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The Minster Centre

The Minster Centre was founded in 1978 as the first integrative training programme in the UK. It has now established itself as one of the leading Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling training organisations in Europe.

Our Diploma in Integrative Counselling and our Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling are accredited by the key UK professional bodies, the BACP and the UKCP. We also offer a Master's Degree which is awarded by Middlesex University.

We run introductory courses open to anyone who is interested in learning how to use counselling skills, as well as Continuing Professional Development workshops and a Diploma in Supervision training for qualified and experienced therapists. The Minster Centre offers more face-to-face training hours and a greater opportunity for personal development than many other training organisations.

We offer a unique perspective of psychotherapy and counselling training, as we combine a strong theoretical integrative grounding with an emphasis on the importance of experiential learning.

The Centre also established a bursary scheme in 2015 to offer opportunities for training to all members of the community and as part of its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in its counselling and psychotherapy trainings.

Courses

Course

MA/PG Dip Advanced Clinical Practice in Psychotherapy and Counselling

This course is for qualified therapists and counsellors, who are looking for an opportunity to update their knowledge, gain a higher-level qualification and reflect in-depth on their practice. Teaching will be given via seminars on theory as well as through experiential learning sessions. Students will have the opportunity to integrate new perspectives into their clinical work with ongoing in-house supervision groups. In addition, seminars on contemporary theories will be delivered by experts in the field.

The course is designed to meet the requirements of busy professionals, with the teaching taking place in weekend blocks.

Students will be able to sign up for either the one year Post Graduate Diploma or the two-year MA programme, both of which are validated by Middlesex University.

Year 1 dates 2024:

Start dates:

12, 13, 14 Jan 2024 

9, 10, 11 Feb 2024 

8, 9, 10 Mar 2024 

19, 20, 21 Apr 2024 

17, 18, 19 May 2024 

7, 8, 9 Jun 2024 (7 Jun all students attend, 8 and 9 Jun are for MA students only) 

28 Jun, 29, 30 Jun 2024 

19, 20, 21 Jul 2024 

6, 7, 8 Sept 2024 

72, 28 Sept, 29 Sept 2024 (27 Sept all students attend, 28 Sept and 29 Sept are for MA students only) 

25, 26, 27 Oct 2024 

8, 9, 10 Nov 2024 (8 Nov all students attend, 9 and 10 Nov are for MA students only) 

6, 7, 8 Dec 2024

Course Content

Two core academic modules which develop students’ in-depth knowledge of some of the most significant contemporary theories as well as advancing their understanding of the inter-relationship between theory, their own personal history and their clinical practice.

Two core practicum (clinical) modules which encourage students’ development as ethical integrative practitioners, able to draw on their own capacity to make therapeutic use of the relational encounter.

One Mental Health Familiarisation module on topics: Severe Presentations, The Use of Medication, Psychiatric Assessment, Self- harm and Suicide plus direct experience.

Support from a personal tutor.

Forms of assessment include case studies, client logs, self-reflective accounts, live assessment, a 40-minute presentation and a 15,000-word dissertation.

The course requires that the student completes a minimum of 60 hours supervised clinical practice with long term clients and 20 hours in-house supervision across the two Practicum modules.

Clinical Practice and Placements

Students will agree suitable long-term clients with their programme clinical supervisor. Students may use work undertaken with private clients, in the course of their employment (with suitable agreement with their employers), students seen in placements or through the Minster Centre Psychotherapy and Counselling Service (MCPCS).

Students are responsible for securing a placement but will receive advice and guidance from the Placement Coordinator. You will need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. One DBS check is included within your course fees and will be organised with you in the second year. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from becoming a counsellor or psychotherapist each case is considered on an individual basis. You will be given an opportunity at your selection interview to discuss this with your interviewers. For more information about DBS checks see here.

Accreditation

The Post Graduate Diploma and the MA programme are quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion.

Course

MA/PG Dip Supervision in Psychotherapy and Counselling

This course is designed for practising psychotherapists and counsellors who want to become clinical supervisors and obtain a post-graduate qualification. The programme will allow counsellors and psychotherapists from any modality to train as supervisors. Students’ learning is supported through experiential work and a significant amount of direct tutor contact.

The Minster Centre prides itself on offering small study groups, personal attention and a friendly, supportive learning environment which encourages personal development. Applicants are not required to have been in recent academic training in order to be considered for a place on this course.

Students will be able to sign up for either the one year Post Graduate Diploma or the two-year MA programme, both of which are validated by Middlesex University. The course will follow the same syllabus as the Minster Centre Supervision Diploma for the first three modules with the addition of a further clinical supervision module for the PG Dip. Students registered and continuing on for the MA will attend an extra three weekends on research awareness and methods which lead to undertaking a piece of independent research, in the second year. This will be overseen by a research supervisor and supported by the course staff.

PG Dip - Supervision in Psychotherapy and Counselling (1 year course): £7,600

MA - Supervision in Psychotherapy and Counselling (2-year course) Year 1: £5,540

Dates for 2024 (Year 1):

19, 20, 21 January 2024

16, 17, 18 February 2024

15, 16, 17 March 2024

19, 20, 21 April 2024

17, 18, 19 May 2024

8, 9 June 2024 (MA students only)

14, 15, 16 June 2024

12, 13, 14 July 2024

28 September, 29 September 2024 (MA students only)

9, 10 November 2024 (MA students only) 

Course Content

Two core academic modules which develop students’ in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical concepts of effective supervision plus opportunities for students to integrate this knowledge into their practice.

Two Supervision Skills-in-practice (Practicum) modules which lay the foundations for effective and ethical supervisory practice and explores supervisory procedural issues relating to clinical responsibility, contracting, risk assessment, auditing and professional record keeping.

For MA students – teaching in research methods and ethics and research supervision will prepare students to complete a 15,000 word dissertation.

Forms of assessment include an essay, case report, reflective assignments, two presentations, a 15,000-word dissertation and a portfolio.

This course requires that the student completes a minimum of 40 hours supervision practice and 21 hours supervision of supervision across both practicum modules (1&2).

Supervision Practice and Placements

Students will agree suitable supervisee and supervision of supervision arrangements with course tutors. Students may use work undertaken with private supervisees in the course of their employment (with suitable agreement with their employers) or supervisees seen in placements. Students are responsible for securing a placement but will receive advice and guidance from the Placement Coordinator.

Accreditation

The Post Graduate Diploma and the MA programme are quality assured by Middlesex University and you will receive a Middlesex award on successful completion.

The course meets both the UKCP requirements for supervision training and the BACP Counselling Supervision Training Curriculum.In order to be placed upon the UKCP Directory of Supervisors you’ll have to be a UKCP registrant.

On successful completion of the Minster Centre Diploma in Supervision you can be nominated to the UKCP Directory of Supervisors through your membership organisation.

If you are a BACP accredited therapist you need to go directly to the BACP and go through their processes in order to become a BACP accredited supervisor.

Workshops

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Conferences

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Open Days

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Online

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