Transference-Focused Psychotherapy: First-Year Course 2025-2026

Transference-Focused Psychotherapy or TFP is a specific form of evidence-based psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients with a personality disorder. “Transference” is the psychoanalytic term for significant internalised relationships from the past affecting current relationships. The term is mostly used in relation to patients’ internal figures being transferred onto their therapist. Exploring this is a hallmark of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. Transference-focused psychotherapy is the brand name for a more specific psychodynamic approach, which is different in important ways to commonly practised psychodynamic psychotherapy. TFP is once or twice-weekly, face-to-face therapy adapted for working with patients with a personality disorder.

In order to assess suitability for TFP, the first step is a comprehensive, structured approach to assessment and diagnosis. If TFP is a suitable treatment and the patient is interested, there follows a detailed approach to setting the frame for therapy. This includes agreeing on the aims of therapy in terms of addressing difficulties in relation to functioning in important spheres of life, such as work, social and romantic relationships. It also involves committing to agreed proactive activities between therapy that will be needed in order for therapy to work. If this is satisfactorily negotiated, therapy proceeds along the principles and techniques set out in the TFP manual.

TFP appeals to therapists who are interested in using a structured approach to working psychoanalytically with patients with a personality disorder, and one that includes focussing on functioning in life as well as on interactions in the consulting room. TFP is also used with adolescents. Although the course focuses on adult patients, current and past attendees working with adolescents have found it helpful and adolesent patients can be seen for accreditation purposes.

For more information about TFP, see ISTFP.org.

The course covers the TFP object relations model of personality pathology, TFP principles and techniques. Case examples will be used throughout. Upon completing the one-year course, participants will know the basics of TFP. The course is for those who are new to TFP as well as those who have attended previous TFP training and wish to consolidate their understanding of this sophisticated approach. Guest speakers will cover specific subjects.

Participants who attend 80% of the sessions can obtain a certificate from the TFP-UK group and will be eligible to join the International Society of TFP.

Participants will be encouraged to find a supervisor during the first term to discuss existing cases and then to help them learn to assess and treat a patient. Participants will need to arrange and pay for supervision it if it is not provided by their organisation. Supervision is usually weekly or fortnightly. It can be in groups of three to four supervisees, for 60 or 90-minutes, or one-to-one supervision, and in come cases both. The supervisor needs to be accredited by ISTFP.org. For accreditation purposes supervisees should present a TFP case at least monthly.

To become certified, the ISTFP requires an existing mental health or psychological therapy professional qualification, and 63 hours of TFP training with accredited teacher-supervisor/s, supervised practice for a minimum of two years and an examination. This course will provide sixty-five hours, including one or two additional seminars that may occur on different days or times.

Optional second-year

After completing the first year, participants will be encouraged to join the second year of the course. This will involve reading TFP papers from academic journals and hearing each other’s cases.

Accreditation with International Society of TFP

The ISTFP accredits therapists who have an existing mental health qualification, and have satisfied three elements of accreditation:

1. attendance on a TFP introductory course involving 63 hours of learning of TFP principles and techniques
2. two years of supervised practice, presenting at least monthly
3. an examination involving discussing videoed clinical material

British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) TFP kite-mark scheme

Individuals who obtain ISTFP accreditation as TFP therapists, will be eligible to apply to the BPC kite-mark scheme. This does not grant BPC registration, which requires a professional training with a BPC-affiliated training organisation. However, all kite-mark holders are included in the BPC kite-mark section of the BPC website.

This training is designed for mental health professionals who have experience conducting psychotherapy and are currently in a position to see patients. Prior knowledge of psychoanalytic approaches is not required.

Suitable professions include:

1. Clinical and Counselling Psychologists (HCPC registered)
2. Registered Psychotherapists (BPC, UKCP, BACP or equivalent)
3. Psychiatrists (members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists) providing psychotherapy
4. Other experienced mental health professionals working psychotherapeutically, whether from psychodynamic or other orientations

Applicants living in countries where a TFP training programme is already established are encouraged to pursue training locally.

To apply, please complete the online application form by 20 July 2025. Applicants who submit their form by June 2025 will be informed of the outcome by the end of that month. Payment will be made via the Maudsley Learning website once a formal offer has been made and accepted.

You are also invited to attend a Zoom Q&A session to learn more about the course. To book a place, email Jonathan.Radcliffe@slam.nhs.uk.

Q&A session dates:
• 19 February 2025, 14:00–15:00 (UK time)
• 14 May 2025, 14:00–15:00 (UK time)

For information about the optional second-year TFP consultation course, click here.