I've completed 450 hours of client work as part of doctoral-level study research at London's prestigious City University of London, I've completed the clinical work of this 3-year programme. This is the highest level of applied psychology training for both short-term (counselling) and longer-term (psychotherapy) work. 

I completed a 2-year, part-time programme at Birkbeck, University of London with Distinction. The course included coursework and practical application of:

• Person-Centred and Humanistic approaches:  Rogerian person-centred counselling, Transactional Analysis

• Psychodynamic approaches:  use of psychological defences, transference, counter-transference, object-relations etc.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):  the fundamentals of thought-emotion-behaviour interactions

• Group and Organisational dynamics: the fundamentals of group behaviour

To compliment existing CBT training, I completed a 1-year intensive hypnotherapy training at the UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy. The diploma covered 3 phases:

1. Hypnosis fundamentals: induction, delivery, crafting suggestions with clients, awakening etc.

2. Behavioural approaches:  relaxation techniques, assertiveness training, stress inoculation etc.

3. Cognitive approaches:  changing thoughts and beliefs using CBT techniques

What I learnt on this diploma made me a better CBT therapist as it covered many of the same CBT models covered in university courses, but reinforced with practical application practice for every technique and mandatory real-world case studies for certification.  

EVERY time I did an imagery-based exercise with NHS clients, they would tell me how relaxing it was and how my voice was so soothing. I owe this to my hypnotherapy training!

I completed a 4-year part-time Psychology degree at Birkbeck University.  I think Birkbeck is fantastic as their evening study option facilitated my career transition from the finance industry into counselling psychology.   The degree, of course, covered fundamental modules like: developmental, social, biopsychology (brain functions) and many, MANY research modules.

Initially, I dreaded statistics and experienced anxiety about in the first few weeks as to whether I could cope with all the 'science and maths'.  Turns out, I can and my research grades, lab reports and dissertation were instrumental  in graduating with a Distinction.  

My postgraduate diploma and supervised clinical work awarded me the skillset to register with the UK's main therapy registration body. BACP helps ensure their registered members have the necessary training and skillset to provide ethical psychotherapy services to clients. 

This level of membership is awarded to Psychology programme graduates from approved Universities who meet the BPS standards.

This qualification is the hypnotherapy training equivalent of BACP membership.