
ONLINE COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY, PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
(Theory & Practice)
This is a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certificate course which is conducted online (via Zoom). As well as being an introduction to study at the Philadelphia Association, completion of this course or the in-person courses, is a requirement for anyone wishing to train as a psychotherapist with the PA. Many students take this course for its own sake rather than as a stepping-stone to further study.
Before the recent pandemic, all the PA's courses and events were exclusively in-person.
In common with most organisations in the UK during the pandemic, the PA had to move all its activities online. One of the discoveries we made, was that there is keen interest in the PA's Study Programme from people in other parts of the UK and around the world. Making courses accessible online has enabled people to participate when previously that would not have been possible. Whilst other courses returned to our centre in North-West London, a decision was made to maintain one online course. Students join from different continents, bringing a rich diversity of cultural perspectives which enhance the learning experience for all participants. The online course also makes participation possible for those unable to attend for other reasons.
As a relatively new innovation in the PA's Study Programme, this online course has been developed to meet the demand of those interested in the PA's work - our continuing enquiry into the assumptions we carry about ourselves and others.
The course takes place on Wednesday evenings (seminar and experiential group)
APPLICATION AND FEES
Application is by interview. The course costs £700 and there are a limited number of bursaries available for students surviving on low income. Interviews for 2026/2027 begin in April.
2025/26 PROGRAMME
Course Coordinators
Andrea Heath, Kit Zinovieff, Lucy King
PA Office
Josh Foyster
Experiential Group 6pm - 7.30pm
The experiential group has no agenda apart from attending to how this particular group forms and develops, the contribution each person makes, and whether we can learn from the experience to understand what a group is.
Facilitators: Alison Davies & Benjamin Morgan
Seminars: Wednesdays 8 - 9.30pm
First Term
15 & 22 October 2025
Use & Misuse of Theory
Lucy King
29 October
What is Community?
Jake Osborne
5 November
On Community
Kay Holmes & Jake Osborne
12 & 19 November
Sartre, Laing and Existential Psychoanalysis
Kevin Ball
26 November & December 3
Anti-Psychiatry
Vincenzo Passante
December 10
A Serious Conversation
Nick Mercer
Second Term
21 & 28 January 2026
The body and the language in psychoses
Daniela Bruni
4 & 11 February
The World Comes First: the social context of psychotherapy and its philosophical underpinnings
Paul Gurney
18 & 25 February
The Phenomenology of Political Intersubjectivity
Alia Butt
4 & 11 March
Psychotherapy and Homelessness
Andreas Constandinos
18 & 25 March
Nietzsche and psychotherapy: an introduction to phenomenology, scepticism and the death of God
Onel Brooks
Third Term
15 & 22 Apr
Irony & Paradox
Jeremy Cutler
29 April & 6 May
Envy
Elie Jesner
13 & 20 May
Exploring Suicide, what it evokes in us and what philosophy can be drawn from to help encountering the phenomena
Ben Scanlan
27 May & 3 June
Endings
Emma Stroker
PA Study Programme Saturday Morning Online Seminars 2025
11.00 – 12.30
Saturday morning discussions exploring themes in psychotherapy, philosophy, and practice. If you are interested to attend please email the office and we will send you the zoom link closer to the time.
Saturday 15 November
Philadelphia Association Psychotherapy Training
with Jake Osborne
Jake and other PA members will speak about the training and be available to answer questions.
Saturday 29 November
Minimal Medication Approaches for Psychosis and Alternatives to “Antipsychotics”
Seminar and discussion with Dr John Mason
Saturday 13 December
Anti-Oedipus
Seminar and discussion with Dr Jan Harris
Further Details to Follow
January 24th 2026
Why are you not eating ?
Q & A on Anorexia Nervosa
Lucia Giombini & Kevin Ball