Spectrum Counselling Course

Developing skills in the practice of counselling and psychotherapy

The objectives of the Spectrum counselling course are to explore the basic principles of counselling and psychotherapy, to consider relevant issues in relation to counselling and psychotherapy such as confidentiality, contract setting and beliefs, and to learn and practise communication and relationship skills. The course teaches participants to use themselves, their experiences and their personal histories in the development of their learning.

Teaching takes place through lectures, seminars, written work, role-play, and self, peer and staff assessment. An essential part of the work will be experiential. All participants are expected to work on a personal level because we believe that to assist others we need to develop our own self-awareness.

The course is suitable for people interested in becoming effective counsellors and those wanting to train as psychotherapists as well as those with little or no experience who wish to learn basic counselling and psychotherapeutic skills for use in their own lives. It is also suitable for those who use counselling as part of their overall work and responsibility, those who manage and supervise others, deal with the public, work in a team, have responsibility for staff development, and for whom it is the central function of their job, such as doctors, social and religious workers, as well as those with little or no systematic training.

In recognition of the high standard of this course and to support participants in their professional development we have obtained external accreditation and certification of the Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society of Arts (OCR). This certificate may be used by participants in their current employment or as an acceptance criterion for working as a volunteer counsellor.

We expect full attendance at all course meetings. The teaching staff are Gill Doust and a co-leader and the course directors are Terry Cooper and Jenner Roth. This course and the one year course in psychotherapy are both part of the Spectrum psychotherapy training programme and can be taken at the same time or in order of personal preference.

The fee for the 2010 course is £1,795. A deposit of £795 is required upon acceptance on the course. A further £500 is due before the start of the course and the balance of £500 by the middle of the second term. People working for statutory bodies should consider applying for funding for this course.

For more detailed information about the course please contact Spectrum or attend one of our open evenings. If you are interested in applying for the course, please send an application giving details about yourself, personally and professionally, your interest in the course and what you feel you want to achieve from it. Please include your name, address and telephone numbers (home and work), and any other information you feel relevant to your participating in this course. Interviews will be held soon after receipt of your application.

The dates for the 2010 course consists of one three-day non-residential workshop, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, January 23, 24, 25, and seventeen Mondays: February 1, 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, April 19, 26, May 10, 17, 24, June 14, 21, 28, July 5, 12. The course meets from 9am-4pm each day.

COUNSELLING COURSE OPEN EVENINGS