some professional advice on their treatment of choice. In the first instance, this may be their GPGeneral practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
. Alternatively, they may find it useful to have an initial consultation with a psychotherapist who would be able to advise on the best approach. Most of its member organisations operate a referral service.
If they decide that psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the right choice for them, they can either contact a therapist directly or go through a referral service. It is preferable to use the BPC website as this will contain the latest updated information, including whether the therapist is still a BPC registrant in good standing.
Time in therapy
It is difficult to say how long treatment will take; it can vary from many months to several years. It therefore involves a substantial financial undertaking – although some practitioners offer reduced fee schemes. Each session lasts fifty minutes and may take place between one and five times a week.The cost
Fees vary between practitioners. They are discussed before treatment begins and can be reviewed in the light of developments. Most practitioners charge on a sliding scale based on what a patient earns and can afford – fees between £35 and £70 are typical with regional variations.Reduced fee schemes
In some areas, psychoanalytic psychotherapy is available at a reduced fee. This would normally require attendance of between three and five sessions a week. Experienced professionals who are completing their training whilst being supervised by a senior practitioner would usually provide the service. However some fully qualified therapists will offer a reduced fee and this can be discussed in the assessment interview.Evidence of treatment
It is appropriate to ask what scientific evidence supports the treatment approach. Some treatments do not have this, and should be avoided unless there is nothing better.Further information on psychotherapy
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a therapeutic process which aims to help people with distressing psychological situations and mental health problems. The process helps a person to understand these complex, and often unconsciouslyUnconscious mind
The unconscious mind is a term coined by the 18th century German romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling and later introduced into English by the poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
based, emotional and relationship problems. This can enhance their ability to manage their own feelings, life and their dealings with others, and by doing so can reduce symptoms and alleviate distress. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy creates a setting in which it is possible to experience and reflect on a person's difficulties as they manifest themselves in the relationship with the therapist which develops in the process of treatment. This form of therapy is not limited to dealing with what can be thought of as mental health problems. Many people who experience a loss of meaning at certain points in their lives or are seeking a greater sense of fulfilment can be helped by this approach.
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is based on the observation that people sometimes try to deal with problems by trying to keep them out of their minds as a way of getting rid of them. However, they will continue to have an important effect on feelings and behaviour. Early experiences are important in shaping the way the mind works but a large part of our mind operates outside of one's consciousness. From an early age, people find ways of managing their experiences and this influences how we cope in later life. With the therapist's help a person can gradually come to understand these experiences and make sense of how we have dealt with them. This leads to a process of change, which takes place through the psychoanalytic session.
The therapist
The relationship with the therapist is an important part of the therapy. He or she offers a confidential, safe and private place where the unconscious patterns of one's inner world can be played out. The safe setting that they create means that emotional conflicts can be relived and new solutions can be found to old problems. This process helps us to identify those patterns of behaviour, which we keep repeating. On becoming aware of old patterns, it then becomes possible to change them.The psychoanalytic psychotherapist will reveal little about himself or herself. Although they may appear to be somewhat detached, the approach helps patients to express unconscious wishes and conflicts. The difficulties that patients may have in their lives, especially past conflicts, are reflected in the relationship between the therapist and ourselves. Although this experience can be uncomfortable, it is the basis for providing the kind of insights that help us to tackle problems.
List of BPC Member Institutions
- British Association of Psychotherapists
- British Psychoanalytical Society Wiki:British Psychoanalytical SocietyBritish Psychoanalytical SocietyThe British Psychoanalytical Society was founded by the British psychiatrist Ernest Jones as the London Psychoanalytical Society on October 30, 1913....
- Lincoln Clinic and Centre for Psychotherapy
- London Centre for Psychotherapy
- Northern Ireland Association for the Study of Psychoanalysis
- Society of Analytical Psychology
- Scottish Association of Psychoanalytical Psychotherapists and
- Scottish Institute of Human Relations
- Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy
- The Tavistock Clinic
- Tavistock Society of Psychotherapists
- The Tavistock ClinicTavistock ClinicThe in London was founded in 1920 by Dr. Hugh Crichton-Miller, a psychiatrist who developed psychological treatments for shell-shocked soldiers during and after the First World War. The clinic's first patient was, however, a child. Its clinical services were always, therefore, for both children...
- wpf Foundation for Psychotherapy and Counselling
Registrants of the BPC on Wikipedia: Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley
John Michael Brearley OBE is a former cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2007–08.-Early life:...
, Connie Booth
Connie Booth
Constance "Connie" Booth is an American-born writer and actress, known for appearances on British television and particularly for her portrayal of Polly Sherman in the popular 1970s television show Fawlty Towers, which she co-wrote with her then-husband John Cleese.-Biography:Booth's father was a...
, Peter Fonagy
Peter Fonagy
Peter Fonagy, born in 1952, at Budapest, Hungary, currently residing in London with his family; he has two children, Carolina and Francisco. Fonagy is a prominent contemporary psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist. He studied clinical psychology at University College London...
, Carol Leader
Carol Leader
Carol Leader is an English theatrical and television actress.She played Sadie Tomkins in Casualty from 1988 to 1989, Barbara Charlton in Young at Heart from 1980 to 1981 and has also been in Flambards, First and Last, Safe, Peak Practice, and 1992 TV series Kevin and Co...
, Juliet Mitchell
Juliet Mitchell
Juliet Mitchell is a British Psychoanalyst and socialist feminist, who was a fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge and Professor of Psychoanalysis and Gender Studies at Cambridge University. In 2010, she's appointed to be the Director of the Expanded Doctoral School in Psychoanalytic Studies at...
, Susie Orbach
Susie Orbach
Susie Orbach is a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer, and social critic from London, UK.-Background:Orbach was born in London, in 1946, and was brought up in Chalk Farm, north London, the child of Jewish parents, British MP Maurice Orbach and an American mother...
, Andrew Samuels
Andrew Samuels
Andrew Samuels is known internationally as an influential commentator on political and social themes from the standpoint of 'therapy thinking'. He has worked with politicians, political organizations, activist groups and members of the public in Europe, US, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Russia and South...
, Mark Solms
Mark Solms
Mark Solms is a psychoanalyst and a lecturer in neurosurgery at the St. Bartholomew’s and Royal London School of Medicine; chair of neuropsychology, University of Cape Town, South Africa and director of the Arnold Pfeffer Center for Neuro-Psychoanalysis at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute...
, Estela V. Welldon
Estela V. Welldon
Estela V. Welldon, MD, is an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy at the Portman and Tavistock Clinic.Born in Mendoza, Argentina, she studied Medicine at Universidad Nacional de Cuyo...
, Robert M. Young (academic)
Robert M. Young (academic)
For other people with this name, see Robert Young ----Robert Maxwell Young, usually known as Robert M. Young or Bob Young , is a historian of science specialising in the 19th century and particularly Darwinian thought, a philosopher of the biological and human sciences, and a Kleinian...