Our professional Diploma in Integrated Counselling and Psychological Therapy is a high-quality, professional training designed to provide a contemporary and practice-based pathway for those who wish to become professional practitioners in the counselling and psychological therapy field. Delivered by expert practitioners, it offers a solid grounding in person-centred counselling/psychotherapy with an emphasis on the integration of contemporary CBT models focusing on compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). It offers participants the ability to work in a range of ways with different client difficulties and experiences. It is based on a pluralistic perspective informing much contemporary research and practice in the area of mental health.
The programme is informed by both counselling and applied psychology traditions in theory, knowledge and research. It has evolved from practice and focuses on developing skills and competences relevant to being and working as a professional practitioner in an active therapeutic context.
Programme modules
Year 1
Introduction to Person Centred Therapy (IPCT) provides a comprehensive introduction to the development and theory of person centred therapy, including its philosophical position, theory of personality and development, theory of therapy, and some contemporary developments in relation to therapeutic practice.
Understanding Therapy (UT) introduces the wider history and development of counselling and psychological therapy, including its theoretical and philosophical underpinnings, some of the developmental and personality theories that relate to it, and some of the key aspects of counselling practice.
Core Skills Practice 1 (CSP1) offers a significant and in-depth introduction to the therapeutic skills necessary to undertake counselling work in a clinical setting. The focus is on person-centred therapeutic skills, including the ability to offer empathy, unconditional positive regard, and remain congruent in the therapeutic encounter.
Managing Therapeutic Relationships 1 (MTR1) provides a framework for developing the skills involved in the establishment, maintenance, and ending of an effective and ethical counselling relationship. This includes a focus on assessment and contracting, building an effective therapeutic alliance, managing ruptures, understanding boundaries, and conducting endings. These skills are explored in an applied way and with reference to working with common mental health presentations.
Contemporary Approaches in Mental Health 1 (CAMH1) explores the wider context of counselling practice, including a focus on the contemporary mental health context, critical perspectives, power, anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice, and the role of evidence and research in supporting good practice.
Personal and Professional Development 1 (PPD1) is designed to support students to develop self-understanding, and support personal reflection and growth as part of their progression towards professional practice. It also focuses on the integration of personal management skills and professional behaviours, as part of becoming a practitioner with an ethical base and the ability to reflect on self in a fluid and open way.
Year 2
Integration in Therapy (IT) focuses on the philosophical basis and models of integration, the history and development of Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and their integration into a core person-centred model. This includes their theoretical and philosophical underpinnings, some of the developmental and personality theories that relate to them, and some of the key ways in which therapeutic interventions are created and delivered.
Core Skills Practice 2 (CSP2) offers an introduction to the integration of additional therapeutic skills to enhance counselling work in a clinical setting. The focus is on Compassion-Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the experiential and behavioural interventions these models offer.
Managing Therapeutic Relationships 2 (MTR2) provides a continued framework for developing the skills involved in the establishment, maintenance and ending of an effective and ethical therapeutic relationship. These skills are explored in an applied way and with reference to working with common mental health presentations.
Contemporary Approaches in Mental Health 2 (CAMH2) provides a continued and advanced exploration of the wider context of counselling practice, including a continued focus on contemporary mental health contexts and critical perspectives on features of identity, difference, diversity, privilege and oppression, and the role of evidence and research in supporting good practice.
Personal and Professional Development 2 (PPD2) offers a continued focus on the integration of personal management skills and professional behaviours as part of becoming a practitioner with integrity, an ethical base, and the ability to reflect on self in a fluid and open way. There is a focus on employability and future practice.
Length and structure
The programme is offered on a part-time basis over two years starting in October 2026. It will be delivered via nine weekends (Sat/Sun) of in-person teaching/learning over the year, located in our Hill Street training venue in Edinburgh. This will be supplemented by a weekly online session (Thursdays), an intensive personal and professional development retreat week in Perthshire in year one (venue tbc) and a CPD week at our Hill Street (Edinburgh) training centre in year two .
Placements
Students will be required to undertake a minimum of 100 hours of supervised clinical practice over the duration of the programme. This will be undertaken in placements located within First Psychology's Community Clinic.
Placement work will normally start in October of year two and require a commitment of four hours a week (normally 3-4 clients) until completed, following a ‘readiness to practice’ assessment.
Professional registration
The programme has been designed to meet the requirements of British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) programme accreditation, which would allow all graduates to become BACP registered. An application will be made towards this once the first cohort of students has completed all elements of the programme, in line with BACP requirements. In the meantime, the programme will support students to apply for the BACP certificate of proficiency in integrative counselling and psychological therapy that has been designed to support graduates meet the requirements for individual registration with the BACP where a course does not have formal accreditation. This is in line with current BACP process (see www.bacp.co.uk/membership/registered-membership/certificate-of-proficiency/).
Upon completion of the programme, students will be eligible to apply for employment opportunities in the third sector, the NHS and occupational health services, or to work as an independent practitioner. Opportunities will also be available to apply to join the First Psychology Training Academy in an employed practitioner role.
Graduate associateship
All graduates from the programme will be eligible to become a graduate associate with First Psychology Training, gaining access to free CPD, networking events and conferences delivered by First Psychology alongside mentoring and support relating to career development. This will apply for three years following the date of completion of the programme.
Who should apply and entrance requirements
The programme is suitable for graduates in a relevant or appropriate discipline (psychology, healthcare, social science, etc,) with some experience in a caring/supportive role and a keen interest in working in the mental health field
The programme is also suitable for those with considerable work experience/professional skills wishing to move toward establishing a new career in counselling and psychological therapy.
In order to meet the academic components of the programme we would expect all applicants to have undertaken previous study, ideally at graduate or masters level or via a significant number of professional development courses alongside significant work experience. Some previous training in counselling/listening skills will be expected along with a clear and demonstrable rationale for undertaking a professional training in integrative counselling and psychological therapy at this time. We would normally expect an applicant to have undertaken some personal development work or therapeutic activity at some point prior to applying.
Number of places
There are a maximum of 16 places.
Cost
The programme will cost £4500 per year (including VAT, where applicable), including all teaching, assessment and administration. Clinical supervision for placements is also included. Additional costs will be: personal therapy costs, books and equipment, travel/accommodation to week-long retreat in year one.
A non-refundable deposit of £250 must be paid on acceptance of a place on the programme and this will be counted towards the year one fee. The full fee is payable in a single instalment during enrolment, prior to the commencement of the course. More details will be provided at the enrolment stage.
Thinking of applying for our diploma course?
Join us for our live Open Day Event on 9 April 2026 at 6.30pm BST where we will answer any questions you may have and give you an insight into the course.You can also find out more in our 2026 prospectus which also contains a link to our online application form.
The closing date for applications: Friday 15 May 2026
