About the Course
The course provides a critical introduction to the field of counselling and psychotherapy from an integrative standpoint which will be informative and enriching in itself and will provide a foundation for those who wish to go on to train as a practising counsellor or psychotherapist. This is done by introducing students to some of the key thinkers and theories that have shaped and formed the field of psychotherapy. In the process, we will also help you to understand how a process of integration may begin to take place, this will happen through the learning in this module, the skills work and participation in an Experiential Training Group.
Course Content
Foundation Theory Seminar
A three hour theory seminar where students are introduced to key thinkers including Carl Rogers, Sigmund Freud, Melanie Klein, Eric Berne, Donald Winnicott, Carl Jung, Fritz Perls, John Bowlby, Ernesto Spinelli. In addition, the course will explore Bodywork theory, CBT, and Neuroscience.
Skills Practice Session
In a one hour and forty five minute session, students will also be introduced to key skills and attitudes that are used by counsellors and psychotherapists and offered opportunities to explore and practice different styles of facilitation.
Experiential Training Group
A two hour group experience which supports the development of self-awareness and awareness of others. introduces students to group processes and provides a space for the processing of material raised by the course. Sessions are entirely experiential and have no set agenda. Each group has an experienced facilitator.
Individual Psychotherapy
It is a requirement that all students attending the Foundation Course to be in weekly personal psychotherapy throughout the course. Your psychotherapy should be with a qualified and experienced, UKCP Registered or BACP Accredited practitioner, or equivalent. Therapists should not be Minster Centre staff. Personal psychotherapy is undertaken at your own expense.
Assessment
Assessment is by Minster Centre staff. Students’ experiential and written work is assessed.
One 4000 word essay and two self assessments of 750 words reflecting on the movements, changes, realisations and conflicts students have experienced during the course.
In addition to assessment of individual pieces of written work, consideration is given to whether students are ready to progress to professional training based on continuous assessment of participation, self-awareness, awareness of others and therapeutic skills.
Course Leader(s)
Vaughn Goldschagg
Course Dates and Times
The course runs over eight weekends to the Summer providing 112 training hours in total. This format may especially suit people who wish to start Diploma training in the coming Autumn or who live at a distance from London.
There is an 80% minimum attendance requirement – successful completion of the course entails a minimum of 80% attendance of each of the three components (i.e. the seminar, skills and ETG). Attendance on both days of the skills weekend in May is a mandatory requirement to complete the course.
The weekends run from 10am until 6pm.
Compulsory Induction: 6pm 14 February 2025
15, 16 February 2025
8, 9 March 2025
29, 30 March 2025
26, 27 April 2025
10, 11 May 2025
24, 25 May 2025
14, 15 June 2025
28, 29 June 2025
Course Length
8 weekends
Who Is It For
This course is for people who:
- Want to learn about psychotherapy or counselling.
- Wish to gain skills for another career or interest.
- Seek to build on previous introductory skills training.
- May wish to go on to train as a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Entry Requirements
Training is open to those with a first degree or with previous training in non-degree courses e.g. in social work or health care or those without formal qualification who have equivalent and suitable life experience and can demonstrate the capacity to complete the academic aspects of the course.
Practising as a counsellor or psychotherapist, and training to be one, is a psychologically, as well as intellectually, demanding process. Personal qualities we are looking for in trainees include:
- Openness to forming and maintaining therapeutic relationships with others.
- The ability to engage in experiential learning.
- The ability to reflect on experiences.
- Openness to feedback from tutors and peers.
This requires a degree of psychological robustness. Having had a mental health diagnosis or difficulty in the past is not, necessarily, a barrier to training; however we do need to consider whether there is a danger of the training exacerbating mental health problems in applicants. For this reason, we may ask about mental health during the application process, and the Centre reserves the right to refuse admission to applicants who we judge would not, at this time, be able to benefit from this course or for whom it might be too disturbing.
Applicants 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 the student’s home is required.
Qualifications
Students who successfully complete the Foundation Course will be awarded a certificate of attendance.
Successful completion of the course is also an entry route into the Diploma and MA courses in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, although a place cannot be guaranteed. We reserve a large number of places each year for students progressing from our Foundation courses.
Please note, if you wish to progress to the Diploma, your Foundation course must have been completed not more than 2 years before the start of the Diploma course.
Career Prospects
About a third to a half of the students who successfully complete this course apply to join the first year of the Minster Centre professional training courses, others continue to train elsewhere or pursue training in related areas.
Fees
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 two weekends. Fees may be paid in instalments.
For more details on fees and financial terms and conditions click on the button below:
Venue
The Minster Centre is a five minute walk from Queens Park Tube (Bakerloo line) and Rail Overground Station and a 10-15 min walk from Brondesbury Park Station.
How to Apply
Please note: we operate a rolling admission process. Early application is recommended.
You apply directly to The Minster Centre via the online application form below.
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].
Interviews: Applicants are offered an individual interview with a senior staff member in order to assess suitability for training. The interview fee is £105.
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.
