“Following the release of his text, Core Competencies in Relational Psychoanalysis: A Guide to Practice, Study and Research, Dr. Barsness discovered on his book tour a deep hunger among clinicians for further training and supervision in Relational Psychoanalysis. This led him to design a two-year practice-focused, experiential training program.  The program is delivered through a dialogical community made up of bi-weekly online clinical consultations and twice-yearly in-person weekend intensive retreats. Persons who complete the two-year program and wish to become certified Trainer/Consultants may also apply for the third-year Trainer Program.

This certificate program is rooted in an evidence-based therapy treatment approach with strong roots in depth psychology (particularly contemporary relational psychoanalysis), dialogical philosophy and sacredness, and interpersonal neurobiology. (Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2019). Psychotherapy Relationships that work III. Psychotherapy, 55,4, p. 303-315). 

No two therapists work in the same fashion and given the uniqueness of each relationship and the working through of what happens in that relationship, it must be so. However, how we position ourselves (therapeutic intent and therapeutic stance); how we reflect (deep listening; attending to the there and then/here and now and patterning/linking) and how we engage (repetition/working through and courageous speech/disciplined spontaneity) appear to be universal practices that can serve as a helpful “map for conducting our practices while acknowledging and appreciating the intuitive, organic nature of our work. Participants are trained to appreciate and acknowledge difference within common practices. Given this theoretical stance participants are trained in how this model is adaptable to other populations and diverse psychological services and are offered an ethical model that values integrity and the dignity of the other in the delivery of their services. 

If you want to develop your skills as a relational clinician, the certificate in Relationally Focused Psychodynamic Therapy is for you!