Wessex Counselling Service

DIPLOMA TRAINING

Our core training operates in three stages:

Stage One: The Foundation Year in Counselling Skills is a one year part time course. On completion you will be awarded a Certificate in Counselling Skills. It is a good introduction to psychodynamic counselling and the development of key counselling skills. It constitutes year one of the Diploma training.

Stage Two: The Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling is a two year part-time course. It qualifies participants to work competently and effectively as counsellors in an organisational setting.

Stage Three: The Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling qualifies participants to work independently in private practice. It is also a good grounding for those wishing to go on to train as psychotherapists.

"STAGE ONE: FOUNDATION COURSE IN COUNSELLING SKILLS"

The Foundation Course provides an introduction to the nature of psychodynamic counselling and is open to anyone who wants to develop their listening and communication skills in depth. This is a valuable one-year course for anyone working or volunteering in the helping or caring professions. It is also a pre-requirement for people wanting to go on to the Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.

Course Aims and Outcomes

The course aims to teach you how to use counselling skills and attitudes, such as active listening and responding skills, ethically and with an understanding of how earlier life experiences can affect how people feel and behave in the present.

By the end of the year you will have:

- learnt about and practiced skills of listening, mirroring, reflecting back, paraphrasing, and summarising to facilitate the other’s understanding and accommodation of their feelings and inner conflicts.

- begun to look at, reflect upon and recognised patterns of behaviour, feeling and thinking in yourself and in others and practiced clarifying, supporting and challenging others to recognise, think about and manage their feelings, thoughts and conflicts.

- shown an open interest in and commitment to self-exploration and development

- learnt some theory on human growth and development

- understood the importance of boundaries and ethics in counselling work

- become more aware of working and living in a multicultural and diverse society where issues of difference are acknowledged and worked with sensitively and assumptions are challenged.


Personal Awareness and Self Development

We believe that counselling and providing help to others is based on the core conditions of a non-judgemental, respectful, empathic and accepting attitude towards the other. By default, in order to be helpful to others you will be committed to developing an understanding, respect and sense of acceptance towards yourself. We see self awareness and self development as cornerstones to your capacity to help others.

The Training Day and Time Commitment

The training day is four hours, usually on a Monday evening from 5.30 - 9.30 pm. The time is divided between experiential seminars, skills practice and the process group. The course meets for three ten week terms with a reading week break in each term. In addition there are two Saturday workshops and two half hour tutorials outside of course time. Tutorials will not necessarily be in Frome. You should also allow time each week for reading. All aspects of the course are mandatory.

Course Content and Theory

Concepts and theories as detailed below will be presented in seminars. Seminars are experiential, interactive and opportunities for discussion, feedback and consolidation. Students will be provided with a reading list and be expected to read around the various concepts and theories.

Term One:
Introduction, expectations and aims


Ethical issues, BACP and wpf code


Contracts, setting the scene


Basic counselling skills


Core conditions and attitudes

Term Two:
Introduction to human growth and development


Introduction to attachment, separation and loss

Term Three
Psychodynamic perspective, confrontation, challenging


Working with difference


Responsibilities to client, organisation and self


Unconscious processes, transference, counter transference


Endings

Skills practice is an essential part of each training day. Students have an opportunity to put their learning into practice in a wide range of contexts, and to develop a reflective capacity on their practice in a supportive and challenging environment.

Process Group

The end of each training day is a one hour experiential process group. This offers a place to explore feelings and relationships, with a group facilitator. The aim of the group is to develop self awareness, gain insight to group dynamics and relationships and continue to process your learning, this in turn enhances a developing self-reflective capacity.

Assessment Process

The assessment process is continuous and achieved through self, staff and peer review and feedback from seminars, skills practice and written work. There are two assessed essays during the year. The first is 1500 words based on the Experience of Skills Practice both as client and counsellor, to be written in the second term. The second is 2500 words on Core Skills and Attitudes to be written in the final term. You are encouraged to keep a learning journal throughout the training.

You will need to achieve a pass in your essays, course participation and course attendance in order to receive the nationally validated wpf Certificate in Counselling Skills and Attitudes. As well as continuous assessment, staff assessment meetings are held at the end of each term and you will receive ongoing feedback on your progress, including specific feedback on areas of achievement and areas for further development.

Workshops

There are two Saturday workshops during the year. The first on Beginnings and the second on Psychodynamic Theory and Practice.

Personal therapy

Your experience of your own therapy throughout the training is seen as a core element of your learning. We believe that learning from the experience of being supported and helped is an essential component in learning how to give support and help. You will be provided with a list of Wessex Approved Therapists at the start of the course. For those of you wishing to continue to Stage Two of the training you will need to have started in therapy by the second term of the Foundation Year.

Course Times: Mondays, 5.30 - 9.30 pm
Course Fees: £1250 pa (Course fees can be paid in monthly OR quarterly instalments
Course application: Course application should be made by using the headings on the application form in the prospectus. There is an interview process for which a non-returnable interview fee of £45 is made

"STAGE TWO: DIPLOMA IN PSYCHODYNAMIC COUNSELLING"

The Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling is designed to provide the theoretical background and clinical context for counsellors to work in agencies and institutional settings. The course includes seminars, skills work, an experiential group and weekly group supervision of client work.

Course Aims and Outcomes

The course aims to provide an in-depth, broadly based, high quality training in psychodynamic counselling on the model of once weekly sessions. It enables you to integrate your experiential and theoretical learning with your clinical experience as you progress through the training. We will provide a contained and supportive environment to facilitate your learning and support your personal development.

By the end of the course you will:

- be equipped with the clinical experience and theoretical knowledge to work in agencies as a counsellor

- have developed an awareness of your own patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving and be able to reflect on the impact of this on yourself and others.

- be grounded in the skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to work towards individual BACP accreditation as a counsellor

Entry Requirements and Selection Process

Candidates should:

- be a minimum of 25 years
- have completed the WCS Foundation Course in Counselling Skills or equivalent
- have been in their own psychodynamic psychotherapy therapy for six months before the course start date
- have the academic and reflective potential to work at the required level. You do not need to have already gained academic qualifications.

There are two interviews, one a practical to discuss how candidates fit the entry requirements and the other, a more in-depth interview to explore your readiness to work with clients and work with the demands of the course.

The Training Day and Time Commitment

The training day is five and a half hours, usually 2.00 pm - 7.30 pm on a Monday evening. The course meets for three ten week terms per year with a reading week break in each term. Supervision continues for 42 weeks of the year. In year one there is a seminar, skills training, group supervision and process group. In year two, the seminar time is extended and group supervision and process group continue. Outside of the course day are four Saturday workshops over the two years, four tutorials and client work. You are expected to be in personal therapy throughout the training. The formal taught component of the training is completed in two years, many students will take up to three years to complete the required number of client hours. Supervision, tutorials and personal therapy are mandatory until client hours are completed. You should also allow time each week for reading.

Course Content and Theory

You will cover the following theoretical and conceptual areas over the two years: Structure and dynamics of the counselling relationship, Freud, Jung, Klein, Family perspectives and cultural issues, The British Contribution, Psychopathology and working short-term in agencies. You will be provided with papers and reading lists and will be expected to read around the topics. Seminars provide plenty of opportunity for discussion, feedback and consolidation.

Skills Practice

Skills practice continues throughout year one. This provides an excellent opportunity to receive constructive feedback on your developing skills and to develop an awareness of different and equally effective styles of counselling.

Group Supervision

You will take on individual clients in the first term of the first year, building up to a maximum of four clients at any one time. Group supervision, with up to three other students, will continue for 42 weeks of the year.

Process Group

The end of each training day is a one hour experiential process group. This offers a place to explore feelings and relationships, with a group facilitator. The aim of the group is to develop self awareness, gain insight to group dynamics and relationships and continue to process your learning, this in turn enhances a developing self-reflective capacity.

Workshops

There are two Saturday workshops in each year of the training. Previous subject ares have been Family Systems, Group Dynamics, Sexuality, Time and Money. Dates and subject area for workshops will be given at the start of each trainin year.

Tutorials

You will receive two fifty minute tutorials each training year. The aim of the tutorial if for you to raise any concerns or difficulties you may be having with the training and for your tutor to provide you with feedback on your progress. Tutorials are outside of course time and are not necessarily held in Frome. You will be given notice of tutorial times and place well in advance.

Assessment Process

The assessment process is continuous and achieved through self, staff and peer review and feedback. There are two assessed essays during each year of 2000 words and a Clinical Paper of 4000 words towards the end of your training (90 client hours need to be completed before submission of your final clinical paper). You are encouraged to keep a learning journal throughout the training.

Staff assessment meetings are held at the end of each term where your progress is reviewed and you will receive ongoing feedback on your progress, including specific feedback on areas of achievement and areas for further development. At the end of each year the wpf external assessor joins the staff assessment team and you will receive notification of whether you have passed each year. Each year must be passed. In the event that you do not receive a pass, specific recommendations and requirements will be given to you in order for a pass to be awarded.

Personal Therapy

You must be in weekly on-going therapy with an approved therapist throughout the training and until qualification. The Approved Therapist list is available to you on request, prior to the training. If you are already in therapy please check with your therapist that they are either on the list or meet the requirements to be on the list.

Qualification

On completion and satisfactory pass of the training you will be awarded the wpf Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling. This qualifies you to work in an agency, ie a public or private organisation in which you are accountable and supported in your work and for which you are supervised. In order to complete and pass the training you must have:

- Satisfactory attendance
- Pass grade in all written work
- Satisfactory reports from teaching and supervisory staff
- A minimum of 150 supervised client hours


DIPLOMA COURSE SUMMARY

Course Times: Mondays, 2.00 pm - 7.30 pm

Course Fees: £2200, pa for year one and two. Supervision and tutorials fees will be charged on an individual basis in year three where appropriate

Course Application: Course application should be made using the headings on the application form in the prospectus

Selection Process: There is an interview process for which a non-returnable interviews fee of £75.00 is made


"STAGE THREE: ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN PSYCHODYNAMIC COUNSELLING"

The Advanced Diploma is a two year course and is designed for those who wish to develop a professional career in psychodynamic counselling, and as a qualification it enables you to work independently in private practice. The course includes weekly theoretical seminars and group supervision, twice termly experiential group process and a Saturday workshop in each year.

Entry Requirements and Selection Process

Candidates should:

-
be a minimum of 25 years
-
be engaged in regular work (paid or voluntary) which requires counselling skills or have sufficient counselling experience relevant to the training
-
have successfully completed the WCS Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling or the equivalent
-
have had at least 150 hours of counselling experience
-
be in personal therapy with a therapist on the WCS approved list or with a therapist eligible to be on the list

There are two interviews, one a practical to discuss how you fit the entry requirements and the second, a more in-depth interview to explore your readiness to work at depth with clients and work with the demands of the course.

Course Aims and Outcomes

The course aims to provide an in-depth, broadly based, high-quality professional training in advanced psychodynamic counselling. It will enable you to work at deep levels with clients and to further integrate your experiential, theoretical and clinical learning.

By the end of successful completion of the course you will:

-
be equipped with the clinical experience and theoretical knowledge to work in agencies and to set up in private practice.
-
have developed the skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to apply for BACP individual accreditation
-
have the foundation on which an application can be made for wpf psychotherapy training

The Training Day and Time Commitment

The training day is 3.5 hours, usually 9.30 am - 1.00 pm on Fridays. The course meets for three ten week terms per year with a reading week break in each term. You will also have weekly group supervision of up to 2 hours for 42 weeks of each year. There is one Saturday workshop per year and two Saturday mornings of experiential group process time per term of each year. You will receive two 50 minute tutorials per year to be arranged with your tutor.You will also need to allocate time for a caseload of three to four clients throughout the training and time for your own personal therapy. You should also allocate time each week for reading. All aspects of the training are mandatory.

Course Content and Theory

You will cover the following theoretical and conceptual areas over the two years: Advanced Clinical Concepts; History and Development of Psychoanalytic Ideas; Human Development; Advanced Theoretical Concepts including Klein, Winnicott, Contemporary Freudians, Post Jungians and the British School, Psychopathology; Ontology; and Establishing Private Practice. You will be provided with core papers and reading lists and will be expected to read around the topics. Seminars provide opportunity for presentations, discussion, feedback and consolidation.

Group Supervision

You are expected to be working with up to four clients within Wessex Counselling Service at any one time. You will not receive payment for training clients. Supervision is provided in groups of three to four students and this gives you the opportunity to learn from your colleagues caseloads as well as your own. You will also develop skills in peer supervision and enhance your capacity to work in groups. Supervison continues for 42 weeks of the year and happens outside of the training day. Students may bring clientwork, with prior approval, from other wpf or psychodynamic agencies. It is not possible to bring private clientwork to training supervision. 240 supervised client hours are required to complete the training. In most cases this is completed within the two years, in some cases students may need longer to complete the required hours.

Experiential Group Process

The process group occurs twice termly on a Saturday morning from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm. The aim of the group is to help you to process issues raised from the training and from membership of the group. It also gives you an opportunity to develop awareness of group processes, the individual and the indivual's contribution to group outcome.

Workshops

There is one Saturday workshop each year. In year one the workshop will cover Psychiatric Issues, in year two the workahop will be on writing the final Clinical Paper.

Tutorials

There are two fifty minute tutorials each training year. The aim of the tutorial if for you to raise any concerns or difficulties you may be having with the training and for your tutor to provide you with feedback on your progress. Tutorials are outside of course time and are not necessarily held in Frome. You will be given notice of tutorial times and place well in advance.

Assessment Process

Assessment is continuous and intended to provide helpful and constructive feedback. The staff team meet at the end of each term and if there are any concerns about your progress these will be discussed with you. We will provide clear guidelines to support your on-going development on the course. There are six assessed written assignments, one per term, over the two years. In year one there are three 2,500 word essays, in year two there are two 1000 word essays and a final Clinical Paper of 5000 words. You must complete and pass all pieces of written work. At the end of each year the staff team in conjunction with the wpf external assessor considers your progress and we make recommendations based of self-assessment, written work, supervisors report and seminar reports. You must pass each year to be awarded the Advanced Diploma.

Personal Therapy

You must be in at least weekly on-going therapy with an approved therapist throughout training and until qualification. You may find that a greater frequency of therapy is beneficial for you.

Qualification

On completion and passing of the training you will be awarded the wpf Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling. This qualifies you to work in a public, private or voluntary organisation and also qualifies you to commence in private practice. In order to complete and pass the training you must have:

-
Satisfactory attendance
-
Pass grade in all written work
-
Satisfactory reports from teaching and supervisory staff
-
A minimum of 240 supervised client hours

ADVANCED DIPLOMA COURSE SUMMARY

Course Times: Fridays, 9.30 am - 1.00 pm (plus additional time as outlined above)

Course Fees: £2500 per year

Course application: Course application should be made by using the headings on the application form in the prospectus. Late applications will be considered if there are still places available on the course.

Selection Process: There is an interview process for which a non-returnable fee of £75 is payable.