Dear Colleagues,оn 17 October 2025, the first module of the didactic course “Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Borderline, Narcissistic, and Other Severe Personality Disorders” will begin.
We will outline the course content and introduce you to its instructor. But first, a few words about the Transference-Focused Psychotherapy model itself:
What is the Model of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP)?
Transference-Focused psychotherapy (TFP) is a highly structured, modified manualized psychodynamic treatment, typically conducted twice a week, based on Otto F. Kernberg's object relations model.
Who Is the Course Instructor?
The instructor of the certification course - Tennyson Lee - is a brilliant instructor and experienced clinician
Qualifications and Professional Titles of Tennyson Lee:
- FRCPsych – Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (a professional title in the United Kingdom indicating the senior level of qualification in the field of psychiatry).
- a Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy
- a psychoanalyst and member of the British Psychoanalytical Society
- He is an accredited Mentalization Based therapist
- Не is on the Clinical Register of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society.
Clinical Practice and Leadership of Tennyson Lee:
- Clinical lead at DeanCross Personality Disorder Service (recipient of the Royal College of Psychiatry team of the year award)
- Co-Director of the Centre for Understanding of Personality (CUSP), a research unit based in his clinical service, and linked to Oxford University and Queen Mary University, London
Educational and Certification Activities of Tennyson Lee:
- Chair of the TFP UK group
- Certified TFP Teacher and Supervisor, accredited by the International Society for Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (ISTFP)
- Serves on the International Society of Transference Focused Psychotherapy certification board
- He is lead on a TFP training project which has held courses in China, South Africa, Italy, UK, India and Malaysia.
Research and Outreach Activities of Tennyson Lee:
- He is also a seminar leader on a series on Narcissism at the Post Foundation Course of the Institute of Psychoanalysis
- He teaches on Personality Disorder nationally and abroad and has spoken on narcissism on BBC radio 4
- - Dr Lee has over 40 peer reviewed publications, including clinical papers on TFP and neuropsychoanalysis.
What does the course instructor, Tennyson Lee, say about the TFP model?
In May 2025, Tennyson Lee, the instructor of the Transference-Focused Psychotherapy course, gave a special interview for the organiser of the programme — the Ukrainian Institute for Personality Disorders Studies. The interview was conducted by the Director of the Institute, Oleksii Lemeshchuk.
A video excerpt in which Tennyson Lee discusses the strengths of the TFP model and how it differs from other psychotherapy approaches is available at the following link:
Why do we consider the TFP model effective?
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP) is an ambitious therapeutic approach, as it sets the goal of structural change — a movement from a split borderline personality structure toward a healthy, integrated identity. It is a psychotherapeutic approach that enables practitioners to understand fully what is happening with the patient and how to respond appropriately. Its effectiveness is supported by several key features:
1. Empirical foundation — TFP is an empirically supported and evidence-based treatment for personality disorders that has proven its efficacy in numerous studies (2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, and others).
2. In-depth work with the patient — TFP addresses not only symptoms but also the underlying personality structures, facilitating lasting changes in patterns of thinking, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships.
3. Clear and predictable treatment technique. — Technically, TFP is based on well-defined strategies, tactics, and techniques. This distinguishes it from many other psychodynamic and humanistic models that often present conceptual frameworks without an equally explicit technical guide for practitioners.
4. Focus on transference — TFP creates a structured setting for in-depth exploration and transformation of maladaptive patterns through work with transference.
5. Adaptability for complex cases — TFP was originally developed for treating borderline personality disorder but has since been expanded to cover the full spectrum of borderline personality organization, including pathological narcissism.
6. Versatility — the TFP model includes its own modifications:, including:
- TFP for Neurotic Personality Organization (TFP-E)
- TFP for Narcissistic Patients (TFP-N)
- TFP for Adolescents (TFP-A)
- TFP for Groups
- TFP in Forensic Psychiatry (TFFP)
- Inpatient TFP
Who is this course recommended for?
- Psychoanalytic Therapists: by integrating core psychoanalytic concepts into a coherent model, TFP allows psychoanalytic therapists:
* to identify central conflicts early and intervene in ways that sharpen the therapeutic focus
* reduce the risk of dropout
* shorten the path to therapeutic goals — specifically, the integration of the personality toward healthier levels of personality organization — without sacrificing depth
- Psychodynamic Therapists: with its clearly defined techniques and structured approach to diagnosis and intervention, TFP brings:
* clarity to complex cases
* increases therapeutic momentum
* greater confidence in managing transference and resistance, which contributes to more consistent clinical progress — ultimately supporting a shift toward healthier levels of personality organization.
- Other-Modality Psychotherapists - practitioners trained in cognitive, humanistic, integrative, or other therapeutic approaches.In this case, the TFP model:
* adds depth, structure, and methodological rigor to their practice
* enhances therapeutic focus
* improves outcomes in work with patients suffering from complex personality pathology.
- Psychiatrists: TFP serves as an effective clinical tool that:
* strengthens treatment outcomes — especially when working with difficult or treatment-resistant patients.
* in inpatient and outpatient settings, it improves patient engagement, enhances treatment adherence, and deepens clinical understanding.
One session in this training is specifically dedicated to applying TFP principles in psychiatric contexts.
Course Content:
- LECTURE COMPONENT — it covers the theory you need for deep and effective treatment of complex cases—including borderline and narcissistic patients, as well as adolescents.
- PRACTICAL COMPONENT — a key element of the course, which includes:
* Case reviews: Participants will be invited to submit brief descriptions of their own clinical cases, outlining therapeutic challenges (using a pre-prepared template). The course faculty, Tennyson Lee, will select cases relevant to the topic and discuss them together with the participants and the therapist who submitted the case.
* Role-plays: Participants will have the chance to engage in role-plays, where they will act as their patients, and the course instructor, Tennyson Lee, will take on the therapist role.
* QA sessions: Participants will receive guidance and answers to the questions that arise as you engage with TFP theory and clinical application.
* Video sessions: The program includes viewing recorded clinical vignettes, accompanied by expert commentary from course teacher Tennyson Lee.
Course Schedule:
Module I: October 17–19, 2025
Module II: December 5–7, 2025
Module III: March 6–8, 2026
Module IV: May 29-31, 2026
Time: Daily from 08:00 AM - 3:00 PM London time
FORMAT & LANGUAGE:
Online education in English.
Best regards,
TFP-Group Ukraine
Ukrainian Institute for Personality Disorders Studies