Diploma in Transpersonal Couple Counselling & Psychotherapy

Certificate in
Transpersonal Couple Counselling & Psychotherapy

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Introduction
Course Aims
Course Content
Entry Requirements
Certificate Requirements
Diploma Requirements
Fees and Dates

TRAINING STAFF

introduction

CCPE is offering a Certificate and Diploma in Transpersonal Couples Counselling. It is aimed at counsellors/therapists who hold a post-graduate qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy or equivalent and are interested in working from a Transpersonal Perspective.

course aims

This course provides an integrative training that addresses the main theories that inform couples work e.g. Psychodynamic, Systemic and Cognitive approaches delivered, and integrated, under the 'umbrella' of the Transpersonal perspective. This course also provides an opportunity to develop the skills that enable therapists to work creatively with couples facing the challenges of being in a relationship.

In particular it aims to provide:

• An initial certificate course consisting of six weekends at approximately monthly intervals from January to June 2009 with two additional weekends for students wishing to complete the diploma to take place at the end of the year.
• An opportunity (where possible) to work with couples at a low cost referred by our clinic at CCPE.
• A thorough understanding of a transpersonal approach to couples counselling.
• A thorough grounding in some of the main theories relevant to couples therapy as outlined above.
• An understanding and practice of the skills necessary to manage the challenges of working with couples, from initial assessment through to endings.
• An opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding of their own patterns in relationship.
• An opportunity (where possible) to work with couples at a low cost referred by our clinic at CCPE.
• An opportunity for supervision/support on work with couples.

course content

The first two weekends will focus on the psychological and spiritual function of relationship. Theories of Attraction, Attachment and a Systems approach will be introduced and explored in relation to the Transpersonal Self. At the end of these weekends participants will also have learned some of the basic skills to begin working with couples.

Module 1: Introduction to couples counselling

This weekend will provide:

• An introduction to alchemy as applied to a Transpersonal Model of couple relationships.
• Exploration of the stages of relationship, the search for 'Self' and relationship as container for psychological and transpersonal transformation.
• A personal exploration of the 'Wounded Healer' examining our own internal couple and what we consciously/unconsciously bring to the therapy room.
• Theoretical input on theories of Attachment and Attraction.
• Skills Practice to include - assessment, history-taking, contracting, and basic communication tools for working with couples.

Module 2: Early days - development

This weekend will provide:

• Theoretical input on Systems Theory, the use of Genograms and experiential exercises working with the 'mythical couple'
• Theortical input on the psychodynamic approach, Object-Relations and Socialisation and exploration of the influence or early life experiences
• Exploration and work with the Inner Child and its impact in/on relationship, and symbiosis.
• Experiential exercises to explore our own early life experiences and the impact of these on our own relationships
• Skills practice to include - Using Genograms, reframing normalising and using homework.

The middle two weekends will focus on the purpose and meaning of Conflict and Stasis in relationship and sympomatic problems such as sexual problems, affairs, circular arguments, etc. and the contextual world of the couple.

Module 3: Polarisation and Conflict

This weekend will provide:

• Theoretical input of Psychodynamic, Cognitive and Transpersonal approaches to working with conflict
• Understanding the concept and function of   'stasis' in couple relationships
• An understanding of the power struggle as manifest through sex, affairs, violence, addiction etc.
• Introduction to and exploration of the importance of working with sex and sexual dysfunction in couple therapy.
• Skills practice to include - anger management, working with resistance and sabotage.

Module 4: Couples in context

This weekend will provide:

• An exploration of the sociological and cultural context in couple relationships.
• An exploration of 'difference' – ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation etc.
• Exploration of assumptions, predjudices, stereotyping etc. both personal and societal.
• An exploration of psychopathology and psycho-spiritual crisis in couples, assessment and onward referral.
• Skills practice to include - working with alliances and resistance, use of 'self', of counter-transference and 'shadowing'.

Module 5: Assessments

This weekend will focus on practice and consolidation of course material to include peer/tutor review of skillss practice and presentations of written papers. Students will facilitate a role-play session with a 'couple' and receive feedback from the tutors and peers.

Module 6: Life, Death and Re-birth

This weekend will focus on re-birth, both of the relationship and of the self through relationship, and the Alchemical processes involved. It will address the concept of co-creation, the essential need for compassion in the task of relationship and the relationship as ultimate teacher. It will provide:

• Theoretical input on the Transpersonal elements ofthe conscious relationship
• An exploration of the concept of the 'space between' or 'Child' of the relationship
• An understanding of the importance of creating a newvision of the relationship/our partner/ourselves.
• Skills practice to include: re-connecting with romance, co-creation, and creative techniques in couple work e.g. visualisation and re-connecting without dialogue.
• An understanding of and ways to handle endings in couple work.

diploma students only

Module 7:

Day one of this weekend explores the interface between biology, neuro-psychology and the transpersonal in couple dynamics. Day two focuses on presentations, final assessment and supervision.

Module 8:

Day one explores more deeply the importance of sex and sexual dysfunction, emphasising differences between couple therapy with a sexual focus and psychosexual therapy. Day two will focus on presentationss, final assessment and supervision.

entry requirements

To complete this course you must have:

• A recognised Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy or equivalent
• A minimum of one year's postgraduate supervised experience of individual or couples work.
• Have personal experience of individual or couples counselling.
• Be age 27+

requirements for the award of the certificate in couples counselling

1. 100% attendance. There will be skills practice during every weekend and it will not be possible to re-do this. If you are not sure you can attend every weekend wait for a time when you know you can do so. (One weekend missed for unforeseeable and acceptable reasons will have to be made up by additional tutorials at your own expense).
2. Evidence of sufficient psychotherapy practice (with couples and/or indi-viduals) throughout the course. (Your supervisor will be asked to produce a letter of evidence).
3. Evidence of your understanding and application of skills throughout the course. (This will be demonstrated by role-play sessions and presentation of a short paper of 500 words demonstrating your application of the Transpersonal approach as it applies to couple therapy).

requirements for the award of the diploma in couples counselling

All of the requirements above plus:

• Two additional weekends
• 20 hours supervised couples work
• A 1,500 word case history, based on your work with one couple over 8 sessions – or – a reflective piece of work of 1,500 words demonstrating your understanding/application of transpersonal couples work in your therapy/counselling practice and delivered as a presentation to your peers and tutors.

fees and dates

Course Fees:     (10% discount applies if both booked before 31/10/08)

Certificate - £1,500 (including a non-refundable deposit of £200)

Diploma - £600 (including a non-refundable deposit of £200)

Course Dates:  
2009 :
Certificate – 17/18 January, 14/15 February, 14/15 March, 25/26 April, 9/10 May, 13/14 June.
Diploma – 12/13 September, 14/15 November

All weekends run from 10am-5pm.

To apply, contact us for an application form.

training staff

Cathy McDermott: B.Sc. (Hons) Psych. M.Sc., Occ. Psych., Dipls. in Psychotherapy, Supervision, Advanced Psychotherapy. Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and EMDR Practitioner.

John O'Reilly: MA Integrative Psychotherapy; Adv Dipls. Transpersonal Psychotherapy. PG Dipls: Psychosynthesis Counselling & Psychotherapy; Psychosexual Therapy; Integrative Clinical Supervision. PG Certs: Integrative Couple Therapy; Supervision of Couple Therapy; Supervision of Group Work; Short-Term Therapy; Dream Interpretation & Spiritual Guidance.