Training Ethos

Introduction

We are committed to a programme of learning that engages trainees and teachers in a personal and profound way. We recognise that people learn most effectively when they are actively engaged in the learning process; when the learning is personally relevant and directly related to their lives; when they are engaged with the learning experience both cognitively and emotionally; and when relationships with other students and teachers are meaningful, stimulating and supportive.

Setting the scene

We understand the need for creating safety so that you can examine any preconceived notions about what it is to be a human being in a social context, to explore new experiences, new ideas, new theories and new ways of constructing and organizing personal reality. We acknowledge that support for students is necessary as they search for new and sometimes tentative understandings of themselves and of others, and as they seek to extend the parameters of their ways of being in, and their knowledge of, the world of human experience. Inherent in this approach is a recognition that training to become a psychotherapist involves not only intellectual and skill based learning but, even more importantly, it involves a significant reorganization of the experience of the trainee.

We support the need for freedom, allowing teachers and students to develop their own interests so that the learning/teaching process is kept alive, creative and stimulating, and that this enlivened learning can best occur when it is based in a grounded understanding of the development of the field of study.

Engaging with the work

We recognise that if you become a psychotherapist, you will be better able to engage in creative encounters with yourself, with clients, with colleagues and with evolving theory if you have, as a student, discovered some personal connection with the work, and understand the historical, philosophical and theoretical context of the field and its relationship with other systems of psychotherapy. Developing a critical understanding of, and respect for, different ways of conceptualising and working with the dynamic process of human change is integral to the course.

We also recognise the need to challenge students in extending their learning and relational skills at a pace suited to the needs of each individual.

We acknowledge that the traditional power/authority relationships between teachers and students frequently inhibit the creative processes of learning and we support teachers and students in exploring the development of appropriate professional relationships which support a safe, stimulating and creative learning environment.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods will be diverse in accordance with your needs as an adult learner:

• lectures,
• seminars,
• self initiated research projects (individually or in groups),
• essay writing,
• reading books and articles,
• group and individual presentations to the training group,
• audio and videos materials
• journal writing,
• group process,
• role plays,
• demonstrations,
• simulations, and
• supervised practice etc.

The focus of the teaching will be to actively engage you in concrete experiences, in self-reflexive learning and in the critical evaluation of theory, developing an increasing ability to monitor and to accurately evaluate your own learning process and the learning of others.

Assessment of Students

As a student, your progress will be monitored and assessed. Assessment of your understanding of theory and of central concepts will be in the form of;

• written reports,
• essays,
• short answers,
• book reviews,
• group and individual presentations etc.

Development of verbal and somatic techniques and relationship skills will be monitored and assessed using observation and evaluation during the course by the trainers, you and the other students as well as by the use of audio and/or video tapes which will be used for both the learning process and for assessment.

If you complete all assessment tasks, reach a satisfactory standard in written work and skill development, read the literature, complete individual psychotherapy requirements and maintain regular attendance, you will be awarded the relevant certificate or diploma and will be able to proceed to the next level of the training.

Attendance

You will be required to attend a minimum of 80% of training sessions and 80% of syndicate meetings. If you don’t meet this requirement, you will be unable to proceed to the next level of training, unless exceptional circumstances can be documented. The reason for this provision is because so much of the learning process in the training is experiential and interactional and this process can only occur within the dynamic learning environment of the scheduled course times.

Self Directed Learning Syndicates

At the start of the course Self Directed Learning Syndicates, each of 3 to 4 trainees, will be formed. These groups will meet outside of course time every two to three weeks. They will be self-directed but will be supported by the teachers in the training programme. Learning Syndicates will be used for discussion, support, skill practice, preparation of group presentations etc.. You will will be expected to keep a journal documenting these meetings. The journal content will not be assessed but it will be seen by teachers. The time involved in these meetings (45 hours per year) is not a part of paid course time, but attendance is a course requirement. If you do not attend at least 80% of syndicate meetings you not be able to proceed to the next level of training.

Personal Psychotherapy

It is a requirement of most responsible psychotherapy training programmes that students experience their own individual psychotherapy. Students in the first year of this course are required to complete a minimum of 25 hours of personal psychotherapy (although 45 hours is recommended). Students in years 2 and 3 of the training are required to complete a minimum of 45 hours personal psychotherapy each year. If you continue on to the two years post training clinical supervision, you will be required to be in individual psychotherapy for the duration of that supervision.

You are responsible for finding your own psychotherapist but we will provide assistance where this is required. Psychotherapists must have undergone a recognized training in psychotherapy, somatic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis, must be a member of a professional association that is a member of PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) or some other appropriate national professional body, and must have at least 5 years of post training professional experience as a psychotherapist.

It’s important to know that whoever you choose to be your psychotherapist, that person will not be a trainer in the course; your psychotherapy will not be assessed; there will be no communication about you between your personal psychotherapist and trainers. Psychotherapy fees are additional to course fees.

Professional Supervision for Students

Some students, due to past experience and/or training, may seek permission from the Training Director to commence working with clients and to commence supervision during the three years of the training programme. These requests are dealt with on an individual basis. Other students may be able to commence seeing psychotherapeutic clients in the two years following the end of training and the awarding of the Clinical Diploma.

In the training of psychotherapists it is a requirement that the psychotherapeutic work of the student be supervised. The Australian Association of Somatic Psychotherapists (AASP) requires a specified number of post training supervision hours. At the time of writing the AASP requirement is 80 hours of individual supervision or an equivalent for group supervision, spread over two years, post training. If you begin to work as a psychotherapist with clients, this will entail attending an individual or group supervision session with an accredited supervisor once a week. We require students in the Clinical Stream to complete the AASP supervision requirement and to submit to us a case study for written and verbal assessment before final accreditation can be given to you. You can then apply to the AASP for professional membership and this will entail a formal application process and assessment by the AASP.

College Library

We have established a small specialist library for the use of students and staff. The library is housed in Victoria but the catalogue is on the College web page (accessed by a password) and a hard copy is also available at each training location. You can search the catalogue on the Internet and you can borrow books either over the net or by mail. Books are sent by post to each of the training locations where they are collected and returned by students. Library access is included in course fees but there is an additional charge of $200 that is a refundable Library Security Deposit to cover any fines or the replacement of any books that are lost or damaged by the student. This fee is returned to you in full, when you leave the College, provided there are no outstanding library debts. If you are in post training supervision (see above for supervision details) you may also be able to access the College Library. To do so you will have to enrol with the College.

College Message Board

The College has established a Message Board on the web page for the use of students and staff. This can be accessed using a password. Students and staff can post messages and respond to messages thus facilitating a further means of communication for all staff and students. The Message Board is also a useful means for students in different states to keep in touch around issues of mutual interest.

Student Textbooks

Each year you will be required to purchase a number of textbooks which you will be required to read during the course. The cost of these is in the vicinity of $350-$400 per year. We has an arrangement with a bookshop to provide these texts at a 10% discount off the normal retail price. You will receive the textbook list on the first weekend of the course and these are to be ordered immediately. The relevant order forms are provided by the College and the you pay the bookshop for the books. The books are to be paid for in full by cheque when the order is handed in on the first weekend or they can be paid for by credit card as they are received by the bookshop.

Training Accreditation

Professional Accreditation:

The College’s clinical training programme is recognized by the Australian Association of Somatic Psychotherapists (AASP) as an approved training for those wanting to apply for professional membership of the AASP. The AASP also requires that you have completed 200 hours of individual psychotherapy and 80 hours of post training supervision when you apply for membership. Further details regarding membership can be obtained from the AASP in Melbourne and Sydney (see phone book for contact numbers). The AASP is a member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).