Metanoia Institute to Continue Delivering NHS-Funded Psychotherapeutic Counselling Training

Metanoia Institute will continue as one of three national approved workforce education providers delivering the fully funded NHS psychotherapeutic counselling pilot programme, which is being extended to a second cohort.

The postgraduate programme, launched in September 2022, was developed to expand access to talking therapies within the NHS and to increase workforce diversity across the counselling and psychotherapy professions.

As part of the pilot, Metanoia Institute has delivered training in person-centred experiential counselling for depression, a NICE recommended, evidence-based therapy, effective for both more and less severe depression and available within NHS Talking Therapies services nationally.

The first cohort of NHS-funded trainees, studying at Metanoia, have just completed their academic and placement requirements and begun working as full-time high intensity psychotherapeutic counsellors in NHS Talking Therapies services across the UK.

Student recruitment for the next salaried training at Metanoia Institute is now open. Applicants will need to apply jointly to both the training programme and to the NHS Talking Therapies host employing service to secure a place. The programme is jointly accredited by five professional bodies within the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB), with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) acting as the lead accrediting body.

Following the announcement of the programme’s extension, Jon Levett, UKCP CEO, welcomed the move as “recognition of the need for greater patient choice in NHS services,” and a significant step toward making psychotherapeutic training more accessible.

Dr Peter Pearce, Director of Clinical Training at Metanoia Institute, said: “This programme ensures that trainees receive robust, evidence-based clinical training that aligns with the evolving needs of NHS services.

“By continuing our involvement, we are, helping to strengthen and diversify the pipeline of skilled practitioners, building a representative workforce to support increasing access, and contributing to consistent, high-quality and effective care.”

The programme supports efforts to widen access to evidence-based therapy training, particularly for individuals who are unable to self-fund, and to improve representation of diverse backgrounds across the mental health workforce.

For more information about the programme, click here.