Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling

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.

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