The Relationally Focused Psychodynamic Therapy Certificate is a 2 year post-graduate certificate program designed to deepen a psychotherapist’s capacity to work directly in therapeutic relationships as the primary instrument of change. The instructors are Roy Barsness, PhD; Bryan Nixon, MA, LPC; Clarissa Hill, MA, LMHC and Krista Law, MA, LMHC
Relationally-Focused Psychodynamic Therapy (RFPT) is an evidence-based treatment approach with strong roots in depth psychology (particularly contemporary relational psychoanalysis), dialogical philosophy, and neuroscience. As of December 2018, the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy has set forth policy recommendations that evidence-based therapy relationships and responsiveness be taught as frequently as other evidence-based treatments (Reference: Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (2019). Psychotherapy Relationships that work III. Psychotherapy, 55,4, p. 303-315). The RFPT certificate program is a direct response to these policy recommendations.
This training provides an in-depth exploration of:
- How we position ourselves (therapeutic intent/therapeutic stance)
- How we reflect (deep listening to the conscious and unconscious dynamics that naturally occur between patient and therapist, attending to the there and then/here and now, patterning/linking)
- How we engage (repetition/working through and courageous speech/disciplined spontaneity)
These practices serve as a conciliatory “map” for practice, while at the same time acknowledging and appreciating the uniqueness of each relational dyad and the organic nature of our work.
To further develop your skills as a relational clinician, we’ve designed RFPT to be a two-year* post-graduate training program, 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.
Due to COVID-19, the first retreat will be held online September 18, 2020. We plan to keep the second retreat (March 19-20, 2021) in-person at Islandwood Retreat Center on Bainbridge Island, WA.
To read more details about the certificate please visit: https://theseattleschool.edu/programs/relationally-focused-psychodynamic-therapy-certificate/
Applications are open for the 2020-21 year. You can read more about the application process here: https://theseattleschool.edu/admissions/apply/relationally-focused-psychodynamic-therapy-post-graduate-certificate/
*As the program does not have to be completed in consecutive years, CEU hours will be issued at the end of each year.
