School of Nursing and Human Sciences

Degree Information:

The Doctorate in Psychotherapy is a level 10 NFQ (270 credit) programme delivered part-time over four years.

This programme will build upon professionals' current competencies and skills. It will stimulate an inquiry-based attitude to practice that increases their capacity to respond to clients at an implicit emotional and relational level. The development of an inquiry based attitude will also inform the implementation of a research project that advances the boundaries of knowledge and positions you as an authority in their chosen area of interest.

Students will exit with the knowledge and ability to work as senior psychotherapists and researchers.

Aims and Objectives:

1. To develop an inquiry based attitude to practice that will inform the implementation of a research project to advance the boundaries of knowledge and locate students as an authority in their chosen area of interest.
2. To develop and enhance the capacity for critical awareness to coexist alongside non-critical awareness and open analytical thinking informed by as well as applied to theory, practice and research.
3. Candidates will be adept in identifying the contribution made by the best available and emerging research evidence and subjective personal inquiry to advance theory and inform innovative practice developments.
4. Candidates will be equally secure and proficient in discussing and disseminating the contributions of emerging theoretical principles and practice developments within the academic, practitioner and educational communities.
5. To develop a unique and in-depth portfolio of transferable competencies to advance the field of psychotherapy practice, education, training and research.

Programme Structure:

This four year, part-time programme has taught modules in Years 1 and 2, with Years 3 and 4 focused on a research thesis and clinical portfolio.

The programme is delivered at Dublin City University via block teaching (normally three days per month) over the academic year, September to May.

The research thesis must represent an original piece of work. This will be supported by a supervisory team. The clinical portfolio requires 200 clinical placement hours, 75 supervision hours, including both individual and group supervision, and 75 personal development hours comprising both individual and group therapy hours. On successful completion of their research thesis and clinical portfolio, students will be eligible for the award of Doctorate in Psychotherapy (D.Psych).

View the subjects currently taught on this course (2012 - 2013)

1. The Doctorate in Psychotherapy enables students to become leaders in the challenges inherent in valid clinical assessment, treatment delivery and outcome measurement.
2. The clinical element of the programme provides evidence of successful completion of course requirements and will support any claims you make in relation to being an expert practitioner.
3. You will have the opportunity to observe and learn from each other's practice in a purpose-designed communications suite, available at the School of Nursing, with extensive audiovisual recording and editing facilities.
4. The programme provides the opportunity for extensive reflective self-awareness, self-appraisal and an astute acknowledgment of the 'self' and 'other' within the context of what it means to be a psychotherapy practitioner in the delivery of safe and ethical treatment.
5. The opportunity to develop: advanced sensitivity to socio-political and economic interests and influence at a micro and macro level; in-depth and sensitive awareness of multicultural diversity, ethnic minority, socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in society; and in-depth awareness and understanding of negative stereotyping and of specific social-client groups.

Career Prospects:

As senior practitioners, you will have the capacity to make, implement or challenge practice decisions based on outcome research and subjective clinical experience. You will have a unique and in-depth portfolio of transferable competencies to advance the field of psychotherapy practice, education, training and research and the expertise, breadth and depth of specialist skills to initiate, self-direct and evaluate practice based research project. This skills set will make candidates desirable in advanced practice, research and teaching settings.

Entry Requirements:

All students applying to undertake the Doctorate in Psychotherapy will be interviewed by the Programme Admissions Panel. Postgraduate students admitted to the Doctorate Programme will normally have completed a Masters in Psychotherapy or equivalent. They will also have:

1. appropriate professional experience, for example, be able to demonstrate that they are working within a particular theoretical modality such as an integrative or constructivist framework with a breadth of clients.
2. demonstrate evidence of research proposal preparation.
3. demonstrate personal suitability including psychological and emotnional robustness, an open and dialogic communication style, maturity, self-awareness and groundedness, motivation, compassion and human presence skills, good conflict management skills and a capacity for reflexive and ethical practice.

Students who do not meet the above criteria may be recommended to complete a Doctoral Conversion Programme, taking a number of stand alone modules before re-applying.

Application Submission Date

Apply online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre www.pac.ie. Please ensure you complete the Research Proposal Form and include it as supporting documentation with your application to PAC. Closing date for receipt of completed applications is to be confirmed.

Entry to the Doctorate in Psychotherapy is offered every second year and the next planned intake is September 2014. Applications are welcomed at any time prior to the closing date.

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Fee information

Indicative Timetable
(Weeks 20-31)