YEAR COURSE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

The one year course in psychotherapy is the jewel in the crown of the Spectrum professional development programme. It was the first year-long programme developed at Spectrum and has been shaped over the years to become a deeply transforming and educative experience. As well as personal work, the one year course introduces a variety of therapeutic models that become the foundation and reference point for continued professional development.

The work encompasses many different models of thinking and exercises the application of techniques from humanistic and analytic theory. Its central theme is to look at the therapeutic process through verbal, symbolic and somatic communication. Being in a year-long group also enables us to look at various life processes through a number of different lenses, including the formation of relationships and group development, the nature of bonding, interpersonal dynamics, communication styles, projection, introjection, transference and family influences.

The course is divided into three terms. Each term has a theme. The theme of the first term is interpersonal work and group dynamics, covering theory and application of encounter, small and large group work, leadership styles, psychodrama, family therapy, transactional analysis and communications theory. The second term’s theme is intrapersonal and one-to-one work, including gestalt, motivation theory, bodywork and transpersonal psychology. In the third term the theme is clinical application, personal projects and integration.

The group is heterogeneous as we believe that this makes the experience of personal contact and professional sharing much richer. We also believe that the approaches we teach and employ in our practice at Spectrum are applicable in any caring or educational environment. We welcome people on the one year course who may want to add to their people skills but may not want to become psychotherapists.

The course teaching staff are Gill Doust and Oriel Methuen, and Jane Gotto is a guest leader on the course in September, 2010. The directors are Terry Cooper and Jenner Roth. Please note that a high level of commitment is expected on this course and it is a condition of the course that participants attend all sessions. A certificate of attendance will be given on completion of the year. Because of the current economic situation, we have reduced the course fees by 20%, bringing the cost down to £3,360 inclusive of VAT.  A deposit of £1,360 is required upon your acceptance on the course, a further £1,000 before the start of the course and the balance of fees by the middle of the second term. Fees include residential costs and materials. People working for statutory bodies should consider applying for funding for this course.

If you are interested in applying for the 2010 or 2011 course, please ask the office for application guidelines and further information about the course. You are advised to apply early as applications are dealt with on a first-come first-served basis. We ask that you participate in a workshop at Spectrum before applying for the course if you are new to Spectrum. You will be interviewed soon after receipt of your application. 

The course consists of one five-day residential workshop, one five-day non-residential workshop, five two-day non-residential workshops, and fifteen fortnightly meetings.

The dates for 2010 are: five-day residential: Sunday-Thursday, September 12-16, 2010, five-day non-residential: Monday-Friday, February 14-18, 2011.  Five two-day workshops on Thursdays and Fridays: September 30-October 1, 2010, January 20-21, February 3-4, May 19-20, June 9-10, July 7-8, 2011 and thirteen meetings on a Thursday: October 14, 28, November 11, 25, December 9, 2010, January 6, March 3, 17, 31, May 5, 26, June 23, July 14, 2011.

 The course will meet from 9am-4pm each day.