COURSE SYLLABUS

The syllabus for the PHTA Diploma is very wide in its scope, covering a broad range of skills and techniques. The first year lays the foundations for the training, and includes counselling skills training, an introduction to hypnotherapy and NLP, plus additional skills. In the second year students build on their foundation to learn more advanced hypnotherapy and NLP techniques plus a range of other treatment strategies, including practice building.

Year 1.

February*: Depression. We all know the word depression, it is in common usage and we all think we know what it means. But do we? This module explores what is deemed to be one our most common psychological illnesses, who it effects, and why. Therapists need to understand depression in all it’s guises, be able to offer assistance where appropriate and know when to seek more specialised help.
Sleep and Dreams. Everyone dreams, is there any significance to this, do they have meaning? Is it useful to be able to interpret them? What about sleep? Do we sleep too much or have insufficient? Does this affect our mental health? We explore the connections including those with depression.

March*: Ethics and Expectations. Working as a therapist sounds attractive but what does this mean? What rules govern your practice, how do you conduct yourself? What about that first telephone enquiry, or even the first counselling session? All of these things and more are explored in a group situation, enabling you to gain confidence when you start seeing people.
Are the therapist and the client seeking the same things? What support is required and is available when you work as a therapist? These and other connected issues are explored, during this module.

April*: Behaviour Therapy. Working to help the client actively alter unwanted behaviour. Helping yourself and your client to new and better ways of coping; dealing with common fears and anxieties. setting targets and achieving goals - leading to increased self confidence.

May* – October: Counselling Skills. The foundation underlying all therapy, counselling includes the art of listening, and the skills to enable the client to talk through their problems in an atmosphere of understanding, enabling them to reach their own conclusions. Students learn a range of counselling skills, including counselling from the psychodynamic, existential and person centred perspectives. You emerge with the ability to apply the style best suited to each individual client. Students work in pairs, threes and small groups. They act as client, counsellor and observer. Students discover that much personal growth takes place in this section, monitoring their own reactions and feelings towards the different 'schools of thought'.

November*: Hypnotherapy. An introduction to hypnosis and a look at the history. Definitions, myths and misconceptions, hypnotic language and the use of voice. The Ericksonian approach, indirect and direct suggestions. Signs of trance, the unconscious mind and left and right brain. Different hypnotic inductions and suggestibility tests.

December: Hypnotherapy. More induction methods, including rapid inductions, and deepening techniques. Initial consultations/questions. Clean and creative language, modalities and submodalities. Ideomotor responses and guided imagery. Contraindications.

January: Hypnotherapy. Abreactions, post hypnotic suggestions, metaphor, smoking and weight loss.

Module 13: Neuro Linguistic Programming. An introduction; modalities and health/sensory needs; submodalities; eye scan patterns; matching and mirroring; synaesthesia patterns/ anchoring. The Swish technique in three modalities.

Module 14: Neuro Linguistic Programming. NLP presuppositions; reframing/6 step reframe and applications; logical levels; well formed outcomes (goal setting); stress busting techniques for therapists and for clients/patients.The Meta model; collapsing anchors. Revision and extension of association/dissociation, double dissociation (fast phobia cure) as necessary. Cases

Module 15: Multimodal Therapy. A broad and multi faceted approach to assessment and therapy drawing on a range of specific modalities, allowing the therapist to achieve a (w)holistic understanding of an individual. Multimodal therapy goes further than just an application of a collection of techniques. It is a comprehensive, yet simple, assessment procedure which aids therapists to develop and negotiate with a client an individual programme, according to need.

* This denotes the months of student intake. Please note that there is an intake in May, but not from June to October.