Intensive Training in Counselling Psychology

Structure for theory & Practical Classes (2 months)

Theory Classes (8 Classes)

Class 1: Building the Therapeutic Alliance

• Objective: Understand the essential conditions for effective therapy, including empathy, active listening, and establishing trust.

• Key Concepts:

  • Core conditions: Empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness.

  • Client-therapist collaboration and the importance of alliance in treatment outcomes.

  • Boundaries, maintaining professionalism, and fostering a non-judgmental environment.

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Class 2: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Objective: Introduction to the fundamentals of CBT, understanding cognitive distortions, and learning how to modify automatic thoughts.

• Key Concepts:

  • Core principles of CBT: the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

  • Identifying cognitive distortions and automatic thoughts.

  • Techniques: Cognitive restructuring, thought records, and behavioral activation.

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Class 3: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

• Objective: Understanding DBT skills for managing emotion dysregulation, especially in clients with borderline traits.

• Key Concepts:

  • Four DBT modules: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

  • Teaching clients mindfulness and emotional control.

  • Techniques: Emotional regulation exercises, distress tolerance strategies, and interpersonal skills.

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Class 4: Psychodynamic Therapy

• Objective: Delve into the psychodynamic model, exploring how unconscious processes influence behavior and relationships.

• Key Concepts:

  • Freud’s psychoanalysis vs. modern psychodynamic approaches.

  • Unconscious processes, defense mechanisms, and transference.

  • Exploring early childhood experiences and their impact on adult behavior.

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Class 5: Gestalt Therapy

• Objective: Explore Gestalt Therapy’s focus on self-awareness, present-moment experience, and personal responsibility.

• Key Concepts:

  • Present-Centered Awareness: Emphasizing the here-and-now to bring awareness to current emotions and sensations.

  • Figure-Ground Principle: Understanding how some experiences become focal (figure) while others recede (ground).

  • Responsibility and Ownership: Encouraging clients to take responsibility for their experiences.

  • Techniques: Empty-chair dialogues, role-playing, and awareness exercises to explore unexpressed emotions and resolve inner conflicts.

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Class 6: Trauma-Informed Therapy

• Objective: Develop an understanding of trauma’s impact on mental health and learn trauma-focused interventions.

• Key Concepts:

  • The physiological and psychological impact of trauma.

  • Somatic Experiencing, Inner Child Work & Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Trauma-sensitive care and ensuring safety in therapy.

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Class 7: Narrative Therapy

• Objective: Understand Narrative Therapy's approach of separating individuals from their problems and reframing personal stories.

• Key Concepts:

  • Externalization: Viewing problems as separate from the person.

  • Re-authoring: Helping clients reshape their life stories to reflect strengths and resilience.

  • Identifying Unique Outcomes: Highlighting moments where the problem doesn’t dominate.

  • Techniques: Using storytelling, metaphor, and exploring alternative narratives for healing.

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Class 8: Integrative and Eclectic Therapy Approaches

• Objective: Understand how to integrate various therapeutic models to tailor interventions for individual clients.

• Key Concepts:

  • The eclectic approach: Combining elements from different therapeutic schools.

  • When and how to apply integrative techniques.

  • Importance of flexibility in treatment planning.

• Application: Case discussions on choosing the best approach for diverse client needs.

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Each theory class will always be accompanied by a practical class each week.

(Recordings will be provided for theory classes)