Structure

The course is based on an open, flexible, modular system, which will enable you to learn in convenient stages to suit your individual needs in relation to depth of study, available time and financial resources. The course is constructed around three year-levels of study and three study streams spread over three years of part time attendance. You can complete the whole course in consecutive years or take only one level of the course, which you might later choose to rejoin when circumstances allow (subject to places being available). Course time totals 600 hours of teaching contact, plus 162 hours in self-directed learning groups over the three years, a total of 762 hours.

Year 1: Certificate of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy & Counselling (200 hours plus 54 hours in Syndicates)

Year 2: Advanced Certificate of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Academic) (200 hours plus 54 hours in Syndicates)

Year 3: Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Academic) (200 hours plus 54 hours in Syndicates)

Years 4 & 5 Supervision: Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Clinical)

This clinical award is granted to students who, after the third year of training, then continue to successfully complete 2 years of post-training supervision and psychotherapy. These students must also have completed a minimum of 115 hours of individual psychotherapy during the training programme. For those who have not met this therapy requirement during training, individual development pathways have to be developed in conjunction with the College Training Director.

Study Streams:

The course consists of two separate study streams to accommodate the different needs of students:

Stream 1: Clinical Training (3 years of study plus individual psychotherapy plus 2 years post-training supervision)

Award: Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Clinical)

This stream is for those students who want a full professional training and who may wish to apply for professional membership of the Australian Association of Somatic Psychotherapists or for membership of another professional association. Students complete;

• 200 hours of training and 54 hours of Syndicate meetings each year for 3 years,
• a minimum of 115 hours of individual psychotherapy over the three years, and,
• a minimum of 80 hours of post-training supervision over two years plus a further 75 hours of individual psychotherapy.

After successfully completing the three years of study and individual psychotherapy these students are awarded the Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Academic). When the 80 hours of post-training supervision has been successfully completed and assessed, students receive the Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Clinical). In other words the Academic award is upgraded to a clinical award once the extra psychotherapy and supervision have been completed.

Stream 2: Academic Study (3 years of study).

Award: Diploma of Contemporary Somatic Psychotherapy (Academic)

This stream is for those students who do not, at this stage, wish to gain a qualification as a clinical psychotherapist but who are interested in the field of contemporary somatic psychotherapy and who want to study for the personal and professional benefits that can be gained from such a study. These students may upgrade this qualification at a later stage if they wish to become fully accredited somatic psychotherapists. To do so they must complete all the requirements outlined above (see Stream 1: Clinical Training).

Students do the same course as those doing the clinical training, including participating in the Syndicates. The assessment is the same. The only difference is that students in the Academic Stream are not required to engage in individual psychotherapy although it is highly recommended that they do so. These students are also not required to complete any supervision unless they decide to become fully accredited.