Personal interest: IGAP’s programme is designed forpeople who want to base their practice in C.G. Jung’s psychology and who enjoyself-directed learning and an eclectic approach, rather than those who arelooking for a highly structured experience. The programme is rooted in Jung’srespect for the archetypal and collective layers of psychological reality asunderlying personal and interpersonal dynamics. It also teaches otherapproaches, but is guided by Jung’s respect for the process of individuationthrough the movement of objective psyche. This respect is echoed in the way theprogramme is organised, with careful support for candidates to move through itlargely at their own pace.
Previous training astherapists: Applications are welcomed from people without previousexperience as a psychotherapist. Those who are in psychotherapeutic practiceare required to show that they are accredited members of the BritishAssociation of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, or of a UKCP organisation witha Code of Ethics, or an equivalent professional body, and show that they haveprofessional insurance.
Demographics: IGAP makes no discrimination on groundsof nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation or political or religiouspersuasion. IGAP also makes no discrimination on grounds of disability. Ourentry requirements are not set in stone, nor does fulfilling them guarantee aplace on the programme. Life and work experience are always taken into account.
Note Bene: IGAP uses the words ‘programme ofpreparation’ instead of ‘training’, and‘candidate’ instead of ‘trainee’ in order to honour this attention toindividual rather than collective processes. Sometimes we revert to the morecommon terms for ease of understanding in the following information.
Before you apply, ensure that you meet the following entry criteria, as it is very unlikely that your application will be considered if you do not.
IGAP’s programme is designed for people who:
While not a requirement, we strongly encourage prospective applicants to attend seminars in the period before they apply in order to familiarise themselves with IGAP’s way of working and get to know seminar leaders and current candidates.
IGAP does not have a year-by-year curriculum, but instead allows candidates to proceed at their own pace. This means that most seminars have students at all stages of their ‘preparation’, and, moreover, analysts and the wider public are welcome to attend the ‘open’ events.
Currently, the average length of training is some seven to ten years. It is technically possible to complete in four to five years. IGAP is committed to making the average length of training seven to eight years, so the calculations below of the costs to train use ‘seven years’ as a baseline.
This lengthy duration of study/training/preparation is because we allow for periods of slowing down to meet life events and to listen to psyche. We know that these events continue to happen. Most of our candidates are of an age to have other professional and care responsibilities. Whereas we are committed to eliminating unnecessary obstacles to progress, neither do we have arbitrary deadlines by which anyone ‘must’ complete.
IGAP does not give automatic credit for prior learning with other training organisations.
However, candidates with prior training with an IAAP member organisation and analysis with an IAAP member may find themselves ready to take the Dialogues (which qualify you to progression to the second stage of Preparation) early.
Since Dialogues are a crucial part of IGAP’s training, any request for previous credits to be recognised can only be considered for entry to the programme prior to taking Dialogues.
Applicants with prior training experience will go through IGAP’s usual selection process and any request for credit will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
In light of the fact that the training lasts as long as it takes, this can be a ‘how long is a piece of string?’ kind of question.
However, we can say this much:
For seven years’ training (the lower average time to train) with 500 hours of analysis and 90 hours of supervision (the minimums!) at today’s prices, it will cost at least this much:
7 years x £2,000 IGAP fees = £14,000 (payable each year in 3 [termly] or 12 [monthly] instalments)
500+ hours analysis x £60(?) per hour = £30,000 (Paid privately to your analyst, who sets his/her own fees)
Supervision of your clinical hours in Advanced Candidacy: 90 hours x £60(?) per hour = £5,400 (Paid privately to your supervisors, who set their own fees)
Application, dialogues and final stage fees: £400+ 900 + 900 = £2,200
Minimum total: £53,800
Notes and Additional Costs:
The above amounts assume the absolute minimum for a seven-year long training (aka ‘Preparation’): you are likely to end up with more hours of supervision and analysis, and may have additional years of Preparation.
Analysts and supervisors set their own fees, and they may charge more or less than the £60 assumed in this model.
Finishing the Programme more quickly than the seven years assumed in this model will save you the Studies fees and possible travel costs, but you will still need the analysis and supervision indicated above as a minimum—these are the two main costs for most candidates.
You will need to factor in travel, accommodation etc.
When you see clients as an Advanced Candidate, you will need insurance, plus any costs to set up our practice in your home or in hired rooms. You will of course be earning some money when you see clients as an Advanced Candidate, but IGAP sets your maximum fee at £35 per hour until qualification.
It is important to factor in your loss of income during the training: you are doing this rather than something else!
IGAP does not have a physical home, but in-person events take place mostly in London. Our usual venue is the Essex Church in Notting Hill (112 Palace Gardens Terrace, W 8 4RT). Advanced Candidates may have colloquia (clinical group work) in the homes of training analysts in London or elsewhere.
Whilst not impossible, it can be very difficult to train with IGAP from any great distance from London.
All through the training, you will be in twice-a-week analysis, so will need to travel to your analyst at least once a week to get 50% of the work in person. (Other models of balancing in-person to online work are possible, but unlikely. Please see the information below about online work.)
You will have three Review Committee Members, whom you will have to visit up to three times a year each (depending on where you are in your studies), and this may involve some travel.
At the end of your Candidacy, you will have six ‘Dialogues’ or conversational examinations. Four of these are oral, and you may need to travel to an examiner for these. Likewise, there is one oral Dialogue at the end of your training. At each transition from one stage to the next, you will need to visit your Review Committee members and your External Examiner.
Once you reach Advanced Candidacy, you will need to have supervision as well as to attend Ongoing Case Colloquia and one weekend of Specialised Case Colloquium per year. Again, all of these will possibly involve travel.
Like everyone else, IGAP is still coming to terms with the drastic alterations in our ways of working and being together since the pandemic lockdowns starting in 2020.
Currently, we allow about 50% of most aspects of work to be online (including telephone) as a maximum, but IGAP as a whole considers in-person contact to be paramount. This means that you are very strongly encouraged to have all or most of your meetings with your analyst, Review Committee members, supervisors and external examiner in person, as far as this is possible.
Members acting in any of these roles—analyst, Review Committee member, examiner, or supervisor—are free to require in-person meetings at any part of the training, either because it is important to their own mode of working or if they feel that it may be important in your training.
Some of our seminars are online and some in person. Please check the online seminar schedule to get an idea, but this is changing from year to year as we move back to more in-person work.
IGAP has an online working policy which spells some of the detail out. This policy is under continual revision as we reflect on the implications of online work.