Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Professional Doctorate
Overview of the course
Applications for September 2026 intake will open on the 1st of December 2025 and closes on Sunday 25th January 2026. For an application form please email info@btpp.co.uk
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is one of the core professions within the NHS, as approved by the Department of Health, working as part of the multidisciplinary teams that deliver high quality mental health services to infants, children and young people and their families and professional networks.
Commissioned and part-funded by NHS England (NHSE), this Doctoral clinical training, accredited by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) and Birmingham City University, begins September 2026.
Who Is This For?
People with a passion for psychoanalytic thinking, who have already completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Perinatal, Child, Adolescent, and Family Work: A Psychoanalytic Observational Approach (M7) or one of the ACP approved pre-clinical courses. If you are interested in training as a Child Psychotherapist but have not yet done this pre-clinical course, click here to find out more about this first step.
Candidates who are interested in applying for this training need to have an interest in the psychoanalytic way of thinking, have a curious mind, be able to read between the lines and be able to tolerate, understand and take in the difficult emotional states encountered in a psychoanalytic way of working.
Entry Requirements:
Completion of an MA/PG Dip in Perinatal, Child, Adolescent, and Family Work: A Psychoanalytic Observational Approach (M7) or ACP approved pre-clinical course.
As part of the pre-clinical course you must have completed/will complete by the end of your course, a minimum of 35 infant observations and 15 young child observations.
Programme Highlights:
Four-year, full-time, salaried training.
In-depth learning in clinical, psychoanalytic theory, and diverse psychotherapy skills.
Integrated Professional Doctorate.
Hands-on experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Professional Registration:
Qualifying Trainees become members of the ACP.
Qualified professionals must register with the ACP to practice as a child psychotherapist
To find out more about the course structure, what the Birmingham training can offer, and how to apply, click here
Enquiries about, and expressions of interest for this training intake are welcome and an initial conversation with Eva Shehu-Whitefield, Lead for Recruitment, (evawhitefield@btpp.co.uk) can be arranged for you to further discuss your interest and learn more about training at BTPP.
Open Day
Friday 19th December 2025 at 13:30 to 5.30pm
Register your attendance here
Applications will open on 1st December 2025 for September 2026 entry. Applications will close on Sunday 25th January 2026