Who can apply?

No formal qualifications are required.  Selection will be based on:

• Personal and emotional suitability for exploring psychodynamic issues and counselling skills.
• Evidence of the intellectual potential to complete the theoretical elements of the course, including written assignments.
• Able to attend course dates.

Many of our students find our 10-week introductory course a valuable start to their training, although not compulsory.

Application and selection process:

The interviews take place in 2 parts:

• a group workshop
• an interview with a senior member of our training team.

The selection panel will meet to discuss applicants and decide on places to offer.   

Course aims and outcomes:

• Develop basic skills in listening, reflecting, summarising and paraphrasing to facilitate the other’s understanding and accommodation of their feelings and emotional conflict
• Develop further skills of supporting and challenging others within a group setting
• An understanding of the therapeutic frame
• Develop knowledge of ethical guidelines, boundaries, confidentiality and containment
• Elementary psychoanalytic theory of human development
• Have begun to look at, reflect on and recognise patterns in behaviour, feeling and thinking in themselves and others.
• To practice skills which increase awareness through experiential role play and group work; to increase counselling skills of clarifying, supporting and challenging others to further their recognition, thinking about and management of feelings, thoughts and conflicts
• Show an interest in and commitment to self-exploration and development
• Learn some basic theory about human growth and development
• Begin to have understood the importance of boundaries and ethics in counselling work and develop an understanding of the difference between using counselling skills in a variety of situations and counselling/psychotherapy
• Be aware of working and living in a diverse society where issues of difference are acknowledged and worked with sensitively, and assumptions about power and oppression are acknowledged, discussed and challenged
• To have a basic understanding of the key theories which ground psychodynamic work and their application to the clinical setting

Course structure, time commitment and attendance

There are 2 Foundation Certificate options each academic year:

Year long: Wednesday daytime, 3 x 11 week terms, academic year September – July

Intensive: 6 weekends and 2 x 4-day weeks between January and July

Additional compulsory workshops for both options.

Course elements:

Theory seminars	Covering the core psychodynamic theories to enable you to apply theoretical concepts and ideas for yourself.  There will be preparative reading and tasks.
Skills seminars	Supporting the linking of theory to practice. Some work will be in triads with client, counsellor and observer scenario.
Experiential group	This is a safe space held by an experienced group leader to explore feelings and issues arising directly or indirectly as a result of the course. You will gain a greater self-awareness and develop a sensitivity to others’ situations and needs within the group dynamic whilst developing healthy relationships.

Outside the course day:

Workshops	2 x compulsory Saturday workshops outside the course day
Tutorials	2 meetings with your allocated personal tutor
Personal therapy	It is a requirement to be in at least once-weekly therapy.
Reading and study	Required and recommended reading, personal study, written assignments

The expectation is to attend 100% of the course however we do understand sometimes situations arise beyond control, therefore the minimum required attendance is 90%.

Personal therapy

It is a requirement to be in at least once-weekly personal therapy during the course. If you wish to continue your training onto the Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling this must be with a psychoanalytic psychotherapist.   

Wessex CP has a list of approved therapists; please make sure you ask for the most up to date version. The cost of personal therapy is in addition to your course fees.                                        

Assessment

Assessment is a continuous and holistic process throughout all elements of your training; you will receive written and verbal feedback through:

• Written termly theory seminar leader reports
• Interim and year end skills reports
• Observed to be seen as developing counselling skills to a satisfactory standard
• Written assignments – 2 essays
• Attendance

You are encouraged to self-reflect and keep a learning journal throughout your training.

The WCP training committee meets regularly to discuss student and trainees progress and if there are any concerns to be discussed.

The BPC External Examiner quality assures the overall WCP training and overviews the marking standards within our external and external criteria.

At the end of each academic year the External Examiner joins the Training Committee in recommending trainees to proceed to the next year / graduate from the course or make any specific recommendations.

Deferrals and breaks in training

We understand sometimes exceptional life events happen; at WCP we would consider each circumstance carefully and thoughtfully from a supportive and pastoral point of view.

Training staff

Our training team is made up of psychodynamic counsellors and psychotherapists. They are accredited/registered by the BACP or registered with BPC or an equivalent professional organisation which is regulated by the Professional Standard Authority and registered with the National Voluntary Register for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

Qualification

The Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling Skills and Attitudes will be awarded on:

• satisfactory reports from seminar leaders
• passing of all written assignments
• minimum 90% attendance

What next?

• Graduate from the course as a stand-alone certificate
• Apply to progress to the WCP Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling (the Foundation forms the pre-clinical year of the training)

Accreditation

Wessex Counselling & Psychotherapy Certificate in Counselling Skills and Attitudes.
Pre-requirement for clinical training. The hours of attendance on the course can count towards the BACP Diploma contact hours for those who continue with their training.