| 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 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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