Overview
Tavistock Relationships' Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy course is the next step towards a career in psychotherapy and couple counselling. In this certificate level course students develop counselling skills and gain a deeper understanding of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories and concepts with a particular focus on the couple relationship.
The course is specifically designed to provide participants with the opportunity of learning more about couple work, the special character of the marital/couple fit and the theory underpinning this approach. In addition, the training can improve personal and professional relationships through developing greater self-awareness and an enhanced understanding of the dynamics inherent in any family or social group.
By the end of the course, students will have formed a sufficiently substantive understanding of working therapeutically with couples; and an understanding of the psychoanalytic theory that underpins this practice to enable them to decide whether this is an area they wish to build a new career in. From here students can apply for a place on one of our clinical training programmes..
Content
Couple psychotherapy theories are introduced with special emphasis on the psychodynamic approach. Separate seminars are devoted to the exploration of life stages and linked to the developmental stages of relationships.
There are seminars on changing trends in family and intimate relationships, the impact of children on couples, divorce, serial marriages, step-families and bereavement. Issues related to gender, sexuality and ethnicity are considered throughout the course. Finally, you will also have a chance to develop your clinical skills by both observing and participating in role plays.
This course will include:
- Theory seminars, including weekly reading of theoretical papers
- Self-reflective groups
- Experiential learning workshops
- Role plays
- Written work in the form of a diary
- Support throughout the course from a personal tutor
- Optional essay (for non-graduates who wish to apply for the clinical training)
Entry Requirements
Our Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy course is designed for people who have some basic understanding of psychotherapy, who are ready for a foundation level entry course, have little or no clinical experience, and are from a wide range of professional backgrounds.
In order to undertake this course, you will have a demonstrable interest in psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalytic psychotherapy and in couple counselling. We therefore would usually expect two or more of the following:
- Relevant work experience – this being work in emotional and mental health and wellbeing
- Relevant voluntary work experience
- Have undergone or are currently undergoing own personal psychotherapy
- An experience of group therapy
- Have attended basic level counselling course(s) – e.g., access level counselling training at an FE college or other institution, and/or 1 day CPD trainings, and/or any other relevant short courses.
Applicants to all of our courses, including the Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy, would usually also have a good first degree or equivalent professional qualification.
In terms of personal qualities, we are looking for applicants with the following:
- Self-awareness, maturity and stability
- Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience
- Capacity to cope with both the emotional and intellectual demands of the course
- Appropriate level of interest and motivation for learning about couples and about counselling
- Non-judgemental, empathic, and capacity to be a good listener.
We are mindful of the emotional demands involved in training to become a therapist and always seek to provide a supportive learning environment. It is also important that applicants are sufficiently emotionally and mentally robust to undertake our trainings. Personal readiness is a significant requirement that will be explored as part of the application assessment process.
What Our Students Say
"The Tavistock Relationships' Introductory Course provided the perfect avenue to discover if working with couples was the way forward, excellently presented, informative, engaging.." - Davina Former Banker, 2014 Attendee.
Read more about Davina's story here.
"The quality of material and staff - outstanding." - Former course student 2015
"The immersive nature of the course had me thinking about these concepts all the time." - Former course student 2015
Course Leader
Julie Humphries is Director of Studies at Tavistock Relationships. She is qualified both as an individual and couple psychodynamic psychotherapist; and a couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Julie is also the Programme Head of the Introductory Course and involved in the selection and interview process.
On the clinical training, Julie is co-leader of the Skills Module, and is a co-therapist and supervisor. Julie continues to work as a clinician in the couple psychotherapy service, was a supervisor for IAPT Couple Therapy for Depression, and Project Lead on Adopting Together.
Julie has published two articles recently:
- Couple and Family Psychoanalysis: ‘Working in the presence of unconscious couple beliefs’ (vol 5, No1, 2015).
- Couple psychoanalytic psychotherapy with violent couples: ‘Understanding and working with domestic violence, (with D McCann, Vol 5, No2, 2015).
Before training at Tavistock Relationships, she was a senior lecturer in sociology, and researched and published in the areas of domestic violence and mental health. Read more about Julie's path to couple counselling here.
Tutors
PATSY FAURE
Patsy has a varied work portfolio. She did her initial training as a Couple and Relationship Counsellor at London Marriage Guidance, followed by trainings as a Group Counsellor and Supervisor.
She has taught with her colleague on the Introductory Course at Tavistock Relationships for several years, as well as training on other short courses at Tavistock Relationships. She has a private practice in Canary Wharf. London’s financial district and supervises groups at a leading mental health charity and for an organisation which counsels refugees.
Patsy’s background was initially in human resources in organisations which have an international outlook, including a well-known human rights organisation.
JANE SEYMOUR
Jane trained as a Couple and Relationship Counsellor at London Marriage Guidance. She subsequently trained as a Psychosexual Therapist and a Supervisor. She has also completed an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies. Jane devised the MSc in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy at Tavistock Relationships and continues her involvement with Tavistock Relationships as a trainer and supervisor. For several years now she has taught our introductory course the Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy with colleague Patsy Faure. Jane has delivered the Certificate in Psychosexual Studies for therapists in Turkey and visited Stockholm to lecture on the subject of psychosexual assessment. She has presented training for a range of organizations including Relate, BUPA, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Academy of Live and Dramatic Arts. Jane works as a therapist and supervisor in private practice in South London.
Jane has published 2 articles:
• Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy: 'Assessing the sexual relationship (2014)
• Sex, Attachment and Couple Psychotherapy: 'Loss of desire: a psycho-sexual case study' (with L Green, 2009)
