Staff focus

Alexandra de Rementeria

Co-course lead for Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7)

“My first degree was in English Literature. I trained as a primary school teacher and did a Psychology degree at the Open University while teaching reception class. I was already familiar with some psychoanalytic ideas, partly from psychoanalytic literary theory in my first degree, but also through a friend and through my own therapy. I knew that I wanted to work individually with the kids that couldn’t learn, but eventually I came to wonder whether child psychotherapy might be the best fit for me. The primary school where I worked was developing a Children’s Centre, so I started to work with younger children and babies too, while beginning a Master’s degree at The Tavistock and Portman.

I initially approached the course as a means to an end – a pathway to the clinical training – but I was not prepared for how radically it would change me as a teacher, professional and person. As a schoolteacher, you are given to understand that you should not have powerful emotional reactions to the children you work with, and that if you do you should push down and deny those feelings. The course helped me to understand that if I could be in touch with, and think about, my rage, my despair, my love towards those children, I might better understand both the children and myself. Doing this in a supportive seminar helped me to respond to respond with confidence and kindness to the children’s provocations and need for positive regard when I was back in the classroom.

If you’re thinking about applying for your own Master’s degree, I can’t explain what you will gain because it is all about experiential learning, which just means that you have to find out for yourself. Only you can do one of our courses the way you would do it, so I can’t tell you about that yet. You’ll have to come, and we can find out together.”

• Master’s

  Eligible for Student Visa

  

  Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, daytime)

  Delivery:

  Face to face

  Location:

  London

  Duration:

  2 or 3 years

  Eligible for Student Visa
• Master’s

  

  Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, evening)

  Delivery:

  Face to face

  Location:

  London

  Duration:

  2 or 3 years

• Master’s

  

  Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, Saturday)

  Delivery:

  Blended

  Location:

  London

  Duration:

  2 or 3 years