Training to become a counsellor or learning relationship skills can be extremely beneficial and rewarding to you personally and professionally. It is recognised that these capabilities have become an indispensable and much-valued part of modern day life and provide a way of making a genuine difference to people. A career in counselling will enable you to make an impact and change the lives of individuals and communities.
The Counselling Foundation welcomes all who are interested in taking the next step on this journey; from those who are looking to use counselling skills within their current job to those who would eventually like to retrain or have a career in giving a counselling service to clients in their own practice. We specialise in providing high quality counselling training in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and Online; from 12 hour Introduction to Counselling courses through to professional part-time Post-Graduate and Masters level programmes which are endorsed and accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Our wide variety of courses also includes CPD (continued professional development) and Business Training services.
Deciding which course is right for you takes time and consideration. Attending our Open Days can help you explore what The Counselling Foundation has to offer so you can feel confident you’re making the best choice.
Our virtual open days take place on Zoom. Book your free place here:
The below courses represent the core training pathway to qualifying as a psychodynamic counsellor. As we only teach in the psychodynamic modality you will need to complete all steps with us regardless of any previous qualifications you may hold. Exceptions to this would only be considered if you have previous psychodynamic training.
Our Diploma and Advanced Diploma Courses combined are BACP Accredited – meaning they will provide you with the necessary training to complete the theory component of counsellor accreditation with our awarding body the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling
Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling
BACP Accredited Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling
Psychodynamic counselling is a modality of counselling that focuses on early childhood experiences and how they affect us later in life.
The Foundation Certificate course provides the necessary theory and skills for further psychodynamic training. As a standalone course, it also provides those who wish to develop counselling and interpersonal skills in work based and other settings with skills and knowledge that will support their work. The course covers:
- Psychodynamic counselling skills
- Human growth and development theory
- Working with difference and diversity
- Personal Development
On this course we offer:
- Personalised teaching with small class sizes
- A nurturing environment with highly experienced tutors
- A hands-on approach to learning with a mix of theory, skills practice, and personal development
Application forms for the Foundation Certificate can be found by downloading the link below. It is important, any questions on the application form are answered as fully as possible as suitability is decided based on those responses.
Please Note: Applications can only be accepted by email to training@counsellingfoundation.org. We aim to acknowledge receipt of applications within five working days.
The process can take up to four weeks before you are contacted again and notified of the outcome. Within this time, some applicants may be contacted for an interview to discuss their application form in further detail.
Application deadline: 31st July 2022
Course start date: September 2022
Locations: Online, Bedford, Luton, St Albans & Welwyn Garden City
Progression Opportunities
Upon successful completion of this course, you will have gained the necessary theory and skills practice to be considered for a place on our Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.
Alternatively, the Foundation course is widely recognised as an access course to many other institutions’ professional counselling training.
For more information on the Foundation Certificate, including loactions, times and cost of the course, please see our Training Prospectus below.
If you have any questions regarding training please contact training@counsellingfoundation.org
The Diploma, (in combination with the subsequent Advanced Diploma), constitutes a course accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and so fulfils the theory hours (but not clinical hours) element of BACP for individual accreditation.
The Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling course comprises core theoretical seminars including role-play skills practice and experiential groups. Weekly training sessions consist of one core seminar and one experiential group in Year 1 and one core seminar and one modular seminar in Year 2.
The core seminars are both theory and skills based. Relevant academic papers are discussed as part of a large group and in small groups trainees practice counselling skills, using role-plays and experiential exercises in relation to the overall aims of the course.
Students will have the opportunity to work with clients at a placement centre during their studies and we offer guidance and support in finding a clinical placement. You may be placed at one of our five counselling centres or at one of our externally approved counselling agencies.
To apply to start the Diploma course you must have either completed the Foundation Certificate criteria or can demonstrate you have the equivalent qualification from another institution.
We run courses in St Albans and Bedford which start in September each year.
The Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling is a two year course equivalent to a Post Graduate and is designed for those who wish to develop a professional career in psychodynamic counselling, and as a qualification enables the holder to work independently in private practice
The Advanced Diploma (in combination with the preceding Diploma) constitutes a course accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and so fulfils the theory training (but not clinical hours) element of BACP for individual accreditation.
The course aims to develop the skills, competences and theoretical understanding required for independent practice in psychodynamic counselling. The advanced skills and theory gained will enable you to work at deep levels with
clients and to further integrate your experiential, theoretical and clinical learning. A great deal of focus is placed on integrating competencies through a coherent understanding of specific clients which can be maintained, developed and amended over a prolonged period of time. The advanced skills also provide greater ability to understand and work with projective identification, transference and counter-transference. From the beginning of the course and concurrently with the seminar-based assessment work, trainees may have the opportunity to work on client assessments.
In year two of the training programme, trainees have the possibility of including short-term client work towards the accrual of clinical hours.
We run courses in St Albans and Bedford which start in September each year.
The Counselling Foundation is itself an organisational member of BACP. We offer a career in counselling with our part time psychodynamic counselling courses.
The BACP accreditation schemes aim to recognise the achievement of high standards of knowledge, experience and development in counselling and psychotherapy. It helps those seeking therapy make an informed decision when choosing a therapist.
BACP course accreditation is recognised by training providers, employers and students as a mark of a high quality, professional practitioner training course. Increasingly clients understand the importance of using a therapist who is professionally trained and qualified, and is a member of a professional body.
Our registered membership represents the minimum level of training and experience that we recommend a client should expect from a therapist.
By choosing a BACP accredited course, you can be sure that:
Successful graduates of BACP accredited courses can apply to join the BACP Register directly without having to sit a Certificate of Proficiency.
It is important to note that undertaking an Accredited course will not give an individual Accreditation as a counsellor. Individuals who complete counselling training have to apply for individual Accreditation and go through an Accreditation process.
Joining a recognised professional body, like BACP can benefit both your training and future career, through access to resources, knowledge and networks. It also gives you professional credibility, showing that you are committed to practising competently, ethically and safely and to continuous professional development. If you have decided to train as a Counsellor we offer psychodynamic counselling training courses from the Foundation Certificate through to Advanced Certificate.
Training
5 College Yard
Lower Dagnall Street
St Albans
AL3 4PA
Tavistock Yard
58 Tavistock Street
Bedford
MK40 2RD
70 – 72 Princess Street
Luton
LU1 5AT
Bishops College
Churchgate, Cheshunt
Waltham Cross
EN8 9XQ
Welwyn Library
40 Prospect Pl
Welwyn
AL6 9ER
