Certificate in the Foundations of Counselling and Psychotherapy

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COURSE PHILOSOPHY

COURSE OUTLINE
Term One
Weekend Seminar
Topics
Term Two
Weekend Seminar
Topics
Term Three
Weekend Seminar
Topics

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

FEES AND DATES

COURSE TUTORS

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course philosophy

"When an individual becomes a person, the beauty hidden in the individual, which is divine, develops; and that development of beauty is personality."
HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN

This quote symbolises the core belief of the Centre's approach towards counselling training. The Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education offers a one year course in the Foundations of Counselling and Psychotherapy from a spiritual perspective that embraces the psychodynamic, humanistic and transpersonal approaches. It offers a thorough grounding in basic counselling skills.

The course focuses on personal growth encompassing body, mind and spirit. It is aimed at students wishing to go on and pursue a career in counselling or psychotherapy, holistic health practitioners wanting to improve client contact skills and for those with a general interest in counselling.

The course meets for 30 evening seminars, 4 weekends and one full day workshop.

course outline

TERM ONE: Counselling Skills

Our interactions with people can become greatly enhanced by the acquisition of a basic range of listening and communication skills. The course is designed to help students become conscious of how they can be both receptively and actively present with people. The main emphasis in this term is on experiential work which opens up rich learning opportunities within the group.

WEEKEND SEMINAR: Discovering what transpires behind that which appears
In this introductory weekend we begin the journey of sharing as a group in discovering the hidden self that hides behind the masks we may use in the world.

TOPICS
What do we understand by counselling?
What do we mean by the holistic/ transpersonal approach?
Skills - attending and listening; body language.
Listening and responding.
Demonstrating empathy.
Questioning - getting the words right.
Focusing and goal setting.
The therapeutic alliance - creating a safe environment.

Counselling practice continues as an integral part of the course.

TERM TWO: Theories and styles in counselling and psychotherapy

In this term we will be concentrating on the rich and diverse theories of counselling. Students are encouraged to read widely and pose their own questions about human nature.

WEEKEND SEMINAR: Group Dynamics
The purpose of this weekend is to help us recognise the roles and patterns of behaviour that manifest when individuals come together in groups.

TOPICS
Values and ethics of counselling.
Freud, Jung, Rogers.
Gestalt therapy.
The spiritual perspective.

WEEKEND SEMINAR: Creativity
This weekend provides an opportunity to explore our relationship with creativity. Unblocking creative energy allows us to better fulfil our potential as human beings. It is also a powerful tool for change in the therapeutic process.

TERM THREE: Themes in therapy

The major themes that many of us confront in our lives are reviewed in this term. The emphasis is again experiential and also aimed at students exploring in more depth their own relationship to spiritual values in their life.

WEEKEND SEMINAR: Families
This final weekend allows students to further uncover the influence their family has had in their life's development. We also look at the qualities an individual acquires through their life's journey.

TOPICS
Working with the child within.
Loss and grief.
Relationships
Spiritual dimensions - 1 - finding meaning and purpose in life.
Spiritual dimensions - 2 - working with qualities and mandalas.
The role of myths and symbolism in therapy.

course requirements

Upon completion of the course successful candidates will be awarded a Certificate in the Foundations of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The criteria for successful completion are as follows:
• Students are required to be in Psychotherapy with a recognised Psychotherapist for 50 hours, the majority of which must be during the course.
• Two written assignments: one on counselling theory, the other to demonstrate the student's personal development during the course.
• A minimum of 80% attendance of course lectures and 100% attendance of the weekend seminars.

It is recommended that students seek voluntary practical placements in order to gain experience and put their learning into practice (this should not be arranged until the end of term one). Students are required to attend a placement induction meeting.

The course can serve as a preparation for the Centre's four year professional training in counselling and psychotherapy (BACP, UKCP accredited).

fees and dates

The course runs from January to November.
Lectures are held on one evening a week from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.
The fee for the course in 2009 is £1,950 (including a non-refundable deposit of £200).

For further details and interviews please contact us. Please note that there is a charge for interviews of £40.

course tutors

Allan Pimentel Dipls. Psych. & Supvn.
Louise Trowbridge MA., Dipls. Psych., Supvn. & Adv. Psych.
Paul Margrie Dipls. Psych., Supvn. & Adv. Psych.

ADDITIONAL TUTORS

Tamara Alferoff MA., Dipl. Psych.
David Hiles B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Psychology)
Maggie Kafton MA., Dipls. Psych., Supvn. & Adv. Psych.