Group Analytic Psychotherapy

Group Analysis training as a clinical training can offer new understanding and practice for psychotherapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists and a range of other health professionals, members of voluntary and statutory agencies.



Group analysis as a theory and a form of group work practice offers leaders, teams and organisational development experts new understanding by applying group analytic concepts to analysis of unconscious processes in groups and organisations.



This 6-year course is part of a 6 year Pathway Programme which includes the Graduate Certificate in Group Analytic Studies (XA24) and culminates in the Professional Masters in Group Analytic Psychotherapy (XA21).



In years 1-2 of the Professional Masters, through participation in group work supervision, skills seminars, theory discussion groups and an experiential group analytic therapy group, students have an opportunity to reflect on group interactions, relationships, leadership phenomena. Students will also, through the establishment of a short term group, learn about the unconcious dynamics in establishing and facilitating a group. Students also will explore their own style of relating within a group.



In years 3-6 of the Professional Masters, students actively begin to work clinically through the establishment of a training group. They also continue to benefit from supervision, skills seminars, theory discussion groups and an experiential group analytic therapy group.



The Professional Masters in Group Analytic Psychotherapy is a five-year part-time postgraduate course.



Group Analysis focuses on the relationship between the individual and the group, emphasising the essentially social nature of human experience. As a therapeutic tool, Group Analysis aims to strengthen the relationship between the individual and the group to achieve a healthier integration of the individual in his or her communal network.



The ethos of Group Analysis as proposed by Foulkes (1975) gives weight and value to the experiential nature of learning in a group. As a result, group analytic training privileges group participation, and attendance and willingness to engage are therefore fundamental to an optimal group experience at every level of the training.



The main characteristics of this course are:



An emphasis on clinical training which is informed by the privileging of the conscious and unconscious processes at work in groups.



A commitment to experiential learning where an emphasis is given to the experience of group analytic therapy.



An emphasis on working with the individual and the group and the individual in the group.



A commitment to a learning experience which includes personal therapy in a group, theory and skills, supervised practice and clinical based inquiry & research.



Professional Accreditation

On completion of this course and following the completion of their clinical paper Students/Trainees are eligible for full membership of Irish Group Analytic Society (IGAS) and recognised by the Psychoanalytic Section of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP).

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Options - *A)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 1.

PSCO40470 Group Analytic Psychotherapy Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40560 The Theory of Group Analysis Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40570 Group Work Skills Year-long (12 months) 2.5

PSCO40580 Supervision and The Self Year-long (12 months) 7.5



Stage 1 Options - A)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 2.

PSCO40520 Advanced Group Work Skills 1 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 2.5

PSCO40480 Group Analytic Psychotherapy 1 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40500 Supervision, Inquiry & GWP 1 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40540 States of Mind - Theory 1 Year-long (12 months) 7.5



Stage 1 Options - B)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 3.

PSCO40530 Advanced Group Work Skills 2 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 2.5

PSCO40490 Group Analytic Psychotherapy 2 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40510 Supervision, Inquiry & GWP 2 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40550 States of Mind - Theory 2 Year-long (12 months) 7.5



Stage 2 Options - A)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 4.

PSCO40350 Advanced GA Psychotherapy 1 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40380 Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 1 Year-long (12 months) 7.5

PSCO40410 Therapeutic GAP - Theory 1 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40440 Adv Group Analytic Skills 1 Year-long (12 months) 2.5



Stage 2 Options - B)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 5.

PSCO40360 Advanced GA Psychotherapy 2 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40390 Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 2 Year-long (12 months) 7.5

PSCO40420 Therapeutic GAP - Theory 2 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40450 Adv Group Analytic Skills 2 Year-long (12 months) 2.5



Stage 2 Options - C)4 of:

Choose all 4 modules in year 6.

PSCO40370 Advanced GA Psychotherapy 3 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40400 Adv Sup, Clinical Inq/Prac 3 Year-long (12 months) 7.5

PSCO40430 Therapeutic GAP - Theory 3 Year-long (12 months) 10

PSCO40460 Adv Group Analytic Skills 3 Year-long (12 months) 2.5

Students do not enter XA21 directly.



Students need to complete Year 1 Stage 1 of the Professional Masters Programme by registering for XA24 - Graduate Certificate in Group Analytic Studies or have an equivalent qualification.



Instructions to Students:

Stage 1:

XA24 -Year 1 - complete all 4 modules

XA21 - Year 2 - complete all 4 modules

XA21- Year 3- complete all 4 modules



Stage 2:

XA21 - Year 4 - complete all 4 modules

XA21 - Year 5- complete all 4 modules

XA21 - Year 6 - complete all 4 modules



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

6 years part-time. Delivery: On campus.

XA21: Group Analytic Psychotherapy Professional Masters Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught