Medical psychotherapy 

The Medical Psychotherapy faculty aims to be the voice of Psychotherapy in Psychiatry and Medicine, but also the voice of Psychiatry and Medicine in Psychotherapy. The faculty's main objective is to promote cooperation among medical psychotherapists and interested colleagues across Scotland, to provide a forum for exchange of ideas, and to encourage the development of training.

Members of the faculty have links with the Scottish training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, with trainings in Group Analysis, and with trainings in Cognitive-Behavioural Psychotherapy. Members tend to have interests in individual or group psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy and developments from it, reflective practice, and psychoanalytic writing and research. The faculty is also a place where psychotherapy tutors can share experience to ensure that doctors training in Psychiatry have a good experience of reflective practice and individual cases.

Membership is open to Consultants, SAS doctors, and higher trainees in Psychotherapy throughout Scotland.

Our Executive meets three or four times a year to discuss matters of training and education, implications of government policy, developments in the provision of psychotherapy in Scotland and other relevant issues.  The faculty is currently working on standards for psychotherapy in Scotland and improving psychotherapy training in Scotland.

Close links are maintained with the Devolved Council of Scotland and the UK RCPsych Psychotherapy Faculty.

We hold an academic faculty meeting on an annual basis and this provides a forum for education and debate, but also a place to connect with like-minded colleagues.

Colleagues from other specialties are also welcome to join. In addition, we encourage core trainees and foundation doctors to attend our annual faculty conferences.

Contact the Faculty

Chair: Dr Alasdair Forrest

Co-Vice Chairs: Emma Lewington and Andrea Williams

Secretary: Amit Agarwal

Office Contact: Susan Richardson

Other organisations

Read more to receive further information regarding a career in psychiatry