The first year counselling and psychotherapy training programmes start in February/March each year in Melbourne and Sydney.

The focus of the three years is to prepare you to work effectively as a contemporary somatic counsellor / psychotherapist in private practice with a wide range of clients. The course will provide you with a broad grounding in the theory and practice of contemporary somatic counselling and psychotherapy, and will allow you to place the work within its historical, cultural, political, philosophical and theoretical traditions. The major theorists and their approaches will be introduced and critically evaluated. Teaching you somatic and verbal skills will be integral to the course and these will be placed within an evolving conceptual framework as more complex levels of understanding develop within you. You will be supported in learning to attend to your self-reflexive awareness and in the development of your ability to articulate this awareness. Reading widely from an interesting range of recommended texts and articles, reflecting critically on these and writing about them will be an integral part of your learning process. 

The first year Certificate Course will provide you with a general introduction to the history, theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as teaching you basic skills in both verbal and somatic work. In essence, it is designed to give you a good grounding in the basics of counselling. There will be a strong experiential learning orientation as well as a focus on developing you the cognitive and somatic-skills and capacities required of a beginning counsellor and a beginning psychotherapist. Attention to group process will be an integral part of the course.

The first year programme aims to increase your capacity to think about human development and functioning. You will also consider the significance of the therapeutic relationship in practical and theoretical ways which will enhance your understanding of yourself and your relationships with others, as well as building your core counselling and psychotherapy skills. If you choose not to continue to the Advanced Certificate (see below), the first year programme will provide you with a rich learning in interpersonal skills which you will be able to utilise in your everyday relationships. Satisfactory completion of the first year is necessary if you wish to proceed to the second and third years of study.

The two year Advanced Certificate and the three year Diploma course, the second and third years of training, will broaden and deepen the work established in the first year. At the conclusion of the third year, you will be able to;

• effectively discuss and write about different theories of counselling and psychotherapy;
• be able to articulate the similarities and differences between contemporary somatic psychotherapy and other psychotherapies;
• be able to work with clients using a broad range of basic and advanced counselling, psychotherapy and somatic facilitation and interactional skills, and,
• be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the various units of study listed below together with an understanding of their relevance to the work of a contemporary somatic psychotherapist.

Further information about the training can be obtained by following the links to the left or by contacting us on 1800 801 767 (free call)