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Foundation Course in Psychotherapy, Counselling & Coaching

 

About the Course

Available Study Modes
Intensive Study, Thursday- Weekly or Wednesday - Weekly

Course Description

Introducing the Foundation Course at the Existential Academy – your gateway to a world of academic excellence and limitless possibilities. Designed to lay a strong educational foundation, this comprehensive program paves the way for further academic degrees and propels your career aspirations to new heights.

At the Existential Academy, we understand the importance of a solid groundwork for success. Our Foundation Course encompasses a diverse range of subjects, carefully curated to equip you with essential knowledge and skills across various disciplines of psychotherapy and counselling. Our tutors will guide you through an immersive learning experience, fostering critical thinking, analytical prowess, and effective communication.

The Foundation course at the Existential Academy can be taken as a standalone course or can serve as a pathway to further academic degrees provided by the Existential Academy and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC).

The Foundation course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue higher education in psychotherapy, counselling, counselling psychology or coaching. Upon completing a Foundation course, students may be eligible to apply to a PGCert, PGDip, Masters, or Doctorate programme, such as those offered at NSPC or to embark on the Existential Academy’s Existential Psychotherapy Training (EPT) through the Diploma in Existential Psychotherapy in combination with a relevant Master’s degree such as the MSc in Psychotherapy Studies. https://nspc.org.uk/course-directory/

Upon completing the Foundation Course, you will be empowered to embark on a journey towards your dream academic degree at NSPC and the Existential Academy. Our personalized guidance and support system will assist you in navigating the intricacies of university admissions, helping you secure a coveted spot in your chosen degree programme.

Course Information

This course introduces the student to the major psychotherapeutic, counselling and coaching approaches. While the entire breadth of the field is covered this is done within a challenging philosophical framework.

The programme provides an excellent academic background for the development of students’ practical skills and all students will be encouraged to find their own path and explore those concerns, which are immediate and meaningful to them.

The course covers existential, humanistic and psychoanalytic theory and practice, whilst using the philosophically based existential approach to allow for a critical stance to the study and practice of psychotherapy, counselling and coaching.

Upon completion, students will be awarded with a certificate from the Existential Academy.

 

Programme of Study

 
The foundation certificate consists of 3 modules which may be studied as three modules spread over a year, or intensively during one summer
Existential & Humanistic Approaches

This course introduces the existential and humanistic models of psychotherapy, counselling & coaching. It has a theoretical and practical component to it, allowing the students to experience the learned theory and practice their skills.

The theoretical sessions cover the major theories underpinning the existential and humanistic approach and place them in their historical context. The theories of the existential philosophers, including Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre will be summarized and applied to the practice of psychotherapy and coaching. The Humanistic school of thought will be examined by looking at the work of Rogers, Maslow, Perls and Kelly. By the end of the course the student should have a good grasp of the principals on which these approaches are based.

The practice sessions comprise exercises in general counselling and coaching skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This is the student’s opportunity to experience the therapeutic framework from the therapist and the client’s point of view and the opportunity to receive feedback from both their fellow students and the tutors. The last part of the day will provide a space to share emotions, impressions and process learning.

At the end of this module the students will be asked to submit a theoretical essay on a chosen subject in relation to the learned material. 

Issues in Psychotherapy

This course provides the opportunity for students to gain an insight into ethical considerations and will cover the various codes of practice, which are available in the UK. Issues of power, cross cultural, gender and sexuality in the therapeutic and coaching relationship will be looked at. It will also address human relationships, emotions, loss and bereavement in the context of everyday life and in the therapy setting.  At the end of this course, students should have an understanding of the wide array of human issues that the practice of psychotherapy, counselling and coaching sets out to address.

The practice sessions comprised exercises in general counselling and coaching skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This is the student’s opportunity to experience the therapeutic framework from the therapist and the client’s point of view. Students will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback from both their fellow students and the tutors. These skills will be reviewed in every module, with different emphasis, affording trainees the means to develop these skills significantly. 

The last part of the day will be dedicated to the space to share emotions, impressions and processes.

At the end of this module the students will be asked to submit a theoretical essay on a chosen subject or an aspect of the course in relation to the learned material as well as a personal essay on their experience and learning on the whole foundation year.

Key Theories in Counselling, Psychotherapy & Coaching

This course covers the major philosophical theories and the different schools of thought in psychotherapy and coaching, including psychoanalysis, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioural models.  A historical perspective will be sketched out and some of the fundamental concepts will be introduced. These different theories will be examined by looking at the work of Freud, Adler, Klein, Bowlby, Jung and Ellis. By the end of the course students should have a broad understanding of the major philosophical theories and the different schools of thought in psychotherapy and coaching.

The practice sessions comprise exercises in general counselling and coaching skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This is the student’s opportunity to experience the therapeutic framework from the therapist and the client’s point of view and the opportunity to receive feedback from both their fellow students and the tutors. The last part of the day will provide a space to share emotions, impressions and process learning.

At the end of this module the students will be asked to submit a theoretical essay on a chosen subject in relation to the learned material.

 

 

Module 1: Humanistic Therapies & Existential Counselling and Coaching

This course introduces the existential and humanistic models of psychotherapy, counselling & coaching. It has a theoretical and practical component to it, allowing the students to experience the learned theory and practice their skills.

The theoretical sessions cover the major theories underpinning the existential and humanistic approach and place them in their historical context. The theories of the existential philosophers, including Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre will be summarized and applied to the practice of psychotherapy and coaching. The Humanistic school of thought will be examined by looking at the work of Rogers, Maslow, Perls and Kelly. By the end of the course the student should have a good grasp of the principals on which these approaches are based.

The practice sessions comprise exercises in general counselling and coaching skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This is the student’s opportunity to experience the therapeutic framework from the therapist and the client’s point of view and the opportunity to receive feedback from both their fellow students and the tutors. The last part of the day will provide a space to share emotions, impressions and process learning.

At the end of this module the students will be asked to submit a theoretical essay on a chosen subject in relation to the learned material. 

Fees 2024-25

Year of course 

Modules to be completed in year 

Fee payable per year (if no modules need to be repeated) 

1 

3*  

£2574 (£715 +VAT =£858 per module) 

£2394 (£665 + VAT = £798 per module if paying for 3 modules in advance)  

May be studied as three modules spread over a year, or intensively during 3 weeks in July/August 

 

Counselling and Psychotherapy Training Additional Charges  

Application Fee 

£50 

Acceptance Deposit 

£100 which will be deducted from the initial invoice when you start the course.  

Non-refundable if you withdraw 

APEL – (EPT) 

£200 per submission 

Instalment Plan 

£20 per module

Late changes to Course Plan  

£50 

Professional Registration 

At your own cost 

How You Study

Our modules can be studied in three study modes:

  • Wednesday Evenings from 5.30 - 9.30 
    • Each module lasts 10 weeks
    • Certificate can be completed in one academic year
  • Intensive Study
    • Study in blocks of consecutive days rather than on a weekly basis
    • Each module lasts 5 days

It is possible to mix and match your study modes as long as all three modules are completed.

Existential Academy Scholarship Scheme for Ukrainian Therapists in the UK

The Existential Academy is offering scholarship places to Ukrainian Existential Psychotherapists who are currently living in the UK.  Places will be offered free of charge on the Foundation Course in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Coaching, in order to help facilitate Ukrainian therapists in establishing themselves professionally in the UK.

The scheme is only open to Ukrainian therapists who already have a qualification in psychotherapy but need to upgrade their skills in a British context, in order to be able to apply for accreditation with British professional bodies.