The Counselling Centre
7 Chilston Road, Tunbridge Wells
Kent. TN4 9LP
Telephone: 01892 548750
email: info@thecounsellingcentre.org.uk
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
and
British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) Accredited Counselling Training at
the Counselling Centre, Tunbridge Wells
Who we are
The Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells was established 1989 and is the largest
provider of psychodynamic counselling and training in Kent and East Sussex. Our
counselling service and our training courses are accredited by the British Association
of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Training through our courses enables
graduates to work towards gaining BACP accreditation, and to register and become
members of the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). The BPC is a professional
association which recognises high standards of clinical work and represents the
profession of psychoanalytical and psychodynamic psychotherapy nationwide.
The Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells is the only training provider in Kent and
East Sussex which offers trainee counsellors the opportunity to gain BPC registration
as a psychodynamic counsellor.
The Counselling Centre is also a member of the National Counselling Network.
What we offer
The Counselling Centre provides two training courses: the one year, part-time
Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills (this course also forms the first step to
further training at TCC) and the two year, part-time, BACP accredited Diploma in
Psychodynamic Counselling.
Becoming a counsellor involves more than academic study. We support our trainees
through the whole challenging and demanding personal experience and our courses
provide a sound and substantial preparation for those wishing to become
counsellors. Both courses are taught by experienced practitioners, who have
significant expertise in both clinical practice and teaching and the learning takes
place in comfortable and pleasant surroundings.
Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills course provides an introduction to
counselling theory and skills. It has proved useful to many people in the helping
professions – teachers, social workers and nurses. Other professionals, including
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lawyers and HR specialists, have also found the skills and insights, acquired through
our training, to be invaluable in the workplace.
The Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling leads to a professional qualification and
consists of theoretical and ontological seminars, tutorial sessions, self-awareness
groups, supervision and workshops. The two year training combines theoretical
understanding and clinical practice. All trainees are provided with clients and clinical
supervision of this work on site, as an integral part of the course.
The Diploma is accredited by the BACP and BPC, and completion of the training
leads to registration with BPC as a Psychodynamic Counsellor.
Why study Psychodynamic Counselling?
Considerable research supports the efficacy and effectiveness of psychodynamic
counselling – and psychotherapy. The essence of psychodynamic counselling
involves working with a client to explore those aspects of the self that are not fully
known – and how these might unhelpfully impact upon daily life. Seven features
differentiate psychodynamic therapy from other therapies:
1. Focus on expressing emotion
The counsellor helps the client describe and put words to feelings,
including contradictory ones, that might be troubling or threatening;
(although the client might not initially recognise this)
2. Exploration of attempts to avoid distressing thoughts and
feelings
Psychodynamic counsellors actively focus on and explore avoidances
with a view to ultimately minimising them
3. Identification of recurring themes and patterns
… in clients’ thoughts, feelings, self-concept, relationships and life
experiences.
4. Discussion of past experience (with a developmental focus)
The counsellor will work with the client to understand how early
attachment relationships affect one’s relation to, and experience of,
present relationships; the ways in which the past tends to ‘live-on’ and,
in turn, how this might shed light on current emotional difficulties.
5. Focus on interpersonal relationships.
6. Focus on the therapeutic relationship
To the extent that there are repetitive themes in a person’s personal
relationships, these themes can tend to emerge in the same form in
the counselling relationship. The therapeutic relationship provides a
unique opportunity to explore these and rework them in the present.
7. Exploration of wishes and fantasies
Psychodynamic counselling encourages the client to speak freely about
whatever is on their mind. All of this material is a rich source of how a
person views themselves and others. Using these ‘clues’ the counsellor
can help the client make sense of how they might interfere with daily
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living – and how unlocking them can lead to a potential to find greater
enjoyment and meaning in life.
In short, the goals of psychodynamic counselling include, but extend beyond,
symptom remission. A successful therapeutic relationship should not only relieve
symptoms (ie, get rid of a problem), but also help grow positive psychological
capacities and resources. Depending on the person – or the circumstances – these
might include the capacity to have more fulfilling relationships, make more effective
use of one’s talents and abilities, maintain a realistic sense of self-esteem and
understand oneself and others in a more sophisticated way – hence facing life’s
challenges with greater freedom and flexibility.
The other positive aspect of psychodynamic counselling is, that research has shown,
clients tend to continue ‘improving’ in their lives, after the counselling has ended.
This suggests that psychodynamic counselling sets in motion positive psychological
processes that lead to ongoing change – long after the counsellor is no longer
present.
(For more detailed information please see The Efficacy of Psychodynamic
Psychotherapy by Jonathan Shedler, American Psychological Association, 2009, from
which much of this information has been extracted.)
Selection
The normal practice is for trainees to join the diploma course having
satisfied the following requirements:
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Are usually over 25 years of age.
Have successfully completed, or be about to complete a basic course in
counselling skills of not less than one year’s duration which is equivalent to
The Counselling Centre’s Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills.
Able to demonstrate self-awareness and maturity.
Demonstrate commitment to personal development.
Indicate an ability to cope with the academic level of the course (roughly
similar to degree level standard).
Satisfactory DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
Successfully passed the interview process as outlined on the diploma
application form.
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