Train as a Psychotherapist
Training Structure: 10 weekends/140 hours of core training a year for four years. 560 total core training hours. Additional hours of tutorials, supervision, CPD and therapy are also required.
We also run a further fifth year + to support your Professional Development and work towards your Certification as a Transactional Analyst and/or UKCP certification.
Course Description: This training is intended for students who plan to pursue a professional career as counsellors or psychotherapists practising TA. This course enables trainees to work safely and ethically in private practice or the statutory/voluntary sectors.
Successful completion of the four-year training leads to an assessment process and the option to apply for inclusion in the National Register of Psychotherapists published by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
In their third year, students may also achieve their UKATA Diploma on completion of all assignments, client work, oral assessment, therapy and supervision requirements. They may then choose to apply for BACP membership as a counsellor subject to having completed the required practice hours.
The final assessments occur after the 4-year training has been successfully completed. There are two routes that both lead to registration with the UKCP as a psychotherapist.
The first qualifies you as a humanistic psychotherapist registered with the UKCP.
The second leads to the additional Certification as a Transactional Analyst psychotherapist. This qualification is also recognised by the European Association for TA and the International Association for TA.
After completion of the training, an exam group supports trainees to prepare for their final exam.
Extra Requirements: The UKCP requires 160 hours of personal therapy during training (40 hours a year) as we must know ourselves to practice at depth with clients. Supervision hours are at a ratio of 1:6 (supervision: clinical practice). Clinical practice to qualify is 200 hours (UKATA Diploma), 450 hours (UKCP registration), 750 hours (Certification as a Transactional Analyst). You are required to be a member of UKATA and EATA - our UK and European associations.
PDE Course Description online and face to face: This course is an opportunity to process your four years training and consolidate your professional practice. For some people this means client work, developing your identity and collegiate relationships. For others this will mean writing their UKCP registration case study or CTA exam in the context of a supportive group. A tutor runs this professional day by contracting with group for what they want at the beginning of each session. There are options for personal and professional process, client case studies, practice for oral exams, practice for presentations that you are preparing for a conference, developing and analysing theory.
Next four year psychotherapy training Begins: September 2027
Applications Open: November 1st 2026
Applications Close: May 31st 2027.
Application Process: Written application followed by two interviews.
Training costs for psychotherapy training per year:
£2,500 (advanced training)
£2,700 (foundation training as this includes extra tutorial support during the year.)
(Training costs can be spread out over the year.)
Professional Development and Exam Group costs per year:
This is run over 9 Sundays and currently costs £1200
Everything you need to know to train as a psychotherapist...
If you'd like to train as a psychotherapist via our psychotherapy qualification, you are in the right place.
Please see all the relevant information below regarding training as a psychotherapist at our stunning location in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Train as a Psychotherapist
Training in transactional analysis psychotherapy is a life changing experience that will transform your clinical practice. Applications can be from qualified counsellors and individuals who have a passion for transforming lives through mental health.
Sample of four year curriculum
Year 1 - Self
Group identity. Philosophy and history of TA.
Classical School (1)
Script development and the inarticulate cry
Ethics and self-reflection.
Integrative approach and the body
Working with trauma
Working with addiction
Bereavement
Working outside walls - early clinical practice outdoors.
Year 2 - Others
Adult ego state
Classical TA (2).
Diagnosis - what is it?
Ethics - High Dare - High Care
Transference and object relations
Eating Disorders
Personality Adaptations
Depression and Impasses
Transpersonal TA
Year 4 - Professional Practice
Person-centred theories, and TA
Reparenting and Cathexis
Ethics, Roles and boundaries
Working at depth with groups/constellations.
Treatment Planning
Working with high risk clients and suicide
Dreams
What is empathy?
The archetypes of nature - working with the more than human.
Year 3 - Clinical Practice
Co-creative TA and co-transference
Redecision and two chairs
Working with Anxiety
Parent ego state
Narcissistic and borderline presentations
Couples (1)
Couples (2) - research module
Child ego state and depth
The art of forgiveness - Desmond Tutu's work.
The tenth weekend every year invites all four training years to a celebration. This includes presentations, completion certificates and rituals to mark the end of a successful year.
A TA101 is required for application and entry
Counselling experience or attendance at our summer counselling skills course is required prior to entering placement
Application process below
If you would like to train as a psychotherapist with us, we have a rigorous application process for admission to the first year of training in Transactional Analysis psychotherapy.
These are the steps you will need to take:
Written application (please see button below for Google Form)
Completion of a TA 101 (we suggest that you attend a TA101 either with one of the staff at TAC, as this will give you a better sense of how we train, and mean that we can get to know you during your application process.
Choice of online or face-to-face interviews, with a discussion with the director at TAC.
Please note: Applications are now for intake September 2026 - 2027
We offer places as we receive applications; spaces are very limited, so early application is recommended.
Have further questions?
Please use the contact form below to ask us
