Adlerian Counselling Training

BAT offers a 450-hour training programme in Adlerian Counselling Theory, Skills and Practice, structured across three years. The programme begins with a one-year Certificate and leads into a two-year Diploma — both accredited by ASIIP.

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Programme Structure

Year 1 — Certificate in the Theory of Individual Psychology and Adlerian Counselling Skills

Hours: 150
Delivery: 10 weekends
Face-to-face: 70% (105 hours)
Online: 30% (45 hours)

The first year provides a thorough grounding in Alfred Adler and the theory of Individual Psychology, alongside the core skills and competencies required of Adlerian counsellors. Teaching is predominantly experiential, with small tutorial groups and a high level of tutor contact.

On satisfactory completion, students are awarded the Certificate and may progress directly to the two-year Diploma programme.

Years 2 & 3 — Diploma in Adlerian Counselling

Hours: 300 (150 per year)
Delivery: 10 weekends per year
Face-to-face: 70% (105 hours per year)
Online: 30% (45 hours per year)

The Diploma years build on the Certificate, deepening both theoretical understanding and practical counselling skills. The curriculum is fully participative and experiential — learning is built around dialogue between students and tutors, with self-awareness and personal growth integral throughout.

The Diploma in Adlerian Counselling is awarded by ASIIP to students who have satisfactorily met all of the following:

• Completed 450 hours of training across all three years
• Accumulated 100–120 hours of supervised client counselling, meeting current ASIIP and BACP requirements
• Written a satisfactory 3,000 word client case study
• Undertaken at least 40 hours of personal counselling or psychotherapy
• Paid the ASIIP diploma application administration fee at the current rate

Professional recognition

The programme meets the current requirements for student membership of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and is broadly equivalent to Level 4 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework. Both the Certificate and Diploma are accredited by ASIIP, which is itself an organisational member of BACP.

Accreditation badges to display:

• ASIIP Accredited
• BACP Student Membership eligible
• RQF Level 4 equivalent

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Further information

Entry requirements

No formal qualifications are required. Prospective students are accepted through an intake interview, which gives both parties the opportunity to explore whether the course is the right fit. The qualities that matter most are commitment, openness to learning, and a genuine capacity for self-reflection and personal development.

Our approach to learning

Adlerian counselling takes a holistic view of the person in their social context, emphasising a therapeutic relationship grounded in equality, respect, and encouragement. All classes are fully participative — the questions asked matter as much as those answered — and training encourages creative, constructive thinking in co-operation with others.

Venue

In-person sessions are held near Buckingham, with online sessions delivered remotely.