The Ellesmere Centre for
Psychotherapy and Training
Foundation Certificate in
Transactional Analysis
Prospectus
Available at
The Ellesmere Centre in Hull
The Horsforth Centre in Leeds
January 2012 Edition
861 Holderness Road, Hull, HU8 9BA
Phone: 01482 702 571
E-mail: admin@ellesmerecentre.co.uk
www.ellesmerecentre.co.uk
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Contents
3
Introduction
4
Philosophy
5
Training Route
6
Foundation Certificate
8
Assessment
9
Who is the course for?
10
Costs and How to Apply
12
Application Form
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Introduction to The Ellesmere Centre for Psychotherapy and Training (ECPT)
The centre has been designed to provide a facility of counselling, psychotherapy,
supervision and training. There is a varied training programme of both short and longer
term courses provided by experienced trainers in a professional yet relaxed environment.
The Foundation Certificate can lead to continued training towards the Ellesmere Centre
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy training
leading towards accreditation as a Certified Transactional Analyst with Psychotherapy
specialty (CTA(P) and is recognised by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
(UKCP). The UKCP is the leading body in the UK for recognition of psychotherapists.
The Ellesmere Centre is an Institute of Transactional Analysis (ITA) Registered Training
Establishment and adheres to the ITA Code of Practice for Psychotherapy Trainers and
Training Establishments and the ITA Registration Policy, the ITA Equal Opportunities Policy,
ITA Code of Ethics and ITA Code of Professional Practice. Copies of these codes are available
in the on the ITA website www.ita.org.uk . The ITA is recognised in Europe by the European
Association of Transactional Analysis (EATA) and worldwide by the International
Transactional Analysis Association.
Training complies with EATA and UKCP (United Kingdom for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
requirements, copies of which are available at the centre.
We are pleased to announce that from 2012 The Foundation Certificate is also available at
the Horsforth Centre in Leeds. Further training remains at the Ellesmere Centre in Hull.
All training programmes at The Ellesmere Centre run from September to June.
Trainers
Kathie Hostick will provide your training in Transactional Analysis for the foundation year in
Hull. She is a Training and Supervising Transactional Analyst (TSTA), is registered with the
UKCP and follows the relevant codes of practice and is also the Academic and Clinical Lead
at the Centre. Andy Williams (PTSTA) will provide your training in Leeds, he is also
registered with the UKCP and follows the relevant codes of practice.
Your progress will be supported and monitored by your main trainer, visiting trainers may
provide different aspects of the theory. All visiting trainers are qualified and registered with
their appropriate body.
Contacts
The Ellesmere Centre collaborates with a number of small ITA Registered Training
Establishments, known as the Independent Training Collaborative, regarding the process of
training, supervision and monitoring of the academic aspects of the course.
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Philosophy
The ethos of our organisation is relational and developmental. We believe that the
developmental process is significant as you progress from a place of basic theoretical
understanding and skills practice in your foundation year to a competent level of theoretical
integration, awareness and attunement within the therapeutic relationship. We believe in
the critical evaluation of this development through assessment and evaluation.
From a developmental perspective we believe that it is essential to provide a comfortable
environment which attends to your physiological, safety and learning needs appropriate to
your level of development. We believe that these needs will change as you move through
the training programme from a supportive and directive teaching environment to a more
eliciting and radical environment as you develop more integrated theoretical understanding,
awareness and attunement within the therapeutic relationship.
The relational perspective is very much about the mutuality of commitment between the
trainee and the trainer. The relationship will be open and negotiable throughout training
and a space for self-reflection and challenge.
The philosophy of our training is concurrent with the TA philosophy of people are ok,
everyone has the capacity to think and people make their own decisions and can change
these decisions. Whilst you are expected to take responsibility for your own learning it is
our responsibility to ensure you are provided with a safe and appropriate environment for
your learning to take place.
We believe the educational relationship between you and your trainer provides the holding,
containment and challenge necessary for your development. This reflects our professional
philosophy of psychotherapy in which we see the therapeutic relationship as the most
significant medium for change. We are mindful of the need for a critical awareness of the
multiple layers of human experience and the multi-dimensional nature of the therapeutic
relationship. We also believe in the connectedness between mind and body and this belief
underpins our approach to the theoretical content; this means we are mindful of your
physical, psychological, educational and spiritual needs in your training experience.
Our learning philosophy attends to the process of recognizing, understanding and
appreciating one’s own culture as well as the culture of others. It stresses learning to
appreciate the impact of differences in social location based on such variables as race,
gender, class, age, sexual/affectional orientation, religion, physical ability and language.
This learning process is dynamic; as we begin to see the impact of differences our sense of
ourselves, others and the world, shifts.
Whilst we see our priority as your development and growth within your training at the
Ellesmere Centre, we have a strong belief in the need for political awareness and
understanding of the wider community including ITA, EATA and ITAA and UKCP as well as
other related organisations.
We encourage open discussion and negotiation throughout this process, your experiences
and feedback are necessary for our continued development and change as a training
institute.
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The Ellesmere Centre Training Route
TA101
Foundation
Year
Second
•The internationally recognised 2 day introduction
to TA. Delivered at the Ellesmere Centre and
many other recognised training establishments
throughout the world.
•Run over 10 weekends, this first year of training is
the foundation to becoming a TA practitioner
•Leads to the Foundation Certificate in
Transactional Analysis
•Run over 10 weekends
•Trainees at this level will usually have a supervised
placement working with clients
Year
Third
•Run over 10 weekends
•Leading to the Ellesmere Centre Diploma in
Therapeutic Counselling
Year
Fourth
•Run over 10 weekends
•Leading to the Ellesmere Centre Diploma in
Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy
Year
Exam
Preparation
•Run over 10 weekends
•Trainees at this level are working towards sitting
the EATA exam to become a Certified
Transactional Analyst (CTA) and registration with
the UKCP as a Psychotherapist
CTA Requirements:
EATA training contract, 600 training hours, 150 supervision
hours, 750 clinical practice hours to include 50 hours group
or couples work, 500 hours additional training ( to include
160 personal therapy hours). Written and oral exams.
Requirements:
Attendance at a recognised TA101 or
written exam through the ITA.
Foundation Certificate Requirements:
TA101 Certificate, at least 80%
attendance of 140 hours training, skills
practice observation, successful
completion of 2 essays, a presentation
and a reflective journal.
Completion Requirements:
Foundation Certificate, at least 80%
attendance of 140 hours training, skills
practice observation, successful
completion of 2 essays, a presentation
and a reflective journal.
Completion Requirements:
Completion of 2nd year, at least 80%
attendance of 140 hours training,
skills practice observation, successful
completion of 2 essays, a
presentation and a reflective journal.
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Requirements:
As above plus 100 hours supervised
practice, 50 hours personal therapy,
attendance of national conference.
Completion Requirements:
Completion of 3rd year, at least 80%
attendance of 140 hours training,
skills practice observation, successful
completion of 2 essays, a
presentation and a reflective journal.
Diploma in TA Psychotherapy
Requirements:
Completion of Diploma in Therapeutic
Counselling, be an EATA endorsed
Candidate in Training, completed
Mental Health Placement, case study
(written and presentation), be in
continued supervised practice and
personal therapy.
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Foundation Certificate
This handbook is for the Foundation Certificate, please see the relevant prospectus for
further information about ongoing TA Therapeutic Counselling and Psychotherapy training.
The foundation year provides an in depth introduction to the theory of Transactional
Analysis. Within this year you are required to do TA101 (Introduction to Transactional
Analysis) if you have not already done so.
The first year is very cognitive and focussed on theoretical understanding. The first of the
two days will be aimed at a specific theoretical principle. The second day will incorporate a
tutor group, developing skills in relation to the theory and a demonstration if appropriate.
Each month there will also be a presentation of other counselling models or a topic of
interest by the trainees.
On completion of this first year you will receive the Foundation Certificate in TA. This can
be done as a standalone year or can be accredited towards your ongoing training in TA. Your
progress through this process will be reviewed on an annual basis as part of your
contractual relationship with your trainer.
A volunteer trainee is required to be on the Trainee Representative Committee to represent
the trainees’ requests and suggestions at the committee meetings which are held three
times per year.
Methodology
Each weekend study workshop includes

An interactive and experiential exploration of theory

Skills and techniques

Supervised practice

Professional aspects of being a psychotherapist.
Aims

To provide a professional, creative, caring and mutually respectful approach to
training

To promote an ‘I’m ok, you’re ok’ culture, including an equal opportunities policy

To facilitate your development as competent, professional and ethical therapists

To prepare you to successfully complete your training at whatever level you choose.

To enhance your personal development

To participate in all activities during the training weekend, and be able to receive
feedback from your peers and trainers.
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Objectives
By the end of the training, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to

Make contact with your clients with depth and immediacy

Relate to clients with genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathic
understanding, good boundaries and clear contracts

Maintain appropriate self support

Give and take feedback constructively

Be stable under stress and help clients through crises

Use supervision conscientiously and effectively

Work constructively with colleagues from other professions.
Outline of Course Content

Introduction to the course and the centre.

The principles and philosophy of counselling and psychotherapy.

Ethics

TA philosophy and history

Contracting

Ego state theory and diagnosis

Transactions, strokes, time structuring and life positions

Scripts and script theories

Rackets

Games

Decontamination and deconfusion

Symbiosis, discounting, redefining and passivity

Tutor and peer group evaluation
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Assessment
There will be continual monitoring by self, peer and tutor assessment during training, and
towards the end of each level, trainees will experience more formalised peer and tutor
evaluation.
There are two essays, a presentation and assessed practice to complete in each year. There
are two levels of competency to practice, within a placement setting and private practice.
These will be required ahead of setting up a placement if you continue into further training.
You will need to keep a personal, reflective journal of your training and learning experience,
along with a clinical log including training hours, supervision hours, therapy hours and
clinical hours throughout your training.
Personal Therapy
There is no requirement to enter personal therapy during the Foundation Certificate,
though trainees may wish to do this. Trainees wanting to complete the Diploma in
Therapeutic Counselling will need to evidence 50 hours of therapy in order to qualify,
trainees on the full CTA Psychotherapy training route will need to evidence 160 hours of
personal therapy over the four years of their training.
UKCP require that the experience of therapy be congruent with the psychotherapy in which
a trainee is training and that the therapist be UKCP registered. A straightforward approach
to this congruence and registration would be that trainees have an experience of TA
psychotherapy with a CTA.
Syllabus
A full syllabus is included in the handbook, which is given out at the beginning of training.
Please note that course content is subject to change in order to keep up to date with
current thinking.
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Who is the course for?
TA training is for

anyone wishing to become a TA therapeutic counsellor

counsellors who have already completed their training and wish to add TA to their
repertoire of skills

Professionals who want to enhance their professional development

Anyone who wants to develop the skills and theory learnt on the TA101 course
The course is suitable for people who have;

done the TA101, or intend to do so during the foundation level of training

a post-graduate level of competence, i.e. a prior degree or can evidence professional
training in a caring profession

a suitable counselling qualification

a qualification in a relevant profession

suitable and relevant life experience

A combination of the above
Trainees are required to be members of the ITA throughout their training and are required
to provide evidence of a clean enhanced CRB check once they start to practice.
If you can evidence prior learning or experience that is the equivalent of any training offered
by the Ellesmere Centre, then exemption will be granted to that part of the training.
Generally speaking, in order to enter the course at any level other than foundation level,
you will need to have completed the equivalent number of TA psychotherapy training hours
with an ITA Registered Trainer as the Ellesmere Centre trainees at the level you wish to join;
you will also required to have a written reference from your trainer. This is to provide
consistency, fairness and equitability for all trainees.
Evidence must be provided to the Ellesmere Centre ahead of training and any expenses
incurred will be at your own expense.
It is not appropriate for you to have a current therapy relationship with your trainer or
supervisor. Where there is any possibility of a dual relationship you will need to apply for
special exemption through the ITA Professional Practice Committee.
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Costs

Tuition Fees are £1,700 for the foundation year, and £1,750 per year for advanced
training.

Unfortunately, as we are a private institution, we have no access to funding to
provide discounts.

Tuition fees can be paid in full upon enrolment by PayPal, debit or credit card
through PayPal invoicing (no PayPal account required), bacs or cheque, or a deposit
can be paid with the balance paid in instalments.

There is a £20 Ellesmere Centre membership fee payable annually upon enrolment,
this gives you access to your main tutor and the library, discounted rates on
workshops run by the Ellesmere Centre and reduced room rates when you start to
practice. This fee also contributes towards the refreshments that are provided at
your training weekend.

Trainees are required be student members of the ITA (Institute of Transactional
Analysis) which currently costs £46 for foundation level trainees and £60 for
advanced trainees.
Advanced Training Costs

To realise the full cost of training, trainees should include the cost of personal and
group therapy. For trainees who are starting to practice, there is also the cost of
supervision to take into account. Therapy and supervision cost around £40-£50 per
session.

The cost of an enhanced CRB check is currently £75, this is required once you enter
into practice.

The cost of taking any examinations is not included in the tuition fees.

The cost for the ITA national conference varies depending on what package you pick
and is not included in the tuition fees.
How to apply
Please complete and return the application form included in this prospectus. When we
have received and checked your form, we will follow up your references then invite you for
an interview with Kathie Hostick and Andy Williams. Your interview will cover the course,
fees and provide us with the time to get to know you. You will have the opportunity to ask
questions.
Selection is made by application form and personal interview with clinical and academic
lead Kathie Hostick and trainer Andy Williams. At your interview you will be joined by the
Course Manager who will be able to answer any administration queries you might have.
The interview is an assessment of the suitability of your personal qualities & relevant
experience for the training you are applying to undertake.
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Should you have a successful interview and you fulfil all the requirements we will contact
you personally to advise you of your place on the course and we will send you a letter of
acceptance with an invitation to an enrolment session.
If there are any queries following your interview you may be offered a second interview to
address these queries. If we feel that we could offer you a place subject to you fulfilling any
criteria you will be offered a place on condition of these criteria being fulfilled.
Should you be unsuccessful at your interview or do not fulfil all the requirements, we will
contact you personally to let you know, and provide you with full feedback.
If you have any questions regarding any of the information in this prospectus, please don’t
hesitate to contact us.
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Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis
Application Form
Name
Address
Telephone Number
Mobile Number
Email address
Preferred contact
Relevant qualifications:
Subject
Date
Location
Grades
It is a prerequisite of study that you should have completed a TA101 (Introduction to
Transactional Analysis) or will do so during the foundation level. Please contact us if you
have not done this, and we will reserve you a place on our next course.
Please enclose copies of any relevant certificates
Enclosed
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Relevant experience
Position
Dates
Location
Main duties
Please use the space below to tell us a little about yourself, and why you would like to do
the course. Please indicate if you would like to continue your training onto Therapeutic
Counselling or Psychotherapy Training. You may continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
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Reference Request
Please provide us with the contact details of two people who will give you a reference for
the course (not family members)
Name of Referee (1)
Position
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
Name of Referee (2)
Position
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
We will contact you for an interview as soon as possible.
Following your interview and receipt of your references we will contact you personally to let
you know the outcome.
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