FAQs
Booking
Form Programme Course Details
1. Who can attend?
2. What is the programme?
3. What is the accommodation like?
4. What is a counselling skills course?
5. How do I found out about counselling
skills courses?
6. What do I need to do to practice
philosophical counselling?
7. How do I get on the register?
8. What is supervision?
9. How often do you run the courses?
10. Once I get qualified, can I make a living out
of doing philosophical counselling?
11. What preparation would you recommend before
taking the course?
12. How much work is part 1 (the pre-course reading
and assignment) and part 3 (post-course essay)2?
13. Do you run any other courses?
14. Can I do the PC course and the Socratic Dialogue?
1. Who can attend?
Past students have had a
variety of philosophical backgrounds, ranging from a strong person
interest in philosophy to doctorates in the subject. At the very least,
a strong interest in philosophy is required. Participants will counsel
each other during the course. It is beneficial for participants to have attended a counselling
skills course to 20 hours minimum, prior to the SPP level 1 course,
or have equivalent counselling experience. We find that participants who
have practised these skills are able to counsel other participants more
effectively as they can rapidly build a rapport which enables the
dialogue to move a philosophical level more easily and
successfully.
2. What is the programme?
Here is the provisional programme.
This is based on the last course and subject to minor revisions.
3. What is the accommodation like?
Accommodation is in single rooms, meals are included. For more
information on the venue see
http://www.staffordhouse.org.uk/
4. What is a counselling skills
course?
It is a course that teaches such skills as listening skills,
communication skills, how to build rapport etc. The most suitable course
may be called something like 'communication skills'. rather than one
that teaches an alternative model of counselling ( e.g. psychodynamic,
cognitive etc). The course should last at least 20 hours which can be
spread over a number of weeks or more intensively in a few days. The
course should be practice based so that you get to practice the
communication skills.
5. How do I found out about
counselling skills courses?
If living in the UK, look in publications such as 'Floodlights' and 'Hot
Courses' under
'counselling skills' and 'communication skills', or contact the BACP.
Most colleges in the UK offer courses in counselling/communication skills. If you are
outside the UK you will need to look in equivalent places.
6. What do I need to do to practice
philosophical counselling?
Legally, as for all counselling, there are no requirements that must be
met before you can call yourself a philosophical counsellor and
practice. Morally this is a different matter. In order to set minimum
standards the SPP has set up a register
for counsellors it deems to have satisfied certain requirements.
Philosophical counsellors who have satisfied these requirements are
listed on the SPP website.
7. How do I get on the register?
To get on the register you need to satisfy the following requirements
a) a philosophy degree (e.g. a first degree with 50% or more of
philosophy or an M.A. exclusively in Philosophy).
b) satisfactory completion of both the practical and theoretical
elements of a level 1 course in philosophical counselling (these are
periodically organised by the SPP)
c) supervisor's assessment, based on at least 10 supervised sessions of
philosophical counselling, that the philosophical counsellor is of a
sufficient standard to be on the register d) attendance to minimum 20
hours counselling skills course
e) minimum of 10 hours experience of being counselled , 5 of which
should be with a philosophical counsellor
f) professional liability insurance (contact Towergate SMG Professional Risks31 Clarendon Rd
Leeds, LS2 9PA, tel 0113 294 4000)
g) agreement to abide by SPP Code of Practice
h) ongoing supervision whilst practising
as a philosophical counsellor
i) membership of the Society for Philosophy in Practice
8. What is supervision?
Supervision is a process whereby a counsellor talks about issues from
their case load to another practitioner, with a view to gaining support
and enhanced competence. For beginning counsellors, supervision should
be 1-1 with a more experienced practitioner. Supervision is usually
charged at a rate comparable with counselling sessions, and preferably
takes place face-to-face, although phone and e-mail alternatives are
possible. More experienced supervisors sometimes engage in peer
supervision groups, where 2 or more experienced counsellors discuss case
material. The supervisor must registered as a philosophical counsellor
with the SPP or equivalent body overseas.
9. How often do you run the courses?
The SPP has been running annual level 1 courses since 1999. On occasions
the level 1 course has been run more than once a year, depending on
demand. The SPP has also run pre-level one 'taster' courses and is
planning to run more advanced, level 2 courses. Tell us what sort of
course you would like, and, if numbers permit, we'll do our best to put
it on.
10. Once I get qualified, can I make a living
out of doing philosophical counselling?
Philosophical counselling is a new field and offers both the
possibilities and drawbacks that go with this. Philosophical counselling
is largely unknown in this country - although the SPP gets increasing
numbers of requests for counsellors all over the country – so you need
to be very pro-active to make a living. Realistically it is better
thought of as one part of a portfolio career. One way to do this is to
combine it with psychological counselling, coaching and teaching.
11. What preparation would you recommend before
taking the course
In additional to the required counselling skills course it would be
advantageous to read about philosophical counselling. For example there
are articles from the journal Practical Philosophy available on-line at
http://www.practical-philosophy.org.uk/, or you could read LeBon’s
Wise Therapy or Marinoff’s Plato not Prozac.
12. How much work is part 1? (the pre-course
reading and assignment) and part 3 (the post course assignment)
You will need to budget a couple of days work for the
pre-course assignment. I The post course assignment is an essay for
which there is a deadline of one year after the end of the course.
13. Do you run any other courses?
In additional to the Level 1 course the society runs the following
courses:
Level 2 philosophical counselling course (for those who have taken level
1)
Socratic Dialogue
Philosophy for Children
Decision-making
If you have other ideas of courses you would like us to run, or would
like us to run a course at your workplace, please let us know.
14. Can I do the PC course and the Socratic
dialogue?
A one day Socratic dialogue runs the day before the course for those who
wish o experience his form of Practical Philosophy.
Booking Form Programme
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