Overview

The Deep Mind Mastery Journey is an immersive 8-week program designed to take your skills in psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-based psychotherapy, to the next level.

Building on the foundations developed in the 4-week Deep Mind Transformation Method, this intermediate/advanced level program deepens clinical formulation, strengthens therapeutic presence, and enhances confidence in managing complex relational dynamics in the therapy room.

Ideal for psychologists seeking more intensive learning and professional growth, the program integrates theory with practice through supervision-style teaching, case studies and discussions, reflective exercises, and small-group experiential learning. Participants learn to understand unconscious processes with greater precision, work skilfully in the “here and now,” and use their own emotional responses as powerful clinical tools.

On-demand content

A module of pre-recorded content will be released to participants every two weeks. 

Live webinars

Delivered via one-hour webinars across eight weeks, psychologists will explore and consolidate skills in:

1. Embodying the relational therapist: shifting from “fixer” to facilitator and strengthening therapeutic identity.
2. Countertransference as clinical compass: using emotional responses to enrich psychodynamic and attachment-informed formulations.
3. The hidden language of psychotherapy: attending to nonverbals, resistance, and co-regulation to deepen relational work.
4. Relational mastery and interpretation: developing confidence with timing, depth, and therapeutic decision-making.

Across four structured pillars, psychologists learn practical tools that enhance precision in formulation, increase confidence in navigating complex client processes, and support long-term therapeutic change.

Live Q&A

Live Q&A sessions will be held weekly on a Monday and Friday.

Target audience

Psychologists in all stages of their career seeking to refine psychodynamic competency, strengthen reflective practice, and enhance their effectiveness in complex therapeutic encounters.

Level of Learning

Intermediate/Advanced. This activity is targeted to those with some previous learning/significant expertise on the topic.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality. Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

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Learning Outcomes

Module 1: Embodying the Relational Therapist Identity - From fixer to facilitator — consolidating your therapeutic stance

1. Explain the difference between a “fixer” and a “facilitator” stance and describe how shifting from problem-solving to presence fosters deeper connection and reduces burnout,
2. Refine their professional communication and self-presentation (“therapeutic template”) so that written and spoken language authentically reflects a relational and psychodynamic orientation, 
3. Demonstrate how to set and maintain a clear, relational therapeutic frame that balances structure, empathy, and professional authority in the first stages of therapy,
4. Apply psychoeducation effectively in the first 3 sessions by integrating neuroscience and attachment-informed explanations to regulate emotion and reduce client shame, and 
5. Identify and respond to early transference patterns using curiosity, reflective listening, and Socratic questioning to build safety and deepen the therapeutic alliance. 

Module 2: Countertransference as a Clinical Compass - Integrating emotional responses into attachment-informed formulations

1. Define and reframe countertransference as a vital source of clinical information rather than personal error and describe how emotional responses reveal unconscious communication within the therapeutic relationship,
2. Differentiate between personal reactions and client projections by using moment-to-moment awareness, supervision, and reflective practice to clarify “what belongs to whom",
3. Interpret countertransference reactions through an attachment lens, identifying how different client attachment styles (avoidant, anxious, disorganized) evoke predictable emotional experiences in the therapist,
4. Integrate countertransference data into dynamic, evolving formulations, using emotional experiences to deepen understanding of the client’s internal world and relational patterns, and
5. Implement structured reflective practices — such as journaling, post-session check-ins, and supervision dialogues — to transform emotional reactivity into clinical precision and therapeutic empathy. 

Module 3: The Hidden Language of Psychotherapy - Nonverbals, resistance, and co-regulation in the here-and-now

1. Recognise and interpret nonverbal communication, including tone, posture, facial expression and silence as expressions of the client’s unconscious emotional world,
2. Translate embodied observations into therapeutic interventions by naming what is seen or sensed with curiosity, empathy, and clinical precision,
3. Recognise resistance as a form of self-protection and unconscious communication, using it to inform ongoing formulations rather than viewing it as client opposition,
4. Apply principles of regulation and co-regulation to maintain emotional steadiness in sessions and model nervous system safety for clients during moments of intensity or rupture, and
5. Identify and work with projective identification processes by recognising when they are emotionally impacted by a client’s projection and using this awareness to restore understanding and relational balance. 

Module 4: The Art of Interpretation and Relational Depth - Mastering timing, decision-making, and authentic relational style

1. Describe the essential components of an effective interpretation — including attunement, timing, and tone — and demonstrate how to offer interpretations that invite shared meaning rather than impose insight, 
2. Evaluate therapeutic timing and decision-making by identifying cues of client readiness, regulation, and trust that inform when to intervene and when to pause,
3. Develop an authentic relational style by integrating empathy, authority, and transparency in a way that reflects their unique therapeutic presence and supports deeper client trust,
4. Use supervision and vulnerability as vehicles for professional growth, recognising that reflective openness and shared exploration are core features of mastery rather than signs of inadequacy, and
5. Synthesize the key principles of relational depth, countertransference awareness, and timing to create a cohesive, confident, and sustainable psychodynamic practice that reflects artistry and presence.

Presenter(s)

Tania Kalkidis MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Tania Kalkidis
Tania is a highly experienced and respected Clinical Psychologist with extensive qualifications and expertise in psychodynamic psychotherapy, child and adolescent therapy, and clinical supervision. Holding a Masters in Clinical Child Psychology from The University of Melbourne and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from LaTrobe University, Tania has been a registered psychologist in Australia since 1992.
With over 30 years of clinical experience, Tania is the director of Deep Mind Psychodynamic Training in Queensland, where she provides individual, couple, and family psychotherapy, along with online advanced training workshops for psychologists and psychotherapists.
She offers in-depth training in psychodynamic psychotherapy and reflective practice, focusing on neuroscience, attachment, and trauma in therapeutic settings. She has worked with children and adolescents across various settings, including inpatient units, outpatient programs, and private practice, and are recognized for integrating creative therapeutic approaches such as psychodrama, relaxation techniques, and somatic work.
In addition to clinical practice, Tania is a sought-after supervisor and educator, regularly presenting at national conferences and webinars. She is an experienced educator and PsyBA-approved trainer for the Australian Psychological Society Supervisor Training Program.
Tania also maintains active involvement in professional development, continually expanding her knowledge in psychodynamic theory and child psychotherapy, and they contribute to the training of future psychologists through supervision and teaching roles at various universities.