There is a single training centre for PCA Counsellors -Therapists in Greece. The Training Centre for the Person Centred Approach is directed by Polly Iossifides MSc and has a staff of five Counsellor -Therapists. The centre conducts two training programmes:

1. A graduate diploma Course for Counsellor-Therapists

2. A counselling skills development programme.

1. The Graduate diploma Course

The graduate diploma course is a three year part-time graduate course of seven hundred and fifty (750) training contact hours, and one hundred twenty (120) hours of counselling practice under supervision. In addition each trainee must submit six (6) ten page papers and give during their training seminars on subjects related to PCA. It is calculated that these additional activities require another one hundred (150) hours of work. For the completion of the course then a total of approximately one thousand (1000) hours are required.

This three year course is delivered in eighteen (18) weekends (Friday noon to Sunday noon) of sixteen (16)hours each and six (6) ten-day periods of residential intensive training (Friday noon to next Sunday noon) of seventy two (72) hours each. These training periods are equally divided in the three years.

It is an integrated primarily experiential course where the training takes place not in the classroom but in the group work. The training is evolving around the axes of self development, the development of the professional counsellor-therapist and the development of the therapeutic relationship. Although the course is not modular the sequence in the theoretical investment of the experiential part progresses as follows: PCA therapeutic conditions - The therapeutic relationship - PCA theory of personality - Other theories of personality and commentary on the differences - Counselling interview

Psychopathology - Supervision. In addition there are constant skill's developing laboratories referring to: listening, empathy, congruence, therapeutic responses, counseling and using supervision.

Requirements for admission:

A university degree is not a requirement (although 80-85% of the trainees have it). In such case the ability to synthesise a paper after reading two articles is tested before admission.

The maturity of the candidate and their life experience.

Two letters of recommendation and a short curriculum vitae.

Attendance of two test training weekends which follow a regular training schedule and serve as a mutual test for the candidates to decide and commit themselves to the programme and for the staff to finalise the acceptance of a candidate.

The University of Strathclyde recognises the course as a graduate course leading to a Diploma in Counselling, giving the 7/10 of the requirements towards a Master's in Science in Counselling.

2. Counselling Skills development programme:

This is a one hundred and twenty (120) hours course lasting twenty two (22) weeks. The trainees are working in a group and meet for four (4) hours each week. In addition they meet for two weekends (Friday noon to Sunday noon) for fifteen (15) hours each. The trainees are also required to submit three (3) eight page papers and to demonstrate that they are able to enter into a counselling relationship.

Also an experiential integrated course based on group work. Personal development and P.C.A. counselling skills are emphasised from the beginning while P.C.A. theory and professional development are given in support and as a vestment to the gained experiences.

For more information write to the: Training Centre for the P.C.A.

Antinoros 11, Athens 116 34, Greece. Tel:01-7293810 or

email Rita Ventura: tcpcahel@otenet.gr