*Please note that we are not able to sponsor students on this programme for a Student visa*
This foundation course offers a solid grounding in psychotherapy and counselling theory and skills. It combines academic, practical and experiential components within a supportive and challenging environment.
You will build your understanding of a range of psychotherapy and counselling theories, with a focus on existential, psychodynamic and humanistic integrative perspectives, as well as cognitive behavioural approaches.
You will explore the practical and ethical issues of working with clients in a variety of situations, and develop essential communication and counselling skills. You will learn to apply academic theory through skills practice sessions and group work.
The course will encourage you to examine your beliefs, assumptions and prejudices and develop your capacity to reflect on your own interpersonal and emotional processes, patterns and experiences.
As well as providing a solid background for those wishing to apply for further professional training, the course offers those who already work in the helping professions the opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills.
There are two options for completing the Certificate in Psychotherapy & Counselling. You can choose to study part time for one year, or undertake a part-time or full-time intensive programme.
*Please note that we are not able to sponsor students on this programme for a Student visa*
The one-year Certificate consists of one four-hour session per week over three 10-week terms. We have three intakes each year in January, May and September.
January 2022:
May 2022:
September 2022:
This follows the same programme as the one-year Certificate, but is offered in a condensed format. Sessions last from 10:00 - 16:30 each day.
Option 1: Weekday Intensive
January 2022
Mondays & Tuesdays
10:00-16:30
Start date & registration: 09:00 – 24 January 2022
Option 2: Weekend Intensive
January 2022
Saturdays & Sundays
10:00-16:30
Start date & registration: 09:00 – 22 January 2022
Option 1: Weekday Intensive
April 2022
Mondays & Tuesdays
10:00-16:30
Start date & registration: 09:00 – 25 April 2022
Option 2: Weekend Intensive
April 2022
Saturdays & Sundays
10:00-16:30
Start date & registration: 09:00 – 23 April 2022
One cohort only:
July 2022
Start date: 18 July 2022
There are four intake periods each year:
January 2022:
May 2022:
September 2022:
Weekday cohort – January 2022:
Weekend cohort – January 2022:
Note: April, July and September 2022 dates TBC.
| Module Title | Overview |
|---|---|
| Term 1 - Therapy before Therapists | A look at how religion and philosophy have been used as forms of therapy, together with traditions of moral guidance and advice. The session also explores how the wisdom traditions of spiritualism, shamanism, astrology or mythology have also been used as ways of understanding ourselves and the world. |
| Term 1 - A Way of Working: An Overview of Humanistic Therapy | A general introduction to main themes of this approach, seen in the context of post-war social changes. The session includes a brief introduction to the work of Rogers and Maslow and explores their legacy in today’s counselling practices, including one-to-one sessions, consciousness-raising and other groups, and in the business world. |
| Term 1 - An Introduction to the Work of Carl Rogers | How did Rogers see the human being? This session presents an overview of his life and work, with an emphasis on his therapeutic goals and techniques. |
| Term 1 - Introduction to Gestalt Therapy: The Work of Fritz Perls | An introduction to the life and work of Perls together with an over-view of his basic concepts and techniques. We also explore the picture of the human being his work gives us, and see some current developments of his ideas. |
| Term 1 -The Body in Humanistic Therapy | An introduction to the life and work of Wilhelm Reich, focusing on his ‘energy model’ of human sexuality. We consider some of its social implications, together with more recent developments in bio-energetics and primal integration. |
| Term 1 - Describing Ourselves: The Fundamentals of Phenomenology | How often is our description of someone’s behavior really an opinion of them in disguise? This session introduces key ideas from phenomenology, which can help us to take a more open stance to our own, and others’ experience. |
| Term 1 - Power, Gender and Race in Therapy | We explore some of the different experiences men and women in society today, focusing on the issue of power. How are the social and racial inequalities reflected in the consulting room? |
| Term 1 - Society, Biology and Reality | Are human beings super-computers capable of re-programming themselves to adjust to an objective reality? An introduction to key Behaviourist themes of choice and conditioning, and the relationship of the individual to society. |
| Term 2 - Facing the Unknown: Consciousness and Unconsciousness | Does a part of our mind take decisions and manipulate memories in ways unknown to us? Do we communicate feelings we know nothing about? Do our lives embody psychic patterns that are as old as the human race? These questions are raised by the work of Freud and Jung, and many of their followers. Today we begin with an overview of these ideas. |
| Term 2 - The Work of Sigmund Freud | An outline of Freud’s work, concentrating on his concepts of ego, id and super-ego and their emergence during various described psycho-sexual stages. |
| Term 2 - Melanie Klein and Object Relations Theory | An examination of some modern developments of Freud’s ideas, concentrating on the concepts of Transference and Counter-Transference. We also explore the move from a male to a female perspective of infant development. |
| Term 2 - The Role of the Group | Many human activities are group-based, and often bring out issues that are qualitatively different from one-to-one relationships. Here we shall explore some aspects of the group process from the work of Foulkes and Bion via Sixties encounter groups to current practices. A good opportunity to reflect on your PPD experiences. |
| Term 2 - The Work of Carl Jung |
Do human beings still resonate to ancient and symbolic patterns of being, first noted in the legends and mythologies of all cultures? We examine Jung’s concept of the Collective Unconscious, and follow the development of current Archetypal psychology. |
| Term 2 - Finding Your Place in Life: the Work of Alfred Adler | An early disciple of Freud, Adler went on to found a ‘life-style’ approach to therapy that from the start saw the individual in the context of the world. We explore the work of one of the first therapists to recognise the importance of social and health education, and the child’s place within the family. |
| Term 2 - Attachment Theory and Psychobiology | Traditionally, psychoanalysis has downplayed the importance of social and physical realities. However, recent research suggests that many of our early behaviour patterns may have genetic causes, and many mental states may have clear physical correlations. We explore some of these implications for the practice of therapy and counselling. |
| Term 2 - The Existential Alternative: a Challenge to Psychoanalysis | Are we really psychic objects defined by conflicting desires and drives? Existentialism offers a radically different view of the human being, questioning such fundamental concepts as the existence of the self, and asks if we are knowable at all. |
| Term 2 - Working with Dreams | Using psychoanalysis as a starting point, we shall explore different ways in which dreams can be explored. These include the theories of Freud, Jung, Adler, Perls and others. |
| Term 3 - The Frame in Therapy | Different therapeutic needs, aims and goals are explored, together with the ‘boundary’ issues of time, money and confidentiality. We also look at issues of training and registration of therapists through the BACP and UKCP. |
| Term 3 - The Profession of Therapy | A look at the changing role of the therapist, and the nature of training today. |
| Term 3 - Transcultural Counselling | To what extent is the Western model of psychotherapy valid for people whose roots lie elsewhere? The issues this question raises go to the heart of our practice, which we place in the context of different cultural experiences and expectations. |
| Term 3 - A Spiritual Life | For many people, the spiritual experience is an essential aspect of their lives, yet somehow it rarely surfaces in therapeutic discussions. It seems as if therapists are frightened of the one practice that probably more cultures have in common than anything else. |
| Term 3 - Mental Health and Mental Illness | Many ideas about different emotional states are described in the language of medicine, but does that make odd behaviour an illness? We explore some common assumptions about ‘mad’ and ‘normal’ people, and look more closely at how these terms are used within different approaches. |
| Term 3 - A Matter of Ethics | All therapists are obliged to follow some code of ethics, but what is ethical behaviour? The views of philosophers and therapists are often at odds, and different goals can demand widely different responses -can they all be ethical? |
| Term 3 - Eating, Addiction and Dependency | When certain forms of behaviour dominate our lives we tend to call them addictions, and treat them differently from other activities. This week we explore how the concepts of addiction and ‘eating disorders’ are used by various therapeutic approaches. |
| Term 3 - Putting Theory into Practice: a case study | In this session we look at a case history from a number of perspectives to see how the theories presented so far might be applied in an actual situation. Both theory and practice sessions are used for this exercise, which will include small and large group presentations. |
| Term 3 - Working with Loss and Bereavement | Our only certainty in life is the fact of death, yet we always seem unprepared for its impact on our lives. The long-term effect of a loved one’s death can leave us shattered, betrayed and angry. How should we work with these possibilities in therapy? |
Applying to study at Regent's University London is quick and easy. We have put together some helpful information to guide you through the process. We accept direct applications and there is no application fee.
Not received your results yet?
That's fine, you can still apply even without your exam results. We can issue a conditional offer without your results. You just need be clear in your application which qualifications you are currently studying for.
There's still time to submit an application. Get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
You can apply in the following ways:
If you have not uploaded the relevant supporting documents during the online application process, you should ensure that we have the below supporting documents as soon as you have completed your application. These can be sent to the Regent’s Admissions Department via email to [email protected].
If you wish to accept the offer, please pay the advance tuition fee deposit (non-refundable) to confirm your place.
Please see here for information on how to pay.
Closer to the start of the term the Admissions Team will send information regarding the registration process. This will include information on completing your online enrolment prior to your arrival as well as a checklist of documents you will need to bring with you to fully register onto the programme.
Starting July 2022: £5,000
Starting September 2022: £5,000
£1,000
Fees cover the cost of all tuition and access to the University’s IT infrastructure and library learning resources.
You will need to budget additional funds for accommodation and living expenses, travel, and any additional trips, that you choose to participate in outside of the tuition offered as part of the programme.
The library hold a limited number of copies of core textbooks and where possible in e-format. You will be encouraged to purchase your own textbooks and will need to budget approximately £80-£100 per year, depending on your programme of study.
Fees are payable in the following instalments:
The course includes three main components: theoretical, experiential and practical.
Theoretical
Lectures and presentations introduce the basic theories of psychotherapy and counselling, with an emphasis on the existential-phenomenological, psychodynamic, and humanistic/integrative orientations.
You will explore professional issues in counselling and engage in discussion and experiential work relating to various topics.
Experiential
Experiential exercises relate to the theoretical material presented and the development of listening skills, self-awareness, and giving and receiving feedback.
Skills practice
These sessions introduce the essential skills and techniques of psychotherapy and counselling.
You will participate in group exercises - usually in triads of ‘counsellor’, ‘client’ and ‘observer’ - using material from your own experience.
This is an opportunity to practise psychotherapy and counselling skills and to receive feedback.
Self-development group work
You will work in a small group, with a facilitator. This will be an opportunity to explore your personal and interactive processes within the group, and advance your professional and personal development.
Each of the intakes will have around 120 hours of contact time. This will be split roughly as follows:
You will also be expected to undertake independent study.
You do not need to be in personal therapy during the programme, nor is there a requirement for you to complete clinical practice hour but you may wish to do so voluntarily alongside your studies.
All of our teaching staff are qualified, practicing psychotherapists, whose modalities include, humanistic, psychodynamic, integrative and existential approaches. The Module Leaders currently working on the various intakes are Dr Lea Getu, Amelia Jeans, Allegra Vaselli and Alex Morriss. The Course Leader is Dr Lea Getu.
The staff to student ratio on the programmes is typically 1:8, although this can vary according to enrolment.
Evaluation is based on assessment of your participation throughout the course and on the successful completion of two pieces of coursework:
We welcome and support students with a wide range of disabilities and health concerns. This includes learning difficulties, visual and hearing impairments, mental health difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, mobility difficulties, and temporary or chronic health conditions.
Our dedicated Disability Officer is here to support you. We ask that you speak with Student Registry and our Disability Officer as early as you can to enable us to support you. Find out more about our disability support and contact us.
For most of our students, the next step is to take a Master's level programme. Successful completion of this programme will enable you to meet one of the main entry requirements for our MA Psychotherapy & Counselling.
Direct progression, however, will depend on your academic background and professional/voluntary experience. Please see the entry requirements for the MA Psychotherapy & Counselling for further information.
'I've done all my professional training at Regent’s. I chose to do the Certificate course because, of all the equivalent courses, this was the most comprehensive and well-structured. It also has an excellent reputation'. Fern Dickinson, Certificate Psychotherapy & Counselling alumna
