| Maturity |
The National College looks to recruit from mature individuals, suitably qualified and motivated. Some experience of the world, and its ways, may usefully preface almost any course of higher education and subsequent career or career change. Such maturity may help ensure greater objectivity in choices with, consequently, more fulfilling outcomes. |
| Value |
Perhaps this is particularly true in the case of psychotherapy. Remorselessly following a conventional route - school/college, university, professional training - may produce a relatively youthful academic, trained at great expense, having little in common with, even alienated from, the great bulk of the population. To see a return against such a therapist's substantial investment in time and money, there may be a temptation to offer lengthy and expensive therapy to the wealthy. Our course structure reflects this concern. Trainees do not pay in advance for the whole course (which can cause financial distress and difficulties should they subsequently wish to withdraw), but are able to budget by paying for the course stage by stage. |
Non-
dogmatic |
Because most of us are, at best, of modest means (which circumstance may, itself, cause or aggravate psychological distress), we need access to a popular therapy. This therapy should be non-dogmatic, comparatively short in duration, but with a long history of successful application. Its practitioners should be "pups" (pragmatic, utilitarian psychotherapists) trained to the high standards which typify graduates of the National College. |
| Flexible |
This eclectic cum integrative approach to training is prompted by practical and theoretical considerations indicative of the likely direction of psychotherapy in days to come. Whilst respecting all legitimate psychotherapeutic models, the National College believes that to adopt a single model does present problems. When central concepts of any particular model are challenged, even by "insiders", a dilemma is faced by its adherents. They may choose to disregard the challenge, or adapt to the new thinking. Either route is open to criticism, and likely to lead to sterile in-fighting. A further possible weakness of the single model approach is that it requires clients to be existing believers in, or effective converts to, that model. There would be little point in a client who does not believe in the concept of the "unconscious" consulting a psychotherapist whose entire practice is built upon that concept; and the converse would apply. In either instance, an approach to a National College graduate should result in a flexible response, where the client's view is paramount, not the therapist's. Given the constraints of time and money within the National Health Service, it is not surprising that the eclectic model is amongst those finding favour, "...It is informed by more than one theoretical framework...and constitutes a large proportion of the work undertaken in the NHS..." [NHS Executive (1996) NHS Psychotherapy Services in England, Summary of Strategic Policy, Department of Health] |
These are some of the considerations which have prompted the National College's approach to training, whether the potential graduate hopes to work in the public or private sector, or some combination of the two.
Our professional reputation
| Be Selective |
Before engaging in any programme of training you owe it to yourself to be selective in deciding to whom that training is to be entrusted. Even if you propose to study only for general interest, your time, money and effort should be well-spent. Where the intended outcome is to obtain professional status within a profession serving the general public in ever greater numbers, your entire future career may well depend upon this one decision. |
| Quality |
Whilst it is hoped that our arguments will influence your decision in favour of the National College, our position, of course, is not disinterested. However, you need not rely solely upon our assessment of the College's qualities. Our office is happy to supply examples of the kind of comments frequently made about us in specialist publications and the popular media. |
| Standards |
Most important of all, perhaps, are the views of the National College expressed by non-partisan, but specialist authorities. The fact of our British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education accreditation (see External Accreditation page ), and the recognition of our training standards by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, speak for themselves; they should confirm that you need not rely only on our assurance of the quality of the service we offer to prospective therapists and, through them, the public at large. |
Though our work is serious, our classes
are always fun, yet thought provoking
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