Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling

Introduction

This Diploma level training focuses on the counselling relationship and the self-development of the counsellor. It is designed to prepare students for the intensity and complexity of working at relational depth, whether in time-limited or longer-term work, with clients aged 18 and older.

Students are taught using experiential learning methods, combined with core readings and handouts. The aim is to bring the concepts to life and enhance self-awareness through self-reflection. Students are required to engage with agency placements, regular supervision and individual weekly counselling or psychotherapy. In the second year of the Diploma, students begin in private practice with the support of tutors and a supervisor.

Our theoretical approach integrates concepts and ways of working from Humanistic and Psychodynamic traditions. We draw on the work of Klein, Winnicott, Bowlby, Jung, Erikson, Stern, Lowen and Rogers, as well as more contemporary theorists from Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Attachment and Body Process theory.

Course Structure

This three year course is taught in person, one day a week over two academic years. Students have until the March, two years after completion of year 2, to prepare their Diploma submission papers. During this time, they will be expected to continue in supervised practice and in their personal therapy.

A minimum of 8 hours private practice with one client must be completed in order to be awarded the Diploma. An additional element of online and telephone counselling is now being incorporated into the training. This requires specific conditions for participation: - the need for good internet connection; suitable technology/devices; technical ability to work online; and a private space to attend online training sessions and /or for OPT (Online & Phone Therapy) sessions if remote client work at the student's home is required/allowed.

The BCPC Diploma is awarded to students who have passed all elements of the course and achieved a minimum of 150 supervised practice hours in an agency setting and met the private practice requirements. At least 51% of the total practice hours needs to be ‘in person’ work with clients. The Diploma is a BACP accredited course and as such BCPC graduates are automatically eligible to become BACP Registered Counsellors on completion. Dual accreditation of the training by BACP and UKCP enables graduates to work towards either BACP Accredited status or to become UKCP Registered as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. Both of these routes require a total of 450 clinical hours upon application.

Students are expected to complete written and practical assignments which include audio critiques of client work, and essays that demonstrate relating theory to practice and personal development. Students are also required to keep a personal reflective journal.

Skills practice places emphasis on the experience of an authentic relationship between counsellor and client. This is developed through group and individual feedback processes. Trainees will learn skills of self-reflection and an awareness of personal, interpersonal and group dynamics through a weekly Process group in Years 1 and 2.

Students are required to be in weekly individual counselling or psychotherapy with a practitioner on the BCPC Approved Lists, throughout the course and up to submission - the cost of which is not included in the tuition fees.

Curriculum

Diploma Year 1

Length of stage: one academic year (34 day-long meetings)

In the first year, students work with clients in agency placements. Supervision for this work is sometimes provided free by the agency but students may have to pay for all or part of the cost. Students are ordinarily expected to complete approximately 50 hours of supervised counselling within the placement in Year 1 and a proportion of these may be online/telephone sessions, with the majority in person. In addition to this, students meet for experientially taught theoretical seminars, skills practice, practical application groups, process groups, and tutorials. Opportunities are given each week for students to process the emotional impact of the training.

Each student receives three tutorials (two of 25 minutes and one of 50 minutes), which take place outside of designated course time.

Students are expected to support their learning by reading all set books for the stage as well as a selection from a broader reading list. We recommend allowing four hours per week for such study.

Diploma Year 2

Length of stage: one academic year (34 day-long meetings)

The training in the second year continues to integrate theory, practice and self-reflection through seminars, supervision groups and Process Group. There is particular emphasis on finding ways of working at relational depth in short-term contracts, enabling students to find appropriate work in organisational settings. Students continue to gain counselling experience in the agency placement and again a proportion of these hours may be online/telephone sessions, with the majority in person. In the second or third term of this year, students will continue to attend fortnightly supervision (which again is not included in the course fees). Once sufficiently prepared via this process they may begin to take on private clients with the support of their tutors and individual supervisor.

Each student receives three 50-minute tutorials during the year, which take place outside of designated course time. Reading for this stage is a combination of the set books for Year 2 and a student's own developing interests in line with their dissertation subject. We recommend allowing six hours per week for study.

Diploma Year 3 

Length of stage: up to 18 months

During this stage students have up to 18 months to submit their papers for the Diploma. Tutors continue to support the students while they continue in personal counselling or psychotherapy, supervision and tutorials. Submission papers for the Diploma consist of a dissertation, case study and self-assessment, evidence of 150 supervised counselling hours, private practice hours, verification of personal therapy, and tutor, peer and supervisor reports.

Job Prospects

Many of our graduates go on to work in agency settings - some of which are offered to them as students - in primary care/G.P. surgeries and University counselling services. Others set up in private practice. Graduates also go on to specialise and take post graduate courses in work with young people, couples, or in specialist approaches to trauma such as EMDR.

What our students say:

'BCPC has provided me with an enriching environment of support and challenge. As a result, I feel I've become a skilled and reflective practitioner. The mixture of in-depth theory, experiential learning and personal therapy throughout, sets this apart from other training courses. More than becoming a counsellor, the training has been a journey towards finding myself. I feel this is key to working at depth with clients. I'm now nearing the end of my training at BCPC and have many unforgettable memories of my time here.'

Year 3 Submission student, Counselling Diploma

Entry Requirements

Interested in applying for our Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling? Visit our Entry Requirements page to find out more.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: 01 May 2025

Below is a brief guide on how to apply. For detailed information, especially concerning application deadlines, interview dates and course dates, please download the Course Information Sheet via the link at the top of this page.

External applicants

Please download the External Application Form and email it, along with your essay, to officemanager@bcpc.org.uk

Please note we charge a £45 non-refundable application fee. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you following receipt of your application. Two references, submitted on BCPC reference forms are required. This should be one from a previous tutor or employer and one personal and cannot be from a family member or therapist. The reference form template will be emailed to you following receipt of your application. Applicants will be shortlisted for interview on the basis of their applications.

Internal applicants

For students who have completed our Foundation Certificate, please download and complete our Internal Application Form and email it to officemanager@bcpc.org.uk

Please note we charge a £45* non-refundable application fee and this should be sent when you submit your application by BACS or cheque. If we do not receive your payment at the time of your application, we will send a reminder. Otherwise, please take it that your payment has been received. Two references are required; one from your current Foundation Tutor (please let them know about your application) on the Tutor reference form and one from a person other than either of your referees for Foundation. Please send this person this reference form and ask them to return it to the BCPC Office as soon as possible.

Once you have submitted your application you will get an acknowledgement email to confirm that it was successfully received. If you have any questions about the process or the application form please contact admin@bcpc.org.uk or telephone 01225 429 720.

If you do not hear from us within 3 working days following submission of your application, please email admin@bcpc.org.uk to check we have received it.

Interviews

Our interview day is structured as a workshop-style experience. Applicants will be short-listed for interview on the basis of their applications. Please note that the next interview day is 03 June 2025. We are unable to offer alternative interview dates.

BCPC welcomes applications from a diverse range of students, particularly from underrepresented groups. Students with disabilities are also encouraged to apply. We will discuss your particular requirements in order to identify and accommodate reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate fully. Our premises are partially wheelchair accessible.

*subject to increase