Understanding Personality and Assessing Disorder using the IPDE: essential clinical skills using experiential workshop training 

We run regular 2 Day workshops on the IPDE. If you are interested in attending an event, please contact us to register for more information: 

Course Overview

This IPDE training focuses on understanding personality development from the bio-psychosocial model, incorporating recent developments including the new edition of DSM 5 and how to administer the International Personality Disorder Examination. The training is highly experiential, comprising of reflective practice exercises, case material and scoring of clinical video material.
This course is aimed at practical clinicians who have to work in main-stream environments with a broad spectrum of clients with varying degrees of personality pathology on the continuum. It is suitable for community based mental health services, hospitals, clinics, probation services and prisons across the MOJ estate. This includes HCPC registered applied Psychologists and registered Psychiatrists.

• Understanding what personality is, how it is formed and what is its function
• Making the link between personality and what is considered to be disordered
• Consideration of functionality, impairment and clinically significant distress
• DSM 5 criteria and the structure and content of IPDE
• Antisocial personality disorder and the distinction between ASPD and the construct of psychopathy
• The continuum principle, how we apply it to ourselves and clients
• Therapeutic interviewing skills and application of techniques for meaningful assessment; including application of impacting collateral information into preparation
• Observation and scoring clinical interviews clips using the IPDE
• Working case formulation of how the client is functioning; making sense of our assessment
• Client focused report writing and feedback; defensible practice

Cost inclusive of all materials is £500 per delegate.
Attendees will be issued with a certificate of attendance to evidence their continued professional development. Places are strictly limited on each course.

Course Trainers

The course trainers are two highly experienced and respected independent psychologists working in the field of applied psychology. They are both passionate to ensure clients who have complex needs along the personality spectrum are appropriately assessed using evidence based approaches, and supported to find the most accessible treatment pathways.

Dr Terri Van-Leeson

Terri is a highly qualified and experienced Chartered and Consultant Forensic Psychologist HCPC registered. She has a number of years’ experience working in child and adult community and forensic based organisations with both forensic and non-forensic clients. Her primary focus is assessing, treatment planning, supporting staff and working with clients who experience high levels of interpersonal distress due largely to primary diagnosis personality difficulties. She is a member of the British Psychological Society; full member of the Division of Teaching and Research, full member of the Division of Forensic Psychology and an affiliate member of the Division of Counselling Psychology. In addition she is also a Chartered Scientist, and an associate fellow of the University of East Anglia.

To apply for the course, more information or to enquire about further course dates please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.