SUMMARYLeadership is a key role for psychiatrists, with many models that can be adopted depending in part on the nature of the individual and their training, the primary task of the team and the nature of the organisation. In this article we suggest a new concept and model of leadership, ‘psychotherapeutic leadership’. We discuss the theoretical background to this model, its benefits and the implications for training and professional development.LEARNING OBJECTIVES•Understand the concept and role of the psychiatrist in providing psychotherapeutic leadership at an individual patient, team and organisational level•Explore how applying an understanding of psychodynamic principles in practice can provide containment in psychiatry and aid clinical leadership•Understand the role of psychotherapeutically informed approaches in recognising factors influencing staff morale and burnoutDECLARATION OF INTERESTNone.