Turning Point Institute

Commencing in September each year, the four-year MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy is currently the flagship programme for Turning Point Institute. At TPI, we believe in the ability of the individual to actualise within a developmental and transpersonal framework and be guided by their own ability to effect change. Our integrative approach is embedded within a humanistic framework and informed by the transpersonal approach of Psychosynthesis and the developmental insights of a psychodynamic approach. This unique synthesis infuses all aspects of the course: through experiential training, clinical practice, supervision and theoretical teaching and research. A key aim of the course is to enable students to develop their own approach to integration, both for themselves and for the practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Recognising the co-created nature of the Psychotherapeutic relationship, involving the person of the therapist as well as the client, we place special emphasis on developing selfreflexive practice.

We at Turning Point Institute believe that the qualities and skills required to ‘teach’ Counselling and Psychotherapy are complex and unique, and that life-long learning and self-development are central to individual and professional development. Graduates of Turning Point Institute are respected and welcomed throughout the profession.

The part-time MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy runs over four academic years from the date of first registration for the programme. Students take modules to a total value of 100 credits. Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits over three years incorporating approximately 640 hours of structured contact time. Lectures and experiential group learning take place over 8 three-day weekends during the academic year. Students take a second Clinical Supervision module ( 10 credits) in year 4. A Research Dissertation (30 credits) is submitted in the Summer of Year 4.

Theory
Our integrative approach is embedded within a Humanistic framework and informed by the transpersonal approach of Psychosynthesis and the developmental insights of a Psychodynamic orientation. These main modalities are underpinned with modules in; the Practice of Psychotherapy, Personality and Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Research.

Practice
Skills Training takes place mainly in small groups. Once students have successfully passed the Year 2 Modules and are deemed “Fit to Practice”, they begin to see clients in May/June of Year 2. Students cannot begin to see clients until all modules in the year have been passed. The Institute will make every effort to support students in finding a suitable placement. However they cannot guarantee to provide students with clients. Students are therefore ultimately responsible for finding their own placements/clients.

Clinical placements and supervision
At the end of Year 2, students are required to begin to practice in suitable clinical placements. They will receive assistance in this regard from the Turning Point Institute Placement Coordinator. Turning Point Institute will contract with placements in relation to: the screening of potential clients, provision of appropriate clients, development of an appropriate ‘termination’ plan for student’s caseload at the end of the placement, referral of any disciplinary issues with the student/trainee to TPI, and the completion of Referral, Intake and Client/Trainee Therapist Contract forms. Any issues arising for the students in relation to their placement are referred in the first place to the Placement Coordinator. Some placements and agencies have internal case management. This is entirely separate from the students’ Clinical Supervision. Payment for clinical supervision is included in the course fees, in Years 3 and 4.

Dissertation supervision (year 4 students)
During Year 4 students are provided with Academic Supervisors by TPI. Payment for this supervision is included in the course fees.

Clinical Requirements
Personal Therapy
Students are required to undertake their own personal therapy weekly (for a minimum of 40 hours a year) during Years 2, 3 and 4 of the course. To allow students time to find and settle with a therapist, a minimum of 20 hours is required in Year 1 but students are encouraged to attend weekly. Lists of accredited members of the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP), a section of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) and Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) are available from their offices/websites. Students are responsible for their own personal therapy fees. Personal therapy is mandatory but is not assessed. Students must submit a record of personal therapy hours, signed by their therapist, at the end of each academic year.

Group Process
Students engage in specific group process throughout the four year course. Process work is also incorporated in the Skills Training and some other Modules.

Student/Client Contact And Supervision
Students must have completed a minimum of one hundred supervised client contact hours in Year 3 and a further one hundred hours in Year 4.