Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate Diploma in Infant-Parent Psychotherapy
A two-year specialist training in infancy, attachment, trauma and early relationships, combining psychoanalytic theory, infant observation, supervised clinical practice and reflective seminars.
2 years
part-time specialist training
£4,800
per year, payable in instalments
200 hrs
of supervised clinical practice for psychodynamic therapists. Others need more, depending on their qualifications
70+ hrs
of infant observation
Who it’s for
Psychotherapists, midwives, perinatal unit staff and other professionals, particularly in the NHS, who work with parents and babies and want specialist skills in infant-parent work.
Our approach
The course is grounded in psychodynamic theory, developmental psychology and neuroscience. Infant-parent psychotherapy is a preventative intervention that can begin in pregnancy, and the training is built around real clinical work with families.
I’ve found both the theory and clinical sessions so enriching, especially learning alongside such a diverse group.
Integrative Child Psychotherapist
The discipline
What is infant-parent psychotherapy?
Infant-parent psychotherapy is a multi-skilled intervention, based on psychodynamic principles, that supports the relationship between an infant and their main caregivers. The long-term aim is to give the baby the best possible social and emotional development within their family.
The work can be preventative, starting before a problem arises, and often begins with parents during pregnancy.
How the course is taught
Most teaching is face to face, with some parts available online if travel is difficult. Four aims run through every module: baby-centred, relationship-focused, culturally informed and village-minded, so you can work with the delicate infant-parent relationship and reflect the strengths and needs of your local community.
Principles of the work
- The infant-caregiver relationship is at the centre of all infant-parent psychotherapy.
- The infant is held in mind as a person in their own right.
- Equal attention is paid to the infant and the parent or parents.
- Extra emphasis on the dependency and vulnerability of the infant, given developmental and cultural factors.
- Infant development is understood as rooted in relationships, from the womb onwards.
- The work always includes the caregivers, keeping maternal and paternal functions in mind.
- The first 1001 days of a child’s life are central to everything we do.
Course structure
Five modules over two years
Module 1
The importance of infancy
A series of five seminars on infant development and why the earliest relationships matter.
More about Module 1
Five seminars with Robin Balbernie introducing the theory, research and practice behind early relational health: attachment in children and adults, babies’ brain development and the effects of maltreatment, the risks that can strain the caregiving relationship, and the clinical approaches that help vulnerable families.
These seminars are also open as CPD sessions.
Module 2
Infant observation
Weekly observation of a baby in their family until the baby’s second birthday, at least 70 hours in total.
More about Module 2
At least 70 hours of supervised observation of a baby from birth to 24 months, with weekly visits in the family home, unless already completed in a previous training.
Being able to observe with an open, non-judgemental mind is fundamental to infant-parent work. We see a baby’s development as shaped by their family’s culture, heritage and ways of being together, and the module reflects this.
Module 3
Organisational observation
Observations in psychiatric or neonatal settings, 20 hours each.
More about Module 3
At least two short supervised placements, of at least 20 hours each, in high-intensity baby-care settings such as a neonatal intensive care unit and a mother and baby psychiatric unit.
You will see infant-parent relationships in specialist settings and learn about organisational defences, unconscious bias in systems, and how these affect infant development.
Module 4
Infant development in practice
Infant development theory and how it applies to infant-parent psychotherapy.
More about Module 4
Psychoanalytically informed theories of infant development, and how they apply to infant-parent psychotherapy from referral to ending. Topics include:
- development of personality and identity
- assessment and relational health
- research, evaluation and outcome monitoring
- working with ‘ghosts and angels in the nursery’
- autism and infancy
- culturally sensitive safeguarding, risk, legal and ethical issues
- working across cultures, family structures and agencies
- confidentiality in technology and clinical records
Module 5
Supervised clinical practice
Culturally reflective, supervised clinical work with families: 200 hours for psychodynamic therapists, and more for other professionals, depending on their qualifications.
More about Module 5
Two-hour clinical seminars every fortnight over two years, alongside supervised clinical practice with a balanced caseload from pregnancy to 24 months. Psychodynamic therapists complete 200 hours; trainees from other backgrounds need more, depending on their existing qualifications. Families are referred from a range of organisations.
Placements are within a specialist infant mental health team and cannot be in independent private practice. Supervision is with an appropriately qualified parent-infant psychotherapist, and covers assessment, outcome measures, video interaction feedback, multidisciplinary working, safeguarding and clinical risk.
Entry requirements
Who can apply
Not sure if you meet the criteria? Email team@au-milieu.org and we’ll talk it through with you.
- Accredited psychodynamic or integrative psychotherapist (adult, child or family)
- Previous clinical experience working in a psychoanalytically informed way
- Experience as a professional in a related field, as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Experience of working with the early years
- Good written and spoken English, and good IT skills
- Able to work independently
Fees
Course fees
Pay the balance in monthly or termly instalments, or as a lump sum each year.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee Paid when you apply. Non-refundable. | £80 |
| Deposit Paid when you accept a place and taken off your first term’s fees. Non-refundable. | £500 |
| Course fee Per year, for two years. | £4,800 |
Applying
How to apply
Complete the application
Tell us about your training and experience, upload your CV and a photo, and add a personal statement and two referees, one of them professional.
Pay the registration fee
The £80 fee is paid when you submit your application and is non-refundable.
Next steps and DBS check
We’ll be in touch about next steps, including a DBS check.
Secure your place
If you’re offered a place, a £500 deposit secures it and comes off your first term’s fees.
Our training follows the UKCP Standards of Education and Training for infant-parent psychotherapists, developed with close reference to the Infant Mental Health Competencies Framework of the Association for Infant Mental Health (AIMH UK).
Download
Take the course details with you
A two-page summary of the Diploma to read later or share with your manager.
What trainees say
Learning that changes practice
I go away from clinical supervision sessions wanting to use what I’ve learned in my own work.
Clinical Psychologist, Perinatal Team
The theory, the papers, the speakers: it’s deepened my understanding of babies and relational work.
Clinical Psychologist, Infant-Parent Service Lead
When I was unwell, the support from Yvonne really mattered. You don’t always feel held at work, but here, I did.
Clinical Psychologist, Infant-Parent Service Lead
Questions about training?
Email or call us and we’ll talk you through the course, entry and fees.