Why postgraduate training?

Studying for a Professional Doctorate, Masters or Diploma, for example, is an exciting prospect and there are many reasons to consider taking a postgraduate course.

The most popular reasons include:

Progressing a current career path
Improving employment prospects
Developing a personal interest
Progressing to a higher level qualification
Entering a particular profession
Meeting the requirements of a current job

Postgraduate training can also aid a career change, help you to gain chartership and provide useful industry contacts and connections.

You many also be interested in:

At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications Why choose HDS? What is the psychodynamic approach?

Latest

May Open Day - TWCYP course

Join us for our in-person Open Day for the part-time postgraduate Masters in Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work With Children and Young People. It’s an opportunity for prospective students to find out more and speak to our teaching staff about our academic courses. Please note that pre-registration is required for this event.
ISE - Using the tools of psychotherapy in a community context

Our next ISE (Intensive Study Event) will be in-person and led by Jane Elfer who is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Closing date for bookings is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
Study with HDS in 2024

HDS offers a range of professional and academic training courses. Our training is popular with people working in ‘people-facing’ professions. For example: health and social care services, teachers, third sector and private practice counselling. Find out more about how you can develop your career with HDS.
Talking therapy may help menopause mood

Talking therapy could effectively treat menopause symptoms such as low mood and anxiety, research suggests. Some women showed, "statistically significant improvements" in anxiety and depression following talking therapies, compared with no or alternative treatments.

Hear from our teaching staff

Watch the videos and use our enquiry forms if you would like to ask any questions which our teaching staff will be delighted to answer.
What do our students say?

Watch the videos and read the comments from our students. 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.
Funding

Information for prospective students on how to fund their professional training. Details of the HDS bursary scheme.
Quality of teaching

All our courses are evaluated on a regular basis and the feedback helps us to maintain a high quality of teaching. The teaching staff have a variety of backgrounds and experience which provide a rich blend of teaching styles and different perspectives to help our students.
What is the psychodynamic approach

At the heart of our work at HDS is psychodynamic theory. At HDS, we believe that psychodynamic approaches, in contrast to many other types of help, support individuals to go beyond self knowledge which is consciously available to them, and supports these individuals to address difficult and painful issues which they have been (unconsciously) hiding from themselves.
Why choose HDS?

There are many considerations when choosing to invest your time and resources to develop your further education. Here are reasons why HDS can help you in your professional development.
What time commitment is required?

Postgraduate training must fit around your lifestyle, so identifying the mode of study that's right for you is essential.
At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries.

Human relations and counselling

The Human Relations and Counselling Programme consists of 3 parts to provide different levels of training and qualification. This includes a Dilpoma (PGDip) and Masters (MSc). The course is ideal for people who currently use elements of counselling in their day-to-day work and would like to take further steps towards enhancing their practice and deepening their professional capacity.
Therapeutic work with children and young people

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.
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. This 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).
Counselling Children, Young People and Families

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.
Staff

Meet the team at Human Development Scotland (HDS) who work to improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of people in Scotland.
Foundations of Human relations and counselling

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.
What is psychodynamic theory?

We exist to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing through professional training, CPD and the provision of counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland. At the heart of our work at Human Development Scotland (HDS) is psychodynamic theory.
Training

Human Development Scotland (HDS) offers a range of professional and academic training courses, short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. Courses currently on offer include the Professional Doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy; MSc Psychoanalytic Observation and Reflective Practice: Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People; Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling.
At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries.
What makes the psychodynamic approach different?

At the heart of our work at Human Development Scotland (HDS) is psychodynamic theory. Here we explain what makes the psychodynamic approach different?

Friends of HDS

Friends of HDS is our way of recognising groups of supporters who make a regular commitment to the work of HDS. Find out more about becoming a Friend of HDS. Read more

At a glance: courses, prospectus, fees & applications

At a glance look at the professional training on offer from HDS. Information and links to course information, including: entry requirements, fees, timings, applications and enquiries. Read more