Foundation Certificate in Couple Counselling and Psychotherapy

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.

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)

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.

"It was excellent and I actively encourage people to come on this course. I feel the combination of journal, tutorials, seminars and group therapy along with reading lists meant that so many aspects of our behaviour were considered as we worked through the themes of this course structure. It’ a wonderful experience and I miss it already!"

"My first experience of something like this and I was very pleasantly surprised. Felt connected to the group and the trainers. Felt engaged all the time and involved. The leaders really got the most out of the platform... Very valuable introductory experience. Tons of food for thought regarding what I do in my future, and reflections to take into my personal life."

"I’ve really loved the time I’ve spent doing this and feel a real sense of accomplishment."

Lorna Robinson

Lorna Robinson is a couple psychoanalytic psychotherapist and individual psychodynamic psychotherapist. Formerly a literary journalist, she trained as a psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships and has been on the faculty staff since 2018. She has responsibility for programming TR's public events, including workshops, lectures, interviews and conferences, which she also chairs.

She works in the clinical service as a therapist and supervisor, and as a tutor and seminar leader on the psychodynamic training and a tutor on the psychoanalytic training. She is on the editorial board of the journal Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, where she is also the book reviews editor.