Counselling Concepts

30-hour programme with termly intakes – please click on the course title above for the next intake
Designed to give trainees basic skills that can be used in everyday life or as a taster to longer-term training at the Institute. This course is validated by Skills and Education Group Awards and offers a Level 2 qualification (on the RQF Regulated Qualification Framework).

SPTI Certificate: Foundation Access

4-6 months part-time (12 training days) Two annual intakes (subject to numbers) – usually October and February each year
Designed for those wanting a more intensive course than the Level 2 Award in Counselling Concepts before undertaking a longer programme, and for those who wish to move onto the BSc or Masters programme but who need to enhance their study experience in preparation for this. This course is an SPTI certificated course and therefore is not included on the RQF/listed on OFQUAL.

BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP Accredited)

3 years Full-time 2 groups of 16 students (subject to numbers) annual intake – September each year – Please click on the course title above for place availability
BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy is validated by Staffordshire University and accredited by BACP. This course evolved from our previously BACP accredited Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy. The course is delivered via 8 Weekend workshops. (See course page for delivery model). There are 25 Training Days in total per year. This course adopts a Humanistic and Integrative approach that draws on contemporary theories that implement and promote a therapeutic relationship.

MSc Integrative Psychotherapy (leading to UKCP registration)

4 years* part-time (*please see below) One annual intake – October each year – Please click on the course title above for place availability
MSc Integrative Psychotherapy is validated by Staffordshire University and accredited by UKCP. A developmental-relational approach that uses a synthesis of Humanistic Psychology, Object Relations Theory and Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology. The result is a unique integration of approaches designed to help with working through childhood issues in order to be fully available for the richness of current relationships, both with clients and in their personal life.

MSc Person-Centred Experiential Psychotherapy (leading to UKCP registration)

4 years* part-time (*please see below) One annual intake – October each year – Please check the course title above for place availability
MSc Person-Centred Experiential Psychotherapy is validated by  Staffordshire University and accredited by UKCP. Person-centred therapy can be seen as an umbrella term referring to the variety of approaches grounded in the theoretical views of human nature and interaction originally developed by Carl Rogers, and others, in the 1940s and 1950s. Those joining the Person-Centred and Experiential Programme can expect to actively engage with key elements of person-centred/experiential models in order to develop a personal style of therapeutic practice whilst holding at their core a continuing critical examination of the impact of their ‘way of being’ in relationship. We believe this dynamic, integrated approach provides a high standard of psychotherapy training and leaves graduates well-placed to become competent practitioners in the field.

SPTI Diploma: Clinical Supervision

1 year part-time One annual intake – Usually October/November each year
Training for those wishing to become clinical supervisors: as professionals in counselling/ psychotherapy/the helping professions – in the voluntary, public or private sectors. The programme examines the various different models of supervision and explores all aspects of the supervisory relationship. This is an SPTI certificated course.

SPTI Diploma: An Integrative Approach to Couples Therapy

1 year part-time One annual intake – October to June
The SPTI Diploma will be in-depth CPD training over 8-weekend workshops running from October 2022 to June 2023, delivered by Course Leader Deborah Blagden with Rosemary Langford-Bellaby supporting as tutor. The course will explore working therapeutically with couples incorporating a variety of different therapeutic approaches within the couples framework. This long CPD course is designed for people who usually work one to one and want to work with couples or those who are doing some work with couples and would like to update their knowledge and develop their skills. Please note: This course has a limited number of places so early application is recommended to secure a place.  Click here for course info

SPTI Certificate: A Relational Approach to the Treatment of Trauma

1 year part-time One annual intake – Spring
The SPTI Certificate will be in-depth CPD training over 5-weekend workshops running each Spring, delivered by Rosemary Langford-Bellaby. The fundamental aim of the training is to provide practitioners with theoretical and practical exposure to modern views in the field of trauma treatment. This will enable them to develop understanding and competence in their field, deepening their knowledge base philosophically, theoretically and clinically, and from this to enable integration within their field of work and practice. Click here for course info

Please note: This course has a limited number of places so early application is recommended to secure a place. 

  • * Our Postgraduate MSc programmes comprise four stages each spanning one academic year (usually September to July) and holding accreditation and/or validation status with specific Professional Bodies
  • The first year of training, i.e. the Preparatory Stage is accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). During this stage of training, you will be registered as a student member of SPTI. Successful completion of all components of the Preparatory Stage will lead to registration with Staffordshire University.
  • The subsequent stages are Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Independent Studies (i.e. years 2 – 4 respectively) each of which is accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and validated by Staffordshire University. During these stages of training, you will be a registered student member of both SPTI and Staffordshire University.

Successful completion of all four stages leads to professional registration as a psychotherapist with UKCP. Successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Independent Studies stages will lead to a postgraduate qualification awarded by Staffordshire University.

all our courses…

…are designed to be managed alongside current occupations.
…have a maximum of 28 training days a year.

Are all suitable for those who:

  • Want to train to become professional psychotherapists and counsellors or
  • Want to develop the counselling or psychotherapy component in their current work and/or
  • Want to make a serious commitment to furthering their own self-development

Each of our courses is unique and yet they share at their core similar values and ideas. These are:

  • The relationship between therapist and client (and trainer and trainee) is a core part of therapeutic healing and growth work.
  • The client has an inner sense of what is right for them. Part of the job of the therapist is to help the client to learn to listen to their inner sense
  • People have an innate capacity to grow and to change, to fulfil their potential.
  • People are ultimately responsible for their own lives.
  • People are valued regardless of race, gender, age, disability, religion or sexual orientation.
  • Patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour are formed early in life and can become fixed in ways that are not always helpful to us, restricting our choice and our freedom. The therapeutic process is about regaining both of these.
  • Awareness – knowing ourselves – is an important aspect of regaining freedom and choice.

Our MSc Integrative and Person Centred Programmes are accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the BSc (Hons) is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).