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The aim is to teach students from a variety of disciplines enabling them to develop their own potential and to be able to decide on further choices, both personal and professional.

Many participants decide to pursue counselling as a career, or to integrate the theory and skills into their existing work. Employers and managers are becoming increasingly aware of the need to develop their skills using counselling techniques. Enhanced management skills in the field of personal relationships have been shown to have dramatic effects on improving staff performance and reducing absenteeism. The Academy can offer tailored courses to meet specific requirements, to be offered ‘in-house’ or at The College.

Counselling has a profound effect on those who receive it and those who train to become qualified counsellors. Prospective trainees must be aware of the effects of counselling training – it raises many issues of an emotional nature. It is therefore advised that any prospective trainee who has experienced any traumatic life change or loss in the previous two years prior to application will be advised to wait before the commencement of a professional course. For example, those who are in recovery from the use of drugs and alcohol, those who have experienced a dramatic loss or life change, for example, death or divorce. Those who wish to embark on an introduction course should be 18 months removed from the experience.

In recognising the sensitivity and responsibility of this particular subject area, The College takes care in selecting its staff for counselling training. Tutors are themselves practising counsellors with experience in different disciplines of practising counselling theory. They have obtained at least diploma level qualification and have a thorough knowledge and practice of counselling

The Academy for Counselling and Training and Development has forged strong links through its projects in the community, for example The College Community Counselling Service. The Academy is proud that many of its students are now working in or managing important agencies in the community, such as rehabilitation centres, arrest referral schemes or National Children’s Projects.