About the course

Basic overview and requirements

The course is a 36-hour in-person counselling skills certificate, delivered over a ten-week period. It consists of five in-person teaching days, structured into ten learning units, and is supported by three online self-reflection groups. Its primary objective is to equip participants with the competencies necessary to work with individuals affected by European domination, such as slavery and colonialism, particularly within the British context.

Through experiential learning, participants will develop counselling skills and enhance their self-awareness. The course structure facilitates learning not only through instruction but also through active engagement in practical exercises. A significant portion of the learning occurs in small groups, where participants are encouraged, when appropriate, to share and reflect on their personal experiences.

Counselling skills can help develop insight into how to effectively support individuals who are distressed or experienced as challenging. These skills are applicable in both professional and personal contexts. Participants will practice fundamental counselling techniques, including accurately reflecting what an individual is expressing, summarising, and posing open-ended questions.

Participants will be introduced to the skill of ‘active listening’—which encompasses:

• being present with an individual while maintaining appropriate boundaries,
• refraining from imposing one’s own agenda,
• accepting what is being communicated on the individual’s terms, and at the same time, being genuine to yourself.

 

Selection for the course

Selection for courses is by application form and interview. Places are normally allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so early applications are encouraged. If a course is oversubscribed, places are allocated based on the candidate’s previous exposure to therapy, their plans and expectations following the training, and their internal and external resources to meet the potential emotional impact of the course. Applications are assessed by the course director and course facilitator.

Learning styles and neurodiverse (neuroexpansive) needs

We aim to make our course materials and teaching approaches accessible and inclusive, recognising a range of learning styles and neurodivergent ways of processing and engaging.

 

Aims

• Learning basic core counselling skills and theory, including the impact of oppression
• Exploring the damage from the legacy of British slavery, colonialism
• Linking the social, cultural, economic and political context to psychological suffering
• Empowering students to find their voice within their racial, ethnic and cultural identity
• To begin exploring how counselling can lead to healing and well-being
• To bring an ancestral, spiritual and collective focus to healing
• Recognition that oppression is a significant factor contributing to people’s distress
• Working intersectionally on our multiple identities
• Exploring the theories of African, South Asian and Caribbean practitioners.

Core Attitudes and Skills

• Developing awareness of oppression and the psychological dynamics
• Developing a capacity for empathic responses
• Identifying and responding to the impact of oppression
• Identifying and responding to the trauma of racism

The certificate in counselling skills begins the process of lifetime learning and healing

Course Content

Each session will be made up of three parts: theory, practice and self-development. In the theory seminar, you will learn about counselling skills and some key ideas in counselling theory. In the practice section, you will divide into small groups where you will practice these skills, usually with one person in the role of listener, one as a client and one or two as observers to give feedback. For personal development, there will be what is called an experiential group. This is an opportunity to explore your own response to the course, your interactions with other people and, where appropriate, the process of the group itself. This learning process can happen at any point in the workshop, but the experiential group is a place where this can be explored in more depth.

Session Preparation

To maximise the benefits of the course, participants are expected to prepare before each session by watching sections of videos and podcasts and putting together summary notes. Allow at least one hour for this.

 

Assessment

• Reflective learning journals
• An individual student presentation
• A final reflective tutorial

Course Tutors

Jasminder Bahia, Course Tutor

Dionne St. Hill, Course Supervisor

Dennis L Carney, Self-reflection group facilitator: 

 

Who Is It For

The Introductory Certificate in Counselling Skills: Decolonising Therapeutic Practice is open to those who:

• wish to learn more about what Counselling is within the context of decolonising therapeutic practice.
• want to use Counselling Skills at work or in private life, including teachers, social workers and others in the helping professions.
• are thinking about becoming a counsellor, psychotherapist or counselling psychologist. 
• have some awareness about the dynamics of oppression and privilege, including awareness of white privilege.

The course will prioritise individuals from the global majority who are new to counselling so that they make up the majority of the attendees. 

Entry Requirements

This is an open-access course. You do not need particular qualifications or work experience to attend this course. Undertaking counselling training at any level can be a psychologically as well as intellectually demanding process. Personal qualities we are looking for in trainees include:

• Openness to forming and maintaining therapeutic relationships with others.
• The ability to engage in experiential learning.
• A willingness to tolerate difference
• The capacity to develop empathy
• The ability to reflect on experiences.
• Openness to feedback from tutors and peers.

This requires a degree of psychological robustness. Having had a mental health diagnosis or difficulty in the past is not necessarily a barrier to training; however, we do need to consider whether there is a danger of the training exacerbating mental health problems in applicants. For this reason, we may ask about mental health during the application process, and BAATN reserves the right to decline admission to applicants whom we assess would not, at this time, be able to benefit from this course or for whom it might be too unsettling.

Basic structure

• 36 hrs in total that will include theory of counselling, legacy and dynamics of oppression, group process, basic listening skills and practice
• Complete a weekly reflective journal and an individual presentation

Award 

To receive a certificate of learning, students must meet the following requirements: attend at least 80% of the course sessions, complete a reflective journal, give an individual presentation, and demonstrate evidence of taking a psychological journey through the training course.

Students who have not met the criteria above will receive a letter of attendance only at the end of the course.

Other  

• As part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a reference from someone who has known them personally or professionally for at least two years.
• Additionally, an interview will be conducted to assess the applicant’s ability to work effectively in a group setting and to ensure that they understand the expectations of the course.

Career Prospects

In a work situation, you are often faced with a problem that does not require just a practical solution. The ability to listen in a skilled way that enables a person to talk about an issue is often an important first step in finding a solution. This Introductory Course will both teach you these skills and allow you to practice them so you feel confident to use them in the workplace. The skills you will learn on this course can be part of your ongoing CPD programme.

Venue

North London Group Therapy, 9 Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA – More

Further Training 

This course is a first step that acts as a gateway and a preparation for other training.

Further BAATN courses will be available in the future as below. Register your interest to attend.

• Intermediate Certificate – intermediate level course leading on from certificate level (60 hrs.)
• Advance Certificate – intermediate level course leading on from certificate level (150 hrs.)
• Diploma Course – the course will run over two years with 200 hours in each training year. The diploma will be developed to meet the criteria of a recognised registering body, (such as BACP) so students can apply to register as qualified professional members on completion (400 hrs.)

Fees

Standard rate – £585
This rate reflects the true cost of running the course.

Supported rate – £485
For those with limited income or access to funds. A few places are available at this rate.

Pay-it-forward rate – £685
For those with more financial capacity who wish to support access for others.

Please choose the rate that feels right for your circumstances. The higher rate helps make the supported places possible.

Terms and Conditions 

Once you receive a conditional offer of a place on our Introductory Certificate in Counselling Skills: Decolonising Therapeutic Practice course, you have 21 days to pay your course fee in full by bank transfer. After that deadline, if your place has not been secured by paying your fee in full, your conditional offer will be automatically moved to our waiting list.

Transfers

Students who have secured their place on a course and can no longer attend it are permitted to transfer their place once to another Introductory Certificate in Counselling Skills: Decolonising Therapeutic Practice course, as long as we are able to fill their place (please note: places are subject to availability).

Refunds 

If you withdraw within 14 days of accepting your place and more than 14 days before the course start date, your course fee will be refunded in full, provided we are able to fill your place.

If you are offered a place within 14 days of the course start date, acceptance of the place is considered a firm commitment and no refund is available.

Once the course has started, no refunds are available.

Application Enquiries

Can I still apply if I’ve missed the deadline?

It is always worth contacting admissions at decoltherapy@gmail.com  to see if we have places still available, even if you have missed the deadline.

What happens after I have applied?

Your application will be reviewed, and if it passes this initial screening, you will be invited for an interview. If you are accepted, you will be sent a contract to confirm your place on the course. Your application is complete once we have received your reference.

Do I need to prepare anything for the interview?

The purpose of the interview is for the tutors to assess your suitability for the course. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have regarding the training. Please be prepared to elaborate on anything you may have included in your application. The interview will explore your capacity for self-awareness and self-reflection, as well as your ability to engage with learning at certificate level. We will also use the interview to assess your emotional readiness to undertake the training.

Is the course suitable for someone who has not done counselling before? 

The course focuses on developing counselling skills and increasing self-awareness, making it suitable for those new to counselling training.

Is the course suitable for someone who has completed some training or is qualified?

The skills taught in the course will empower students to find their voice within their racialised, ethnic, and cultural identities. Those who have already completed training will also benefit from this context.

How many students are in a class?

We aim to have around 12 students in the class.

Can I still apply if I have had a mental health issue in the past?

Having had a mental health diagnosis or problem in the past is not necessarily a barrier to training, and some people are able to train whilst managing a level of ongoing difficulty; however, we do need to carefully consider whether there is a danger of the training exacerbating mental health problems in applicants.

We also need to consider the well-being of any current or future clients. For this reason, we will ask about mental health during the application process, and BAATN reserves the right to refuse admission to applicants whom we judge would not, at this time, be able to benefit from our training.

What level of English do I need to study on the course?

Students must be competent in the English language and able to participate fully in discussions, reflective work, and group learning conducted in English. If English is not your first language, you may be asked to demonstrate this capacity.

Is this an accredited training?

This training is not accredited. Participants will receive a certificate of learning. The course is intended to teach active listening in the context of working with people who have a legacy of European domination and as a taster for further training, such as an accredited course.

How long does it take to qualify as a counsellor or psychotherapist?

It could take at least four to five years. If you haven’t done any training in counselling/psychotherapy before, you will need to start with the Foundation certificate course.