The Counselling Centre
7, Chilston Road, Tunbridge Wells,Kent. TN4 9LP
Telephone: 01892 548750
Email:
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) Accredited Counselling Training at the Counselling Centre, Tunbridge Wells
Who we are
The Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells was established 1989, and is the largest provider of psychodynamic counselling and training in Kent and East Sussex. Our counselling service and our training courses are accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Training through our courses enablesgraduates to work towards gaining BACP accreditation, and to register and become members of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). The BPC is a professional association which recognises high standards of clinical work and represents the profession of psychoanalytical and psychodynamic psychotherapy nationwide.
The Diploma Training at The Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells also offers trainee counsellors the opportunity to gain BPC registration as a psychodynamic counsellor.
The Counselling Centre is also a member of the National Counselling Network.
What we offer
The Counselling Centre provides two training courses: the one year, part-time Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling Skills (this includes an experiential group work component which is a requirement for Diploma entry) and the two year, part-time, BACP accredited Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling.
Becoming a counsellor involves more than academic study. We support our trainees through the whole challenging and demanding personal experience and our courses provide a sound and substantial preparation for those wishing to become counsellors. Both courses are taught by experienced practitioners, who have significant expertise in both clinical practice and teaching and the learning takes place in comfortable and pleasant surroundings.
Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills course provides an introduction to counselling theory and skills. It has proved useful to many people in the helpingprofessions – teachers, social workers and nurses. Other professionals, including lawyers and HR specialists, have also found the skills and insights,acquiredthrough our training, to be invaluable in the workplace.
TheDiploma in Psychodynamic Counselling leads to a professional qualification and consists of theoretical and ontological seminars, tutorial sessions, self-awareness groups, supervision and workshops. The two year training combines theoretical understanding and clinical practice. All trainees are provided with clients and clinical supervision of this work on site, as an integral part of the course.
The Diploma is accredited by the BACP and BPC.
Why study Psychodynamic Counselling?
Considerable research supports the efficacy and effectiveness of psychodynamic counselling – and psychotherapy. The essence of psychodynamic counselling involves working with a client to explore those aspects of the self that are not fully known – and how these might unhelpfully impact upon daily life. Seven features differentiate psychodynamic therapy from other therapies:
- Focus on expressing emotion
The counsellor helps the client describe and put words to feelings, including contradictory ones that might be troubling or threatening (although the client might not initially recognise this)
- Exploration of attempts to avoid distressing thoughts and feelings
Psychodynamic counsellors actively focus on and explore avoidances with a view to ultimately minimising them
3.Identification of recurring themes and patterns
… in clients’ thoughts, feelings, self-concept, relationships and life experiences.
- Discussion of past experience (with a developmental focus)
The counsellor will work with the client to understand how early attachment relationships affect one’s relation to, and experience of, present relationships; the ways in which the past tends to ‘live-on’ and, in turn, how this might shed light on current emotional difficulties.
- Focus on interpersonal relationships.
- Focus on the therapeutic relationship
To the extent that there are repetitive themes in a person’s personal relationships, these themes can tend to emerge in the same form inthe counselling relationship. The therapeutic relationship provides a unique opportunity to explore these and rework them in the present.
- Exploration of wishes and fantasies
Psychodynamic counselling encourages the client to speak freely about whatever is on their mind. All of this material is a rich source of how a person views themselves and others. Using these ‘clues’ the counsellor can help the client make sense of how they might interfere with daily living – and how unlocking them can lead to a potential to find greater enjoyment and meaning in life.
In short, the goals of psychodynamic counselling include, but extend beyond, symptom remission. A successful therapeutic relationship should not only relieve symptoms by addressing current difficulties, but also help grow positive psychological capacities and resources. Depending on the person – or the circumstances – these might include the capacity to have more fulfilling relationships, make more effective use of one’s talents and abilities, maintain a realistic sense of self-esteem and achieve a developed understanding of oneself and others – hence facing life’s challenges with greater freedom and flexibility.
The other positive aspect of psychodynamic counselling is, that research has shown, clients tend to continue ‘improving’ in their lives, after the counselling has ended. This suggests that psychodynamic counselling sets in motion positive psychological processes that lead to ongoing change – long after the counsellor is no longer present.
(For more detailed information please see The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy by Jonathan Shedler, American Psychological Association, 2009, from which much of this information has been extracted.)
Selection
Service and Training
Please be aware that we are a Counselling Centre that offers a counselling service alongside our provision of training. If you have approached The Counselling Centre for counselling, it is our policy that applicants should have a 2 year gap between ending any therapeutic work with us, and commencing any of our training programmes.
Diploma Selection
The normal practice is for trainees to join the Diploma course having satisfied the following requirements:
- Are usually over 25 years of age.
- Have successfully completed, or be about to complete a basic course in counselling skills of not less than one year’s duration, which is equivalent to The Counselling Centre’s Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling Skills. This must include Experiential Group work (please contact the Centre if you are unsure of this)
- Able to demonstrate self-awareness and maturity.
- Demonstrate commitment to personal development.
- Indicate an ability to cope with the academic level of the course (roughly similar to degree level standard).
- Satisfactory DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
- Successfully passed the interview process as outlined on the diploma application form.
Revised December 2015