Psychotherapy Training Overview

ACCREDITATION OVERVIEW

The psychotherapy training is based over a minimum of four years meeting the requirements of the UKCP, ITA and EATA/ITAA. It also provides a route by which students can become accredited by the BACP.

UKCP is an umbrella organisation of organisations. It is divided into several sections and we are in the HIPS section (Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy Section). Within this section there are accrediting organisations from which one can achieve UKCP registration, provided one completes the full training requirements. 

UKCP Accreditation

http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/

There are two routes through which students can achieve accreditation: one is the through the ITA and the other is through AHPP. This means that on completion of the requirements of one of these two bodies you automatically become UKCP registered. ITA will give you the nomenclature of Certified Transactional Analyst. AHPP will give you the nomenclature of Integrative Psychotherapist.

BACP Accreditation

http://www.bacp.co.uk/

BACP is an organisation that has been responsible for accrediting counsellors and supervisors over a number of years. Its process of accreditation is through documentary evidence and sponsorship and automatically places successful applicants on the UKRC (UK Register of Counsellors). Please note it is not an accrediting body for psychotherapy, however, psychotherapists can be accredited as counsellors as long as their training meets the requirements, which ours do.

Another option for those who do not have a first degree or who wish to be registered as an Advanced Counsellor, BACP provides a different external accreditation process. The four years provides you with everything you need to complete this process.

ITA and EATA

http://www.ita.org.uk & http://www.eatanews.org/

The course provides accredited hours recognised by the Institute of Transactional Analysis and provides a portfolio of hours for those wishing to complete their CTA and again in undertaking this process you will automatically gain UKCP membership. We are an ITA Registered Training Establishment.

AHPP

http://www.ahpp.org

Full members, who alone may use the initials ‘MAHPP’ after their names, have all undergone a rigorous accreditation procedure relevant to their discipline. Full members are required to have completed satisfactorily an appropriate training course (which we offer) and then to have practised under suitable post-training supervision for at least two years. Full members are required to be in ongoing supervision and to maintain a minimum client base. Accreditation lasts for five years after which Full members must show that they continue to meet UKAHPP criteria in order to be re-accredited. By completing this process you will automatically gain UKCP membership.

TRAINING OVERVIEW

This provides a comprehensive training programme for candidates who want to become UKCP registered psychotherapists.

The core model is Transactional Analysis which is of itself an integrative model of the personality and social interaction which is psychoanalytic in theory and humanistic and existential in philosophy.

This programme has emerged after years of development and refining, taking into account the more recent developments in psychotherapy training and accreditation. The current design meets UKCP requirements for training programmes regulated by the Integrative and Humanities Psychotherapy Section (HIPS).

Transactional Analysis can be understood from a number of different perspectives. These include psychoanalytic and cognitive behavioural approaches to the process of understanding and change, intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions, developmental needs and social psychological factors such as how people behave in groups and person perception.

The first year starts with a closed group in which the students learn the key concepts of Classical Transactional Analysis as developed by Eric Berne and his colleagues. During this period these ideas are integrated into personal and professional experience.

The following three years follows a carefully structured rolling programme which covers the core curriculum for people wishing to become psychotherapists.

The rolling programme enables students at different levels to learn from each other as well as from the tutor. The students are drawn from a range of professional backgrounds including social welfare, counselling, pastoral roles, medicine, complementary therapies and psychology.

Our APL procedures allow practice, wisdom and relevant life and professional experience to be taken into account when assessing students’ suitability for psychotherapy training.

After completion of the four years’ training students negotiate a self directed learning programme which includes clinical practice, supervision and exam preparation.

Those who complete the CTA (Certified Transactional Analysis) Examination are eligible for UKCP registration.

There are current moves to bring in statutory registration of psychotherapists, most probably through the Health Professions Council. However, UKCP registration is very likely to be an entry route for statutory registration. Any psychotherapy training programme meeting UKCP requirements will therefore be in great demand.

TRAINING PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The Iron Mill Institute programme provides a comprehensive training for students seeking UKCP registration through qualification as Transactional Analysis Psychotherapists. Completion of individual elements of the programme may also be counted towards UKCP registration via accreditation by the Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners or towards BACP accreditation.

Transactional Analyis 101 - The official 2-day introduction to TA - Please see our workshop page for details

Year One - Foundation course in TA concepts. This course may be undertaken independently of years Two - Four for personal and professional development.

Years Two to Four - Three year rolling programme covering advanced Transactional Analysis and integrative psychotherapy theory and methodology.

Year Five and onward - Self-directed learning programme in conjunction with the Iron Mill Institute, including supervised practice, exam or portfolio preparation. The Iron Mill Institute offers an ongoing Supervision and Exam Preparation Group open to current and past students.

In addition students are required by the professional psychotherapy bodies to undertake personal therapy throughout their training. With BACP this requirement is less stringent. These matters will be discussed at interview. Also once students begin practice, supervision is also required and the manner and cost will also be discussed at interview. ie some people prefer group supervision, others prefer one to one. There is a cost implication to that choice, and at different times in the training people might prefer one rather than another.

It is also important to note that each year can stand alone as a process of building a portfolio of hours and experience. Some students like to take a year out after two or three years to consolidate their learning through practice and supervision, others prefer to press on and not lose momentum. As the training is accredited through ITA and EATA it means that should you move house at any stage in your training, you will be able to complete your training either here or abroad with a properly accredited Transactional Analysis Trainer (who will always have either PTSTA after their name or TSTA: these stand for Provisional Training and Supervising Transactional Analyst and Training and Supervising Transactional Analyst respectively)

This will take place during the fifth year and will take the form of providing a focus for personal and professional development, linking theory to practice and getting a rich and supportive supervisory environment.