Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy
A two-weekend short course exploring what it really means to be a therapist.
Start thinking like a therapist.
Join us for a two-weekend Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy short course. You’ll be guided through experiential learning modules on things like Therapy for the Modern World, Psychodynamic Therapy, Person Centred, Arts Therapy, CBT and Skills Practice. It’ll be practical, fun and bloody inspiring.
Get to know yourself – and others.
Explore the wider context of therapy, understand what draws certain people to the profession, unpick the barriers to accessing mental health support, investigate your own personal motivations for taking the course, and challenge what it means to be a therapist.
Weekend 1: The Self
Day 1: 9.30am – 4.30pm
● Setting the Scene: Counselling & Psychotherapy
This module considers the historical perspective between the two approaches, but focuses on current dynamics of integration. Instead of considering their differences, we discuss how the terms have evolved to be used interchangeably in almost every setting and why that might be.
● Self Space: Therapy for the Modern World
We take a closer look at Self Space as a case study for using therapy in the modern world. We look at their mission, values, and practices, and how they reflect a vision of thinking outside the box and pushing therapy and mental health conversations into a new paradigm of transparency, critical thinking, authenticity, and straightforwardness.
● The Cost and Privilege of Therapy
One of the most powerful modules in the course, we delve into the hidden costs of training to become therapists, both financially and emotionally. We reflect on our relationship with money and financial commitments, as well as the implications of access in the therapeutic professions when it comes to social and cultural capital. Who gets to study and who do we end up learning from as a result?
● The Wounded Healer: Why do I want to be a therapist?
Based on Jungian psychoanalytic theory, the concept and archetype of the wounded healer addresses conflicting motivations of wanting to help others. Is it always an altruistic endeavour, or might there be some unconscious and ulterior motives? This module is meant to challenge the vision of the perfect and selfless helper.
Day 2: 9.30am – 4.30pm
● The Mental Health Landscape: Where does Counselling & Psychotherapy fit in?
This module situates counselling & psychotherapy in relation to psychology and psychiatry, and discusses the role of ethics, professional associations and clinical training pathways.
● Transference – Is it me or is it them?
This module explores and discusses the phenomena through which client and therapist influence and impact on each others’ feelings during therapy sessions. It also explores eroticism within the therapeutic relationship.
● Silence: the different purposes of silence in therapy
In this module, we will explore our personal and cultural relationships with silence, and also to look at the importance of silence in therapy, how to use silence in therapy sessions and handling silences that feel awkward.
Weekend 2: The Study
Day 1: 9.30am – 4.30pm
● Making space for “Good Enough”
We start the more academic portion of the course by grounding ourselves in the concept of “good enough”, a term coined by British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicot, and explore what it might be like to be a “good enough therapist”.
● The Therapeutic Relationship
Therapeutic modalities can often be dogmatic in their visions of what’s best or right for clients, so we wanted to focus on the first thing that will be important in a therapeutic process: the relationship between client and therapist. We will explore a framework which explains 5 different dynamics that take place within that relationship, to reflect on its complexity and power.
● Modality One: Psychodynamic
For each modality, we will look at their definition, clinical benefits and applications, explore a case study, and engage in a practical activity to better understand the bridge between theory and practice.
● Modality Two: Person Centred
For each modality, we will look at their definition, clinical benefits and applications, explore a case study, and engage in a practical activity to better understand the bridge between theory and practice.
● Modality Three: CBT
For each modality, we will look at their definition, clinical benefits and applications, explore a case study, and engage in a practical activity to better understand the bridge between theory and practice.
● Skills Practice: Meaningful Conversations
In this module, we will look at the components of a meaningful conversation, including boundaries, vulnerability, curiosity, and transparency. We will also engage in a short practical exercise to experience some therapeutic techniques in real time.
Day 2: 9.30am – 4.30pm
● Modality Four: Systemic & Family Therapy
For each modality, we will look at their definition, clinical benefits and applications, explore a case study, and engage in a practical activity to better understand the bridge between theory and practice.
● Modality Five: Arts Therapies
For each modality, we will look at their definition, clinical benefits and applications, explore a case study, and engage in a practical activity to better understand the bridge between theory and practice.
● Therapy Sessions in the Media
We will look at some clips from therapy sessions in TV Shows and engage in a discussion about therapeutic approaches and techniques.
● Course Guidance
We will spend some time exploring helpful websites which include a variety of courses which individuals might wish to pursue following this introduction.
“Affirming and life changing – just the few days of insights and reflective practice have had a huge impact.”
“Highly motivating, inspiring, thought provoking, refreshingly honest.”
“I honestly can’t think of an aspect of the course that I didn’t favour.”
Upcoming Dates
Please note: Attendance is required for both weekends.
May 2024
Weekend One: Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th May
Weekend Two: Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th May
July 2024
Weekend One: Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th July
Weekend Two: Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May
September 2024
Weekend One: Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September
Weekend Two: Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th September
November 2024
Weekend One: Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th November
Weekend Two: Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November
Meet the Facilitators
Ryan Campinho Valadas
Self Space Psychoeducation Lead
Ryan is a queer-identifying and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. His approach is flexible, compassionate, and reflective. He is interested in the influence of social and cultural dynamics in our lives and uses this framework to support others in finding clarity and relief from overwhelming anxieties and pressures.
Ryan’s main intention is to facilitate people in building better connections to their identities, desires, relationships, and life journeys.
Ryan is a queer-identifying and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist. His approach is flexible, compassionate, and reflective. He is interested in the influence of social and cultural dynamics in our lives and uses this framework to support others in finding clarity and relief from overwhelming anxieties and pressures.
Ryan’s main intention is to facilitate people in building better connections to their identities, desires, relationships, and life journeys.
Sophie O'Kelly
Sophie offers a warm, grounded and comfortable space where you can reflect on difficulties and how to maintain wellbeing. She supports those struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, big life changes, relationship difficulties and loss.
Sophie’s knowledge and clear communication style help make training informative, engaging and fun. She has experience working with young people and has previously worked for the NHS.
Sophie’s knowledge and clear communication style help make training informative, engaging and fun. She has experience working with young people and has previously worked for the NHS.
Daniela Gallini
Daniela’s approach is warm, collaborative and solution-focused. She uses the creative arts when appropriate to help you communicate things that
might be hard to express in words. She believes that the key to creating lasting change is in improving the quality of your relationships and helping you notice the patterns that make you feel stuck. Daniela has worked within the NHS and has experience helping clients manage depression, anxiety , addiction, ADHD and trauma.
After working with companies for many years, she is experienced in managing work-related issues such as impostor syndrome , stress and work-related conflict. As a systemic practitioner, Daniela is confident working with couples, individuals and families.
After working with companies for many years, she is experienced in managing work-related issues such as impostor syndrome , stress and work-related conflict. As a systemic practitioner, Daniela is confident working with couples, individuals and families.
Kate Hogan
Kate has practised as an integrative therapist for 9 years and a Coach for 3. She helps clients navigate modern life and relationships. As well as running her own practice, she’s worked as an in- house coach for a Creative Industries accelerator program plus with an HIV charity and and various corporations. Additionally, she leads private and corporate workshops covering areas such as stress management, resilience and work/life balance. Kate has been part of the Self Space Psycho-Education team since October last year.
Kate’s approach is warm, nurturing and often playful with a strong practical element.
Kate’s approach is warm, nurturing and often playful with a strong practical element.
Beatrice Mascione
Beatrice is a warm and down to earth integrative therapist. With a dynamic and jargon free approach, she focuses on exploring and challenging what stands between you and the life you want. She believes you always hold the power to write the next chapter, no matter what your story has been.
With a 10-year experience supporting adults and adolescents across London, Beatrice is confident in working with a wide variety of psychological issues. She now specialises in working with self-sabotage and dismantling the thoughts, habits and behaviours that hold you back. At Self Space, she sees clients 1:1 alongside being part of the psychoeducation team
With a 10-year experience supporting adults and adolescents across London, Beatrice is confident in working with a wide variety of psychological issues. She now specialises in working with self-sabotage and dismantling the thoughts, habits and behaviours that hold you back. At Self Space, she sees clients 1:1 alongside being part of the psychoeducation team
Roice Durand
Roice (she/her) is a Systemic and Family psychotherapist with an interest in building on individual and family strengths in approaching the past and present complexities of life. Roice’s working experience is diverse and includes working with people regarding cultural difference and identity, grief including ambiguous loss, racial trauma, community trauma, sexual identity, anxiety, depression, and difficulties faced during significant life transitions: relationship breakdown, leaving home, parenthood & employment changes. She has an interest in the way we relate to ourselves, and others, and these experiences are felt within our bodies.
Roice is empathetic and energetic in her approach to support others to understand these experiences and gain a sense of control over ourselves when our bodies are overwhelmed by emotions.
Roice is empathetic and energetic in her approach to support others to understand these experiences and gain a sense of control over ourselves when our bodies are overwhelmed by emotions.
Siggy Verelst
Siggy is an integrative therapist with 12 years of experience in adult and adolescent therapy. She focuses on generating greater self-understanding and self-love and is interested in the development of one’s own uniqueness. She is skilled in dealing with the complexities of life and contrasting feelings and desires, as well as seemingly trivial issues that can trigger big feelings of anxiety and self-doubt.
Siggy’s clients feel comfortable and seen during their therapy sessions, thanks to her warm and welcoming approach. She’s interested in what makes us humans feel contented and alive. Siggy specialises in relationships, purpose, identity, fears and phobias, infidelity, dating, existential confusion, anxiety, self-esteem and confidence.
Siggy’s clients feel comfortable and seen during their therapy sessions, thanks to her warm and welcoming approach. She’s interested in what makes us humans feel contented and alive. Siggy specialises in relationships, purpose, identity, fears and phobias, infidelity, dating, existential confusion, anxiety, self-esteem and confidence.
