About the Course
This course is designed for practising psychotherapists and counsellors who want to become clinical supervisors and obtain a post-graduate qualification. The programme will allow counsellors and psychotherapists from any modality to train as supervisors. Students’ learning is supported through experiential work and a significant amount of direct tutor contact.
The Minster Centre prides itself on offering small study groups, personal attention and a friendly, supportive learning environment which encourages personal development. Applicants are not required to have been in recent academic training in order to be considered for a place on this course.
Students will be able to sign up for either the one year Post Graduate Diploma or the two-year MA programme, both of which are validated by Middlesex University. The course will follow the same syllabus as the Minster Centre Supervision Diploma for the first three modules with the addition of a further clinical supervision module for the PG Dip. Students registered and continuing on for the MA will attend an extra three weekends on research awareness and methods which lead to undertaking a piece of independent research, in the second year. This will be overseen by a research supervisor and supported by the course staff.
Course Content
Two core academic modules which develop students’ in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical concepts of effective supervision plus opportunities for students to integrate this knowledge into their practice.
Two Supervision Skills-in-practice (Practicum) modules which lay the foundations for effective and ethical supervisory practice and explores supervisory procedural issues relating to clinical responsibility, contracting, risk assessment, auditing and professional record keeping.
For MA students – teaching in research methods and ethics and research supervision will prepare students to complete a 15,000 word dissertation.
Forms of assessment include an essay, case report, reflective assignments, two presentations, a 15,000-word dissertation and a portfolio.
This course requires that the student completes a minimum of 40 hours supervision practice and 21 hours supervision of supervision across both practicum modules (1&2).
Supervision Practice and Placements
Students will agree suitable supervisee and supervision of supervision arrangements with course tutors. Students may use work undertaken with private supervisees in the course of their employment (with suitable agreement with their employers) or supervisees seen in placements. Students are responsible for securing a placement but will receive advice and guidance from the Placement Coordinator.
Accreditation
The Post Graduate Diploma and the MA programme are quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion.
The course meets both the UKCP requirements for supervision training and the BACP Counselling Supervision Training Curriculum. In order to be placed upon the UKCP Directory of Supervisors you’ll have to be a UKCP registrant.
On successful completion of the Minster Centre Diploma in Supervision you can be nominated to the UKCP Directory of Supervisors through your membership organisation.
If you are a BACP accredited therapist you need to go directly to the BACP and go through their processes in order to become a BACP accredited supervisor.
Assessment
There is one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessment associated with each module. Assessment methods include essays, portfolios, presentations, reflective accounts and case reports and (for the MA) a 15,000 word dissertation. Support and guidance is given for each assessment.
Assessment is by course tutors. All marking is moderated and we also have an external examiner to ensure that marking is fair and consistent. You will receive feedback on all formal assessments to support your learning.
In addition to formal assessment of written work, tutors and supervisors assess students’ experiential and clinical work.
Course Leader(s)
Roshmi Lovatt and Reena Shah
Course Dates and Times
For the Post Graduate Diploma, the teaching is delivered over seven weekend blocks between January and July, comprising Saturdays and Sundays (10am to 5pm), followed by six further weekend days and additional on-line supervision of supervision and CPD to be agreed individually.
Students registered and continuing on for the MA will attend a further three weekends on research awareness and methods which lead to undertaking a piece of independent research, in the second year. This will be overseen by a research supervisor and supported by the course staff.
Dates for students starting January 2025:
18, 19 January 2025
22, 23 February 2025
15, 16 March 2025
12, 13 April 2025
10, 11 May 2025
7, 8 June 2025 (MA students only)
14, 15 June 2025
12, 13 July 2025
27, 28 September 2025 (MA students only)
8, 9 November 2025 (MA students only)
Continuing into 2026:
Dates Jan-Jul 2026 to be confirmed
Course Length
1 year for Post Graduate Diploma or 2 years for the MA programme.
Who Is It For
This course is for people who:
- Have a professional qualification in counselling or psychotherapy (UKCP or BACP accredited course or equivalent) and wish to train clinical supervisors.
- Qualified therapists who want to advance their careers through acquiring a postgraduate level qualification.
Entry Requirements
- You must hold a professional qualification in counselling or psychotherapy (BACP or UKCP accredited course or equivalent).
- You must have been in clinical practice for at least three years.
- You will need to practice supervision or work in a supervisory capacity during the course.
- If you do not have a first degree you will need to demonstrate that they can produce work to MA standards, either through results in previous professional training or through equivalent training or experience.
- You must have competence in the English language. If English is not your first language you will need to demonstrate a capacity to study in English either through your written and practical work during previous training at the Minster Centre, or in your application and interview and through qualifications such as IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components).
- We are not able to consider applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study.
- ‘You will need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, if you don’t already have one. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a counsellor or psychotherapist each case is considered on an individual basis. You will be given an opportunity at your selection interview to discuss this with your interviewers. For more information about DBS checks see here.
- You will need the technical ability to work online and have a private space to attend online training sessions and for online/phone therapy sessions, if remote client work at your home is required.
Accredited Prior Experience and Learning (APEL)
If you feel you have accredited prior learning that may be relevant to your application, please contact [email protected] for further information.
Qualifications
On successful completion of all academic and course requirements combined with the fulfilment of the specific practice requirements, students may exit from the programme with either a:
- PG Diploma Supervision in Psychotherapy and Counselling
Or
- MA Supervision in Psychotherapy and Counselling
Career Prospects
Graduates of The Minster Centre can be found working successfully all over the UK and abroad. As well as private practice, graduates often work with a variety of client groups in the NHS; in schools, colleges and universities; organisations such as Mind and other charitable foundations; and as tutors in other training organisations.
MA graduates could go on to higher-level study on doctoral programmes.
Fees
We offer a 15% discount to Minster Centre members (graduates and those who maintain their UKCP membership through the Centre). The discount does not apply to the Middlesex University registration fee (£840).
Course fees are subject to annual inflation. Once you have started a course we will endeavour to keep fee increases in subsequent years as low as possible.
A non-refundable deposit of £750 is payable to secure your place once offered. Fees are payable by bank transfer, cheque or card and are non-refundable if you attend beyond the first half term. Fees may be paid in instalments.
Fees include supervision of training clients, one DBS check, common room facilities and refreshments, access to the library and on-line resources, insurance for seeing client through the Minster Centre Psychotherapy and Counselling Service.
The following course related costs are not included in the fees:
Supervision of supervision, any additional costs associated with placements, the provision of consulting rooms for seeing supervisees, assessment of resubmitted coursework. In addition, you will need to budget for the purchase of key books (these are texts you will need to refer to frequently) and travel to the Centre and to placements. Depending on the topics you choose for your written assessments you may need to buy books or internet access to articles, or access books, articles or other resources through the British Library or other specialist libraries.
Accommodation and living costs are not included in fees and, as all our students are part time, we do not have on-site accommodation. The Centre has no parking available for students unless you have a blue badge. The Centre is close to public transport. We cannot guarantee that the timing of courses will not require peak time travel.
For more details on fees and financial terms and conditions click on the button below:
Financial Support
If you register on the MA you may be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan. These are Government funded student loans for students on master’s courses to help with fees and living costs. These are not based on income and are paid directly to you. There are personal eligibility requirements which are determined by the Government, for instance, you have to be under 60 and not already have an MA, you will need to repay the loan plus interest and repayments will be based on your income. More information loans and how to apply can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan/overview.
For a full breakdown of the course fees and financial terms and conditions see here.
Venue
The Minster Centre is a 5 minute walk from Queens Park Tube (Bakerloo line) and Rail Overground Station and 10-15 min walk from Brondesbury Park Station.
How to Apply
You apply directly to The Minster Centre via the online application form below. Please note: we operate a rolling admission process. EARLY APPLICATION IS RECOMMENDED.
Please ensure each section is fully completed in order for your application to be considered for this course. If you have any further questions please see our FAQs page or email us on [email protected].
Applicants are offered an individual interview with a senior staff member in order to assess suitability for training. The interview fee is £135.
We particularly welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds and people with disabilities, as they are currently under-represented at the Minster Centre and in the psychotherapy profession.
Please note that initial assessment of applications can take from two to four weeks to complete. For shortlisted applications, interviews will be scheduled in the autumn term, from September 2023 onwards.
