This is a special opportunity to engage directly with the authors of the landmark three-volume series on Systems Psychodynamics, Dr. Mannie Sher and Dr. David Lawlor, alongside group relations expert Rachel Kelly.

The focus will be on Volume 3: Systems Psychodynamics: Theorist and Practitioner Voices from the Field.

Over six live, online seminars, you will be invited into a carefully held learning space that combines theory, discussion, and live consultancy work. The aim is to help you to deepen your understanding of Tavistock Institute systems psychodynamics and to apply it meaningfully in your professional practice.

Each session is structured to support both conceptual understanding and real-world application. Through shared reading, case discussions, work presentations, and reflection, you’ll explore what happens between consultants and client systems, how organisational roles shape identity and action, and how to work with the emotional experience of organisational life.

Learning through reflection and experience

Together, we will look at the pressures of taking up authority in the midst of organisational complexity, and what it means to consult with care, clarity, and purpose.

Grounded in the Tavistock Institute’s systems-psychodynamic tradition, the programme introduces core concepts including:

· Open Systems Theory

· Psychoanalytic Thinking

· Group Dynamics

· Socio-Technical Systems

We explore the emotional and relational aspects of consultancy, including how consultants are often pulled into roles by the system itself, and how they can stay task-focused even under intense pressure.

We will work in a small, consistent cohort, allowing for depth of dialogue and learning. Each seminar builds on the last, creating a developmental journey that is both intellectually and emotionally engaging.

Who should attend?

This series is designed for professionals seeking to deepen their capacity to think systemically and consult effectively in emotionally complex environments.

You may be:

· An external or internal organisational consultant;

· A change agent, OD or HR professional;

· A leader or senior manager;

· A coach or facilitator;

· An academic or researcher exploring systems thinking, psychoanalysis, or complexity.

No prior experience with systems psychodynamics is required, just a readiness to reflect and a curiosity about what happens beneath the surface of organisational life.

Why attend?

We find that participants leave this series of seminars with a new lens for seeing organisations, and a deeper, more nuanced understanding of their own consulting practice.

We will provide you with opportunity to:

· Strengthen your capacity to recognise and work with unconscious dynamics in systems;

· Deepen your ability to take up role with authority, confidence, and ethical awareness;

· Expand your understanding of difference, diversity, and organisational defences;

· Enhance your skills in managing boundaries, holding uncertainty, and reading emotional cues;

· Develop tools and concepts to navigate organisational dilemmas more effectively;

· Connect theory to your lived experience through structured reflection and peer learning;

· Join a growing community of Tavistock-informed practitioners.

Certificate

Following completion of the programme, you will receive a Tavistock Institute Certificate of Attendance, which may be used toward CPD requirements. 

You’ll also be invited to continue your development via Basecamp, our virtual alumni space for ongoing peer dialogue and community practice. 

Programme directors

Next steps

To apply for the seminars please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on this page. Payment details will be sent after application and payment must be made before the seminar series begins to secure your place. 

Each cohort will be limited to 18 places. We look forward to welcoming you on this exciting learning journey. 

If you have any questions and/or would like a conversation about the Reading Seminars with one of the directors, please contact Hafija Bibi, Professional Development Administrator at: H.Bibi@tavinstitute.org