This is an established and popular training which The Albany Centre has been running since 2014.
Key Features
- Two year course: Held over nine weekends and one 5-day intensive residential experience per year. Entry in to the third year is possible based on previous training acquired.
- Weekend format: One weekend a month over nine months plus a end of year intensive residential experience. Weekends will run from Friday 7:00pm until Sunday 4:40pm (non residential) thus: Fridays 7:00-9:50pm, Saturdays 10:00am-7:30pm, Sundays 10:00am-4:40pm. Each intensive residential will run from Thursday 7:00 pm until Monday lunchtime
Topics covered include
- Loss and bereavement including working with traumatic loss, infertility, death and dying and bereavement by suicide
- Sex and sexuality including working with sexual diversity
- Gender and gender diversity
- Addiction including drugs and alcohol, food etc.
- Attachment and working with fractured and traumatic attachment experiences in our clients including this who have been fostered or adopted and those that have suffered abuse and neglect
- Trauma both acute and chronic
- Understanding and working with neuro-diversity i.e. people who are on the Autistic spectrum and those with learning disabilities
Next Course dates
(October 2025 intake)
Weekend 1 17th 18th 19th October 2025
Weekend 2 14th 15th 16th November 2025
Weekend 3 12th 13th 14th December 2025
Weekend 4 16th 17th 18th January 2026
Weekend 5 20th 21st 22nd February 2026
Weekend 6 20th 21st 22nd March 2026
Weekend 7 24th 25th 26th April 2026
Weekend 8 15th 16th 17th May 2026
Weekend 9 12th 13th 14th June 2026
Residential 2nd – 6th July 2026 (5 day residential)
The lead tutor
Jon Wilson Cooper started his professional therapeutic career in the mid-80s working in therapeutic communities with people with severe mental health difficulties as well as drug and alcohol problems. Over the next two decades he worked as a manager and consultant/trainer all over England, for two years in America and a year in India. He started formally supervising others from 1990 and continues conducting therapeutic and management supervision to this day.
Jon graduated as a Gestalt psychotherapist in 1995 and set up in private practice; this includes one to one therapy and supervising individuals and groups of counsellors/psychotherapists working with a wide range of client groups and with diverse theoretical orientations.
Jon went on to gain a a qualification in supervision with a postgraduate certificate in Professional Practice (with merit at level 7 masters) awarded by University College Plymouth 15th January 2010.
Jon was Head of the Foundation Degree in Person Centred counselling at Harrow College for a decade and was later Head of the Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling at The Metanoia Institute, London.
Jon is also Director of The Albany Centre and was previously the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Signpost Youth Counselling Service for three years.
Guest speakers
Guest speakers are invited to take part throughout the course hired for their particular expertise in certain areas; this may include for example a trainer with a specialism in working with trauma, a legal expert, someone with experience of disabilities. Not all guest speakers will be therapists necessarily (though most will) but all will have unique knowledge and experience in their field and hence valuable insight into the human condition.
Testimonials
“Excellent experience, allowing for learning about the profession as well as huge personal growth and understanding too.”
Katrina, 2023
“The Course exceeded my expectations. I have learnt a great deal about Gestalt therapy as well as addressing my own issues and the results have been life changing.”
Catherine, 2023
“Amazing and life changing.”
Costas, 2023
“Stimulating and fun. Positive, non-judgmental atmosphere. Very good learning experience.”
Jane, 2017
“Definitely the best course I have ever done. Thoroughly enjoyable and challenging but also personalised – I felt it met my needs and I could choose what and how I learnt.”
Emma, 2016
“I have felt supported throughout.”
Ellen, 2016
Entry Requirements
Prospective students must either have completed and passed our Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills One Year Course or an equivalent training consisting of at least 150 in person classroom hours at another training establishment.
Qualified counsellors from other programmes can apply to enter our second year.
To find out more about our Foundation Year Click Here
Assessment
Assessment is continuous in terms of skills & fitness to practice and there is a formal piece of written work at the end of each year in addition to journals and project work throughout.
Course Fees
The fees for 2024-2025 are £4300.00 per year including the full cost of the residential retreat. (The Albany Centre also provides free refreshments throughout all trainings).
Fees can be paid in instalments by monthly standing order with a non-refundable deposit to secure a place (ie total yearly fee of £4300.00 comprises £1420.00 non-refundable deposit on enrolment plus 12 months of £240.00 per month).
Please note that accepting a place and joining the programme commits the individual for one year so that the student is liable for that year’s fees whether or not they continue/complete the year.
A 5% discount will be available for those wishing to pay the full year’s fees up front (£4085.00) – (bank details for BACS payments are HSBC, sort code 40-40-01, account 42200066). Please note the fees increase slightly year on year to keep pace with rising costs and the amount of increase will be decided by January of each year for the following academic year.
If you have more questions or need more information please follow the next links:
Course Requirements FAQ Speakers