Background and Rationale for the CourseI

As Faculty Head it is my great pleasure to introduce you to the PGCertHE programme on behalf of the programme team. It is an exciting and pioneering programme, the first dedicated qualification in the teaching and learning of the psychological therapies. Training in counselling, psychotherapy and applications of the psychological therapies requires trainers/ lecturers to have specific, highly specialised, skills in facilitating the development of self-awareness, reflexivity, and the therapeutic use of self in participants in order that they are able to reach the competence requirements for professional practice to work at depth in the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic process.

This was recognised in the Advance HE (2013) report (https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledgehub/  teaching-and-learning-counselling-and-psychotherapy) identifying the needs of the academic community delivering teaching in Counselling and Psychotherapy in the UK; noting that, ‘students are expected to work with their ‘self’ and emotions. Inevitably they go through a period of personal development and at times this can result in students with demands that exceed those of the typical student.’

Therefore, a discipline specific training/teaching qualification that addresses the planning, creation and facilitation of curriculums and experiential learning forums to support the development of these skills/ attributes alongside robust theoretical knowledge and ethical professional practice seems a natural development. Whether you are new to teaching or have some experience, the PGCertHE will offer you many opportunities to reflect and evaluate your practice, learn new skills and better understand how to facilitate students learning in the psychological therapies. Metanoia Institute has a long-established reputation as a Centre of Excellence in the teaching of counselling, psychotherapy and the psychological therapies and so this award is a natural development within this setting.

Overview of Training Programme

The PGCertHE is a developmental course rather than a training course, with the emphasis being on the development of your understanding about the different ways in which people learn the psychological therapies and your skill in enabling this learning. The programme will provide both short and longer term benefits. It will support you in the early stages of learning to teach this discipline in higher education and will also help establish a framework for your career long development in this field through reflective practice. You will be encouraged to be creative in seeking out effective approaches to your teaching.