Advanced Training in Psychotherapy within an Ecological Approach

Upon successful completion of the Foundation Year you can apply for a three-year rolling programme in Advanced Training in Psychotherapy with an Ecological Approach.

The Advanced training takes place over 10 weekends each year (Sept-June)

All Advanced psychotherapeutic theory and practice, including Transactional Analysis (TA), is held within an eco-systemic frame of reference and viewed through a lens of intersectionality.

We strongly encourage the further development of ongoing self-reflection, co-creativity, curiosity, relationality and critical thinking as a part of the learning process to become an ethical and competent psychotherapist.and ecological practitioner.

We foster a co-creative and relational learning environment through an experiential style of teaching/delivery to open up reflective spaces to stimulate your own thinking and practices. We invite deeper inquiry, active participation, curiosity and interactive dialogue within pairs/triads and the bigger group to lift your learning.

Every weekend the learning takes particular account of the ecological spaces in which we live and learn, including ‘getting on the move’ in accessible natural settings.

We have a practise-based approach to our delivery of all theory which involves critical reflection and developing advanced therapeutic skills to support the work you do with clients in both indoor and natural spaces.

All theoretical input at weekends is further consolidated and expanded upon with required reading of the teaching notes/powerpoints and within the wider literature.

We emphasise throughout the training how ‘practice’ not only refers to interventions with clients but also to our own personal practices.
You develop your own intentions and learning aims for the year with ecological and spiritual practices to support your own well-being (body-mind, soul, spirit) and the work you do as a psychotherapist and ecological practitioner.

Read Our Red Kite Learning Philosophy

All Advanced Years 1-3 cover topics in these Course Modules at greater depth and complexity:

  • Ecological Philosophy, Theory + Practices;
  • Ego states & Transactions;
  • Script & Motivation;
  • Games, Rackets & Enactments:
  • The Therapeutic Relationship:
  • Contracting & Ethical Practice:
  • Assessment + Treatment Direction;
  • Therapeutic Skills;
  • Somatic Experience & the Body;
  • Neuroscience & Human Development;
  • Approaches within TA and the wider fields;
  • Specific mental health difficulties, client issues & contexts.
  • Writing & Research.

Theoretical Learning Aims

We have a practise-based approach to our delivery of all theory which involves your own critical reflection to consider how theory might relate to and support the work you do as a psychotherapist.

  • Increase your breadth of knowledge and understanding at greater depth of psychotherapeutic theories, including TA, within an eco-systemic frame through a lens of intersectionality;
  • widen and deepen your knowledge and understanding of ecological philosophy, theory developments and practices within the wider field;
  • develop your capacities to compare, contrast and critique advanced theory and practice within TA and the wider psychotherapeutic fields.

Personal Development

We emphasise how ‘practice’ not only refers to interventions with clients but also to our own personal practices.

  • develop your own intentions and learning aims for the year with ecological and spiritual practices to support your own well-being (body-mind, soul, spirit) and reflexivity as a psychotherapist.

  • capacity to further relate and apply your learning to self, others and the more-than-human within the contexts of the wider world;

  • reflect in-depth upon your own script process and this relates to self, others and the more-than-human;

  • develop your own personal and professional identity as a psychotherapist

Practice Learning

We learn and practice advanced therapeutic skills and interventions to support the work you do with clients indoor and in natural spaces as a psychotherapist and ecological practitioner:

  • develop your identity and therapeutic style as a psychotherapist;

  • expand and deepen your ecological practices ie. rites of passage (intention, severance, threshold and return), sufficiency, containment and boundaries, risk assessment, eco-biography, discipline and ‘clean’ practice.

  • enhance your skills and competencies in contracting, assessment and treatment direction with a range of complex mental health difficulties (Axis II);

  • develop a creative and flexible understanding at greater depth of therapeutic relating, including with the more-than-human;

  • learn and practice further therapeutic skills and interventions to support the ‘internal work’ you do with clients in both indoor and natural spaces ie. presence skills, movement exercises, storytelling, ritual.

  • navigate the terrain of the psychotherapeutic process; expand the range and depth of your treatment planning and interventions to facilitate the process of change ie. deconfusion, transference cure and script cure.

  • deepen your understanding and ways of working within the transference-countertransference matrix, including the more-than-human;

  • explore the diversity of the wider dynamics and contexts which affect clients;

  • sharpen your ethical thinking and practice;

  • build effective use of Supervision in Placement and/or Private Practice.

Teaching and learning happen indoor and in natural spaces through a mixture of…

  • questions of inquiry to stimulate your own reflective and creative thinking;
  • experiential work;
  • advanced theoretical input with interactive dialogue and reflection in pairs/triads and in bigger group to lift learning;
  • advanced therapeutic skills learning and practice:
  • creative and embodied exercises in natural spaces to deepen and expand learning;
  • considering and relating all theory into psychotherapeutic practice to support the work we do with clients;
  • solo reflective exercises and journalling; 
  • required reading between weekends of teaching notes/powerpoints and within the wider psychotherapeutic and ecological literature.

We tailor our style of teaching and assessments to accommodate different learning styles and needs ie. ADD, ADHD and dyslexia.

How will I be assessed?

    • observed therapeutic skills practice both indoor and in natural spaces;

    • keeping a reflective journal, including in your own ecological space throughout the year;

    • mid-year and end of year tutorials;

    • bringing an offering of your learning to group towards end of year;

    • evidence of required reading of teaching notes/ powerpoints and wider reading at greater depth within the literature.

    • Written work for Advanced Training Years:
      • Advanced Year 1: 2 essays of 2,000 words
      • Advanced Year 2: Case Study 4,000-6.000 words.
      • Advanced Year 3: Research Proposal of 4,000-6,000 words.

    We offer individual time-scales and submission dates for all written work as discussed and agreed with the Training Director dependent your learning aims, training or qualification route and stage of development with therapeutic practice with clients ie. Voluntary Placement or seeing clients in private practice. We give support and accommodations for those with specific learning needs and neurodiversity ie. ADHD, ADD and dyslexia.

    We also offer Year Out(s) and/or Portfolio Year(s) post Advanced Years to give you further time to complete any remaining written work or other requirements for Red Kite qualifications.

    What qualifications can I attain?

    We offer different qualifications to suit the needs of individual trainees. See more details of Red Kite Awards and Training Structure here.

    Qualifications

    Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (TA)
    incorporating ecological philosophy and practices within an eco-systemic frame of reference.

    (Foundation Year + Advanced Year 1 + 2)
    A qualification for students who want to become BACP registered and move towards BACP accreditation or UKCP registration as a Psychotherapist/

    Advanced Ecological Practitioner Certificate in Psychotherapy (TA)
    incorporating ecological philosophy and practices within an eco-systemic frame of reference.

    (Foundation Year and/or Advanced Year 1/2/3 depending on APL)
    A qualification for Counsellors or Psychotherapists (Advanced TA trainees or qualified Psychotherapists (TA and other modalities) who wish to develop an ecological practice to support working in natural spaces with clients.

    Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy (TA)
    incorporating ecological philosophy and practices within an eco-systemic frame of reference.

    (Foundation Year + Advanced year 1 + 2 + 3/4)
    Qualification for those who what to apply for BACP accreditation or UKCP registration as a Psychotherapist.

    Accrediation/Registration with Professional Bodies

    UKCP registration as a Psychotherapist (Foundation Year + Advanced Years 1 + 2 + 3 with an additional Portfolio Year 4 to write your 8,000 word Case Study + complete remaining UKCP requirements)

    Students who want to become UKCP registered Psychotherapists will remain affiliated with Red Kite and apply for a Red Kite Advanced Year 4 Portfolio Year to write their 8.000 word Case Study and complete the requirements successfully attain their UKCP registration (See UKCP website or Red Kite Handbook)

    BACP accreditation as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor
    (Foundation Year + Advanced Years 1 + 2 + 3 with an additional Portfolio Year 4 to write Case Study + complete remaining requirements)

    Students who want to become BACP or NCS accredited Psychotherapeutic Counsellors can use their training at Red Kite within their application upon graduating from Red Kite and meet all their requirements (see BACP or NCS websites for requirements and application process)

    Certified Transactional Analyst (Specialising in Psychotherapy)
    (Foundation Year + Advanced Years 1 + 2 + 3 and then going onto prepare for CTA exam group)

    For those who are interested in becoming a Certified Transactional Analyst you can use your training/qualifications from Red Kite towards this qualification. The next step after your 4 years of formal training would be to find a TA Principal Supervisor external to Red Kite to prepare for the written and oral CTA exam and this would also gain you registration with UKCP.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the dates for the next Advanced Years Training Group?

    2023

    • September 16th and 17th South Liverpool
    • October 21st and 22nd South Liverpool
    • November 18th and 19th South Liverpool
    • December 16th and 17th South Liverpool

    2024

    • January 20th and 21st South Liverpool
    • February 10th and 11th South Liverpool
    • March 9th and 10th South Liverpool
    • April 12th to 14th – residential at Shining Cliff Woods in Peak District (from Friday 2.00 to Sunday 3.00)
    • May 11th and 12th South Liverpool
    • June 22nd and 23rd South Liverpool

    Who will my Trainer(s) be?

    Carol Wain (Principal Trainer);

    Hayley Marshall (Core Trainer);

    Visiting Trainers to be decided.

    How much do the Advanced Years cost?

    £2,650 for the whole year from Sept-June. The deposit is £550.00 paid to book your place (this in non-refundable). You can either pay in full or set up a standing order of £210.00 over 10 months.  

    How do I apply for a place?

    1. Fill in enquiry form to introduce yourself to us; before applying the Training Director is happy to have a brief informal chat with you.

    2. Complete and return the Red Kite Application Form found here.

    3. Send a CV which should include:

    • training and qualifications;
    • details of relevant work and life experience;
    • the 2 referees who you contact for references, one professional and the other personal.

    4. Write a brief personal statement giving an outline of their objectives in undertaking training.

    5. We will process your application to make an initial assessment of your suitability for the training we offer at Red Kite.

    6. Conditional on this assessment, we will offer you a formal interview with the Training Director. This interview forms the basis of Red Kite assessment of an applicant’s suitability for training and also provides an opportunity for the applicant to find out more about the requirements of psychotherapy training and the Red Kite training programme in particular.

    How do I pay for my place?

    Booking system – £550.00 deposit to book place (non-refundable). Standing order £210.00 paid over 10 months. We will send you the Red Kite bank details upon offering you a place on the course.

    What is the location?

    Greenbank Sports Academy, Greenbank Lane, Liverpool, L17 1AG (see directions here) The course will be on ZOOM if Covid restrictions do not allow.

    Is there car parking?

    There is free car parking at Greenbank college or Greenbank Sports Academy or round Sefton Park

    Where is the nearest train station or bus route?

    The nearest train stations are St Michael’s or Mossley Hill.

    What are the timings of the training days?

    10am to 5pm.  Please arrive at 9:45 on Saturday for registration.

    Do I need to bring my own refreshments/lunch?

    Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided at the beginning of the day and at mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks.

    You can bring lunch or there are shops/cafés nearby.  Directions will be given on the day.  There is an on-site cafeteria open on Saturday only.

    Is there any pre-course reading or handouts?

    Comprehensive handouts, PowerPoints, teaching notes, reading list will be given to you as part of the training. Please bring pen and notebook for your own notes.

    Enquire Online

    If you are interested in booking onto a course, the first step is to fill in the form below, we will then call you to discuss everything.