HDS is a not-for-profit organisation and our mission is to relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, and access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.
Our objectives are to improve health and social care professionals’ understanding of, and ability to apply, psychodynamic ways of thinking; and to reduce mental distress by delivering psychodynamic counselling and psychoanalytic psychotherapy to the public.
We offer the following:
A range of professional training courses leading to academic qualifications.
Short courses that can form part of a training escalator for professionals.
CPD events including conferences, workshops and seminars.
Counselling and psychotherapy directly to individuals and families, and as part of employee assistance programmes.
At the heart of all our work are the psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and systemic ideas that offer a profound understanding of how people relate to one another and the central role of human relationships in our mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Hundreds of professionals have been equipped by HDS and have used the experience in their work as teachers, social workers and in other ‘people-facing’ professions, for example. Some have shared their experience by returning to teach on our courses, contributed to our conferences and events, and by publishing books and papers.
We wish you all the best in your pursuit of developing your career and hope that you choose HDS to help you further your knowledge and skills.
To keep up to date with our news, information about our academic training and latest events, subscribe to the HDS Newsletter. Sign-up on our website www.hds.scot
HDS offers a range of professional and academic training courses, short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities.
Our training is for people working in ‘people-facing’ professions. For example: health and social care services, teachers, third sector and private practice counselling.
Our training courses for professionals translate the psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and systemic ideas, on which all our works is based, into practical tools for understanding the central role that human relationships play in our mental health and emotional wellbeing.
For example, our Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CAP) programme is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people. This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)
Hundreds of professionals have been equipped by HDS and have used the experience in their work as teachers, social workers and in other ‘people-facing’ professions, for example. Some have shared their experience by returning to teach on our courses, contributed to our conferences and events, and by publishing books and papers.
We believe our professional training will help to relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, an access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.
The ‘psychodynamic’ approach in counselling and psychotherapy is based on awareness of the importance of early relational experience on us as adults and how this influences us at an unconscious level, at the level of feelings, which powerfully underpin our sense of self. The evidence gained through neuroscientific research strongly supports this perspective.
We grow and develop throughout life, in and through our relationships, and better understanding of these, and a greater sense of personal autonomy, are key aims of this approach.
Psychodynamic approaches, in contrast to many other types of help, support individuals to go beyond self knowledge which is consciously available to them, and supports these individuals to address difficult and painful issues which they have been (unconsciously) hiding from themselves.
Treatments and interventions for mental ill health come in many different forms. Most have a conventionally scientific approach to problem solving. They have a tendency to objectify the problem to be solved and respond according to what type of problem it turns out to be. The goal of most of these treatments is relief from psychological pain. These are the types of help most commonly available through the NHS. They do work, but not for everyone, and sometimes the benefits are only temporary. Psychodynamic approaches are different. They have a very different focus and way of helping an individual. Firstly there is a recognition that we are all different and the uniqueness of the individual seeking help is the starting point for therapy. Secondly the ongoing focus through therapy is the unique subjective experience and sense of self of the individual. Thirdly, the goal is enhanced self knowledge; and long term healing and personal growth.
Find out more about the psychodynamic approach on our website
HDS was formed to carry on the work of the Scottish Institute of Human Relations (SIHR), established by Dr John (Jock) Sutherland and others in 1971 with the aim of expanding the application of psychodynamic thought in Scotland.
We offer the training and services previously delivered by the SIHR. These have at their heart the psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and systemic ideas that offer a profound understanding of how people relate to one another.
Hundreds of professionals have been equipped by HDS and have used the experience in their work as teachers, social workers and in other ‘people-facing’ professions, for example. Some have shared their experience by returning to teach on our courses, contributed to our conferences and events, and by publishing books and papers.
We believe our professional training will help to relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, an access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.
Our Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CAP) programme, for example, is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people. This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)
HDS
This is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people and trainees are taken on once every four years. The programme provides thorough training in the clinical practice of child and adolescent psychotherapy.
Who is the course aimed at?
The programme of study is for students who have completed either the Human Development Scotland diploma or masters in Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People (TWCYP) OR an equivalent course of study. Applicants must hold an honours degree and have at least two years of relevant work experience with children and young people.
This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP), the professional body for child psychotherapists. It is commissioned by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), delivered in partnership with NHS Boards and is validated by Robert Gordon University.
Throughout the four years, trainees undertake clinical work in placement alongside attending training events and supervision each week. The main training day for the current cohort is a Wednesday. Personal analysis/psychotherapy continues throughout training.
The course consists of the following elements:
• Specialist individual supervision for clinical work
• Small group supervision
• Clinical seminars: general and topic based: (assessment, work with parents, adolescence, endings)
• Specialist multidisciplinary workshops include: Fostered and adopted children, refugees, autistic children, children with learning disability, children who are violent, delinquent or act out sexually, eating disorders, neuroscience
• Theoretical teaching
• Research seminars and workshops
• Academic support
• Individual tutorials
• Departmental and clinic events
• Assessed work.
Clinical work under supervision
• Long term psychoanalytic cases
• Time limited psychoanalytically based cases across the age range
• Experience and training in assessments and brief focused therapeutic work
• Extensive experience with parents and parental couples
• Experience in generic Child Mental health work including family work
• Develop clinical specialism(s).
Develop skills in supervision and consultation
Undertake research and complete clinical research thesis with the help of a director of studies and a second research supervisor.
You will be eligible for professional accreditation with the Association of Child Psychotherapists and membership of the Scottish Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists (SAPP).
If you have any questions about the programme, please email: courses@hds.scot or call us on 0141 331 2419
Hundreds of professionals have been equipped by HDS and have used the experience in their work as teachers, social workers and in other ‘people-facing’ professions, for example.
Some of our former HDS students have shared their experience by returning to teach on our courses, contributed to our conferences and events, and by publishing books and papers.
All our courses are evaluated on a regular basis and the feedback helps us to maintain a high quality of teaching. The teaching staff have a variety of backgrounds and experience which provide a rich blend of teaching styles and different perspectives to help our students.
As part of our training escalator, we invest time to host CPD events which current and former students, teaching staff and external guests are invited to attend. We seek speakers from across the UK who can present an engaging and relevant subject matter, whilst also facilitating both large and small group discussions to encourage the sharing of insight and experience. These events are also great for peer group support and networking.
A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No. SC043664
Registered office: Victoria Chambers, 142 West Nile Street, Glasgow G1 2RQ 0141 331 2419 I www.hds.scot
