Training Standards
Requirements for Full Member Organisations

The requirements for training need to be flexible in their interpretation in order to ensure application across a wide range of different theoretical orientations and modalities within the field of psychotherapeutic counselling. However, the intention has been to establish high standards of training which should be rigorously implemented within each full member organisation of UKAPC.

A    Entry Requirements

Candidates in training should possess:

A.1    A personality which offers the stability for a psychotherapeutic relationship.

A.2    A personal life compatible with professional ethics.

A.3    Experience of working with people in a responsible role.

A.4    A standard of education that will support the candidate to cope satisfactorily with the academic demands of training, as entry should be at graduate or postgraduate level.

If a candidate for training is unable to provide evidence under A.4 then a scheme for the accreditation of prior learning (APL) and/or prior experiential learning (APEL) may be applied by UKAPC training programmes.   This may include provision of a candidate’s CV, a portfolio of relevant work (e.g. voluntary counselling), formal and informal education, and references from an appropriate person(s).  In addition, a written project of around 2,000 words relating to psychotherapeutic counselling may be required by the course.

B    Equal Opportunities

Full member organisations of UKAPC should recognise and show respect for the individual rights of all people.   Each full Member Organisation must have an equal opportunities policy that aims to ensure that no candidate in training, trainer or employee or any applicant for these positions receives less favourable treatment on grounds that cannot be shown to be justified. The effectiveness of an equal opportunities policy of any full member organisation of UKAPC should be carefully monitored at regular intervals.

The equal opportunities policy of a full member organisation should be compatible with the equal opportunities policy of UKAPC.

C    Basic Requirements of Training Programme

C.1    The training shall be at graduate or postgraduate level, and the length of training shall not normally be shorter than three years part-time, with 450 hours of skills and theory with 100 hours of supervised client work, in order to ensure a satisfactory integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice to the highest level of psychotherapeutic counselling.

C.2    Each training shall provide for the four major components of training in psychotherapeutic counselling: personal therapy (see C.3), clinical practice, supervised practice, and theoretical understanding.

C.3    Trainees will engage in their own personal therapy, usually a minimum of once a week, for the duration of their training, irrespective of any personal therapy experience prior to entry to a training programme, for a minimum of 40 hours per year (i.e. 120 hours total by the end of the course).

C.4    The final evaluation of trainees’ competence must include external assessment of theoretical understanding and external assessment of clinical competence, including UKAPC assessment (see Accreditation Procedures and Quality Assurance document).

C.5    Each training programme shall have written criteria for the assessment of trainees’ coursework.  Each training programme shall provide written information on the length and duration of modules/workshops/seminars/ lectures.

C.6    Each training programme will provide a definition of clinical supervision together with the minimum requirements of supervised practice for trainees.

C.7    Each training programme must publish the code of ethics and professional practice to which it adheres and which must be compatible with the codes of ethics and professional practice of UKAPC.

C.8    Each training programme shall have a published complaints procedure compatible with the UKAPC guidelines for complaints.

C.9    Each training programme shall have mechanisms for safeguarding the rights and entitlements of trainees including mechanisms for student feedback and consultation.

C.10    Each training programme should have established APL/APEL procedures for scrutinising claims where appropriate.

C.11.    Each training programme should provide education in research methods (see D.10).

D    Core curriculum

D.1    The study of the theory and practice of psychotherapeutic counselling from initial assessment to termination in relation to work with adults, children or families in individual or group settings.

D.2    Sufficient knowledge of the range of approaches to psychotherapeutic counselling such that trainees have an awareness of the range of alternative treatments so as to enable them to make intelligent referrals.

D.3    The development of critical reflection of relevant studies in human development, psychopathology, sexuality, ethics, research and the human sciences in general.

D.4    The development of a critical understanding of social and cultural influences on the practice of psychotherapeutic counselling with particular regard to the development of anti-oppressive practice.

D.5    The provision of a mental health placement to provide opportunities for trainees to acquire the ability to recognise severely disturbed clients and understand the procedures of the mental health services so that they can make appropriate referrals.

D.6    Supervised practice of psychotherapeutic counselling throughout the training programme and with the aim of working towards the development of the internal supervisor.

D.7    The identification and management of a trainee’s personal involvement in, and contributions to, the process of psychotherapeutic counselling.

D.8    The development of the ability and maturity to recognise when the psychotherapeutic counsellor should seek other professional advice.

D.9    Knowledge of the relevant legal issues pertaining to professional practice.

D.10    The development of research skills in order to analyse current counselling research and consider implications for practice.

D.11    The production of relevant written work demonstrating ability to communicate in a professional manner (see Quality Assurance document).

E    Qualification and Registration

E.1    Full member organisations of UKAPC must specify whether qualification by the Member Organisation coincides with UKAPC registration of individual students.

E.2    Where qualification and registration do not coincide then full member organisations of UKAPC should specify what further requirements are necessary for registration.   In such circumstances, applicants for registration in this situation must provide evidence that they have completed all the necessary requirements, including CPD, supervision and personal therapy, endorsed by their member organisation.

F    Continued Professional Development

F.1    All full member organisations of UKAPC must possess a continued professional development policy that is compatible with that of UKAPC and CPD policy must be compatible with UKAPC and UKCP requirements.

F.2    Each training organisation should make provision for a category of ongoing membership either as an integral part of the organisation or clearly linked to it.

Mary Tweed, March 2007