Reflect On Academy
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING IN PURLEY, CROYDON, SURREY
Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
The course's core philosophy is person-centred and is underpinned by a relational approach that reflects Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive-Behavioural ways of working.
Philosophy
The underpinning philosophy embraces a pluralistic framework that recognises no single truth (i.e., no approach can treat each client in all situations) but a range of plausible but mutually contradictory responses (Rescher, 1979). Thus, behaviour is understood through the individual's internal frame of reference (Rogers, 1951). This philosophical stance also ensures that the counsellor knows the resources available to the client to address their issues.
The BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling and Psychotherapy professions provides a framework to establish a personal theory of human development based on person-centred philosophy and ethics; we urge you to reflect on, challenge, and explore your views and presumptions. To achieve this, we encourage and provide you with opportunities to consider the theory in the context of your own experiences, allowing you to form your philosophical and theoretical foundation.
Throughout our course, you develop the core skills fundamental to counselling and psychotherapy. You learn how to engage in ethical, culturally sensitive, and collaborative practices to plan early intervention programmes concerning client goals and the diversity of individuals. As part of the course, you also engage in clinical placement experiences that enrich and consolidate your classroom learning.
Aims
To educate and train our students in counselling to become skilled and ethical practitioners able to think reflexively and independently - and provide a learning environment that allows competing perspectives through personal engagement, collaborative interaction, academic inquiry, and practice-based reflexivity. Foster sensitivity to prejudice contributes to advancing the profession and presents counselling from a critical and reflexive inquiry in the domains of theory and practice.
Course Structure
Our course gives in-depth clinical training that combines theory and practice from different approaches with clear aims, learning outcomes, and evaluations. It consists of 450 teaching hours, along with personal study, clinical practice, supervision, and personal therapy. The clinical process combines theory and techniques to boost the trainee counsellor's confidence and reflective and reflexive capacities. The BACP Online and Phone Therapy (OPT) curriculum is integrated within the course: we have included 20% of tutor interaction time online. Duration: 3 years part-time.
Our course requires 150 hours of clinical contact under supervision, 70 hours of personal therapy, and 35 hours of supervision; 20% of clinical hours can be a combination of online video, phone, or online video only.
Outside of college, you are expected to have an acceptable learning environment with adequate technology, a private learning area, and a quiet space for remote client work. The programme is held twice a month on Saturdays (college attendance) from 9 am to 4 pm and Monday evenings (6 pm to 9 pm once a month virtually via Zoom) with personal study, clinical placement practice and supervision, and personal therapy in addition to additional Saturdays and Mondays (teaching and experiential learning). As well as 4 hours of independent study weekly.
Our units consist of Humanistic: Person-centred approaches (core theory), psychodynamic approaches, contemporary developments in counselling and psychotherapy, (which includes CBT), expressive arts, perspectives in integrative psychotherapy, and counselling and psychotherapy in practice, clinical placement, and personal therapy.
Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Course Content
For more in-depth, detailed topics, please refer to our course prospectus.
There is also a more extensive version, which can be found on the college's internal platform.
Human Development and Personality Theories, Foundations of Therapeutic Relationships, Communication and Active Listening Skills, Cultural Competence and Diversity, Mental Health Disorders in Practical Context, Ethical and Professional Considerations, Advanced Reflective Practice, Supervision, Personal Development, and Advanced Counselling, Research Skills and Effective Presentation, Remote Practice, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, and Neuroscience and Neurodiversity.
Our Psychotherapeutic Counselling Diploma course takes place in Purley South East London.
Flexible Timetable - 2 Saturdays a month, 9.00 am - 4.00 pm and 9.00 am to 12.00 pm.
Midweek Mondays 6.00-9.00 pm once a month.
Plus 2 additional evenings and Saturday workshops yearly.
Clinical Placement
Clinical placement begins when you are endorsed as ready to practice. The placement aims to enhance your learning opportunities within a stimulating and safe environment. You must be endorsed by the course tutors to ensure you have reached a competent level. Your tutor and the director hold an initial placement approval meeting to clarify safety, support, and supervision. Supervisors must be college-approved and knowledgeable about the Course Approach. Group training (in class) or peer supervision does not count towards total supervision. Depending on the nature of your placement work, you may have multiple supervisors.
Teaching and Assessment
Our diploma works through large-group (lecture, workshop, and group work) and small-group activities (supervision, personal and professional development groups). You are required to supplement class time with directed and self-directed learning and placement experience in community settings with clients. So you gain the chance to acquire knowledge through practice work with clients and agency involvement. You’ll be guided to additional readings and journal articles - independent study is a significant component of our diploma. Our programme is assessed through summative written assignments and formative assessments across all course components.
Appeals
Reflect On Academy has policies and procedures to address thoroughly, fairly, and expeditiously any problems that might arise in your assessment, such as grounds for appeals against assessment results and the process you must follow if you wish to appeal, which must comply with the regulations.
Quality Assurance
An independent body oversees our Quality and Standards whose distinct approach includes 'Enhancement-led’ organisation Reviews. Reflect On Academy follows the Quality Code for training providers, which allows us to maintain our academic standards while improving student learning opportunities. We use feedback to monitor the programme's quality, and the college built its internal quality assurance procedures on BACP guidelines. All students are required to become student members of BACP.
Student voice matters
Our students are invaluable to us and continuously help us to identify what works well across the College and where improvements could be made.
As a student at ROA College, you are part of a community. Your voice in this community matters, and there are many ways to ensure you have a say in your college experience. The more you put in, the more you get out.
Concerns and Complaints Procedure
Our concerns and complaints procedure helps you resolve issues concerning any aspect of your course in a clear, equitable, and timely manner - and similarly addresses matters relating to students.
Equality and Diversity
ROA is committed to equality of opportunity and promotes an inclusive culture, values diversity, and exposes students to social, relational, and cross-cultural contexts. It seeks to train counsellors who can approach clients with integrity, acceptance, respect, and sensitivity.
Health and Safety
The College is committed to promoting positive attitudes to health, safety and wellbeing, and will comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other health and safety related legislation.
Our Psychotherapeutic Counselling Diploma course can lead to a career as a practising counselling clinician, with engaging and rewarding work in mental health services or private practice.
Our Psychotherapeutic Counselling Diploma course takes place in Purley South East London. Flexible Timetable - 2 Saturdays a month, 9.00 am - 4.00 pm and 9.00 am to 12.00 pm. Midweek Mondays 6.00-9.00 pm once a month. Plus 2 additional evenings and Saturday workshops yearly.
Training Frequently Asked Questions