Human Development Scotland (HDS) offers a range of professional and academic training courses, short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities.
Our training is for people working in ‘people-facing’ professions. For example: health and social care services, teachers, third sector and private practice counselling.
Our training courses for professionals translate the psychodynamic, psychoanalytic and systemic ideas, on which all our works is based, into practical tools for understanding the central role that human relationships play in our mental health and emotional wellbeing.
For example, our Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CAP) programme is a practical and theoretical training course in psychoanalytical psychotherapy with children and young people. This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP).
Hundreds of professionals have been equipped by HDS and have used the experience in their work as teachers, social workers and in other ‘people-facing’ professions, for example. Some have shared their experience by returning to teach on our courses, contributed to our conferences and events, and by publishing books and papers.
We believe our professional training will help to relieve mental and emotional distress by increasing the availability of, an access to, high quality psychodynamic and psychoanalytic counselling and psychotherapy for all who need them.
Watch this short video introducing our professional training at HDS.
Find out more about our training programmes by clicking on the links below.
Like many organisations that provide training and education programmes, we have adapted our training to deliver this online (where possible) due to COVID-19. We are continuing to accept applications for our training courses and we will continue with contingency plans to deliver some of our teaching remotely or in a mixed format to to ensure that the health of students and staff is our priority.
Closing date for applications is 5pm on 17 March. Applications are invited for this four year, full-time clinically based professional training leading to qualification as a Child and Adolescent PsychoProfessional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This course is the only one in Scotland which is approved by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP). Read more
MSc Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work With Children and Young People. This modular course offers an in-depth understanding of infants’, children’s and adolescents’ emotional and personality development, the significance of primary relationships and their relevance to working with these age groups and their families. Read more
This post-qualifying Certificate is a part-time training programme designed to prepare practitioners to work with children, young adults (up to mid-20s) and their families and is taught from a psychodynamic perspective. Read more
Masters in Human Relations and Counselling. This three-year part-time training will lead to the award of MSc and is an advanced professional training for Psychodynamic Counsellors. The MSc has been designed to provide students with excellent clinical training, fully integrated with the knowledge, research and experience of the skills that will be necessary for those working in the modern NHS, the third sector and in private practice. Read more
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling. This part-time modular programme provides the opportunity for professional training as a Psychodynamic Counsellor, and includes: theoretical study, skills practice supervised clinical practice in a placement, development of a critical awareness of underlying relational dynamics, development of the capacity to work sensitively and constructively with issues of diversity and equalities. Read more
An introduction to psychodynamic ideas about what it means to be human, together with experiential training in communication and counselling skills incorporating psychodynamic principles. This course gives unparalleled insight into the complexities of human interactions and is a foundation for the use of advanced communications and counselling skills. Read more