What is Relational Psychotherapy?

Relational psychotherapy is a powerful, effective model for working with individuals who suffer from chronic emotional, psychological, and/or relational distress. Learn more.

Our Program

The Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy (TIRP) offers a comprehensive training program in the theory and practice of relational psychotherapy. Training takes place in Tuesday evening interactive learning groups, September - April, and in two residential weekends per year. Each year's group moves through three years of intensive training together.

Components of training

• Group process that emphasizes authenticity and empathy
• Theory readings, with connections made to students' personal and professional experience
• Supervised peer counselling
• Supervised work with clients starting in year two
• Case presentations among supportive peers and faculty starting in year three

All aspects of training aim to help students develop their own best personal integration of self, theory, and practice.

Advantages of training at TIRP

Choosing to train at TIRP is a wise choice because the program is:

• Professionally sound. Program requirements are aligned with requirements for clinical membership in the Ontario Society of Psychotherapists.
• Academically sound. TIRP's synthesis of feminist and psychoanalytic relational theories provides a solid foundation for general practice and further specialization.
• Progressive. Training is embedded in an awareness of social power and diversity, and of how social context constructs self-experience.
• Practical. From year one, theory, experience, and practice are integrated in training sessions; by year three, a student is developing a supervised private practice.
• Intensive. Training is experiential in small groups.
• Manageable part-time. All course work, supervision, and client work can be scheduled for evenings and weekends.
• Affordable. The cost per year is $3500 for tuition and fees, plus $90 per hour for supervision.
• Personally rewarding. As members of a community committed to diversity and to respectful mutual interaction, students enjoy positive changes in their personal and professional self- esteem and the beginnings of long-lasting bonds of friendship and collegiality.