Certificate in Psychosynthesis Foundations

A year-long in-person course providing a depth of personal exploration, developing a psychosynthesis lens and counselling skills to navigate relationships and inner experience.

The course provides you with a sophisticated take on the psychospiritual journey as you learn psychosynthesis theory and embody it through direct experience.

Application Pack for September 2026 intake

All applicants are required to download and thoroughly review all relevant documents prior applying. Whether this is a first-time or repeat application, an up-to-date application form must be completed and submitted together with all required supporting materials.

Send your full application form to the admissions team at admissions@ptrust.org.uk with the subject line: FDN application: [your full name].

📥 Application form 📥 Download payment plan options and price guide

📥 Download the in-person Foundation timetable 📥 Download the online Foundation timetable 📥 Download the financial terms and conditions

Who is it for?

This course is for people who want a more committed approach to their self-development and membership of a community of like-minded students
It is for people who want to build increased personal awareness, interpersonal skills, impact and effectiveness, gaining tools and maps for another profession or interest like coaching, management, leadership or social work
The Foundation year is also an important step in embarking on the professional training to become a counsellor or psychotherapist
Each year this course is held both in person and online. However, to continue to become a counsellor you will need to be able to commit to training in person and seeing clients in the UK.

When attending this course, participants will:

Gain an in-depth knowledge of the psychosynthesis theories of early development, personality formation and establishment of identity and to interface this model with other theories of ego and self-development.
Analyse and understand the relationship and interdependency of body, feelings, mind and soul in the context of mental health.
Learn the basic skills of counselling to experiment with the application of psychosynthesis models, methods and techniques and psychodynamic concepts in a safe environment, where self, peer and tutor analysis and feedback can be given.
Evaluate and conceptualise the experience of self, life and others within the transpersonal framework of psychosynthesis and other key theorists
Initiate a study of the transpersonal dimension, including an awareness of superconscious content and the evocation of potential and meaning as essential components of psychological health.
Undertake an in-depth self-exploration which promotes self-understanding and personal responsibility, including reflection on, and analysis of, earlier life experiences and their influence on the present moment.

What do I get from the course?

The insight and tools to bring about personal transformation and growth
A toolbox for life and work
Renewed connection to self, purpose and meaning
The foundations to embark on the postgraduate diploma
A depth of self-knowledge and healing
A greater understanding of the dynamics at play in relationships
Basic counselling skills

The programme

What’s covered?

Integration and Subpersonalities
The ‘I’ and the Sense of Identity
Childhood and the Unconscious
The Body
Sexuality and Genders
The Creative Use of Pain and Crisis
Self-Realisation and Psychological Disturbances
The Cultivation of the Will
Interpersonal Psychosynthesis
Principles and Practice of Meditation
Basic Counselling Skills
Written Expression and Academic Study

Programme Structure

Double module, with three components:

Component 1: Identity and Transformation: An introduction to the main psychosynthesis models and principles, and how these may be applied to exploring and understanding the formation and transformation of personality and identity within a transpersonal context.

Component 2: Core Counselling Skills: An introduction to the principles and practices of face to face counselling skills.

Component 3: Self and Group Development: Psychospiritual, emotional and soul journey of self-discovery towards personal confidence, maturity and relational competence, making use of psychosynthesis as a core model.

Relational Dynamics Groups

In a year-long series of sessions, personal growth is addressed systematically within the dynamics of the group. As individual psychospiritual development deepens, participants learn to apply psychosynthesis principles and methods to their interpersonal relationships. During this process, participants are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for expanding self-awareness and directing self-expression.

Programme Methods

Participants are introduced to various methods, including creative visualisation, free drawing, training of the will, physical expression, writing, disidentification, meditation, gestalt chair work, pre-work for thematic weekends, critiquing and evaluating different models, group process and interpersonal work.

Course Requirements

Private study, written assignments, 30-40 individual therapy sessions

Individual Work with a Therapist

During your Foundations Year you will need to complete a minimum of 30 hours of personal therapy with a psychosynthesis-approved therapist. It is beneficial to be in a supportive therapeutic relationship prior to starting this course (therapy hours for each year of study are counted from the month your course starts). We do however recommend you start therapy early.

Continuing with the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling (stage 3) requires a minimum of 40 hours of personal therapy, with a psychosynthesis approved therapist, per year of study.

Finally, working through to stage 4 (Advanced Diploma), you will need 80 hours of personal therapy usually with a UKCP registered psychosynthesis therapist (minimum 40 hours per year of study).

Our recommendation is weekly therapy, on the same day & time each week, for 50-60 minute sessions.

For Foundation Year courses that are online, your therapy can be in-person or online. For all other courses, your therapy needs to be a minimum of 80% face-to-face (in-person).

Studying at the Trust

Read our Studying at the Trust page to find out what facilities are available for students, and what personal facilities will be required during the course of study.

Admissions Policy

The principal aim of our Admissions Policy is to offer admission to students irrespective of social, racial, religious and financial considerations. Selection criteria is holistic, using all the information available to us, which includes an interview, completion of all previous course requirements, motivation and suitability for the course, commitment, competence and professional potential. Commitment to adherence of BACP and UKCP ethical framework is essential.

Key information

Course intakes are held twice a year in February/March and September/October.

Next intake:

September 2026

Application dates

Applications open April 2026. Spaces are available subject to availability and successful application process.
Should we reach the maximum number of applications, you may still be invited to attend an interview so that if a place becomes available you can be considered for it.

📥 Application form

📥 Download payment plan options and price guide

📥 Download the in-person Foundation timetable

📥 Download the online Foundation timetable

📥 Download the financial terms and conditions

**Our insurance does not cover participants residing in Canada and the US. We will not be able to accept applications from these countries.**

Course fees

Early bird price: Course fee £5,399* **(+ £50 interview fee)
Full price: Course fee £5,699* **(+ £50 interview fee)

*Quarterly and monthly payment plans are also available with an additional £150 admin fee.

**Prices are correct for the October 2026 intake and are subject to change each intake. Please contact admissions@ptrust.org.uk if you have any questions.

Duration & Attendance

One year part-time over 10 weekends in either block format (Friday-Monday) or inter-month format (Friday-Sunday plus 2 weekday evenings per month).

PROCESS

Entry Requirement

Essentials of Psychosynthesis or equivalent Trust approved transpersonal course taken within the last five years (please visit our FAQ’s page for more information) and suitable experience and ability to handle study.

Application Process

Please see details of the application process

Trust Award: Certificate

A certificate of study will be awarded by the Trust upon the successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Psychosynthesis Foundations.

Leads To

If you decide to continue and professionally train with us, you can then start stage 3, and apply for the 2-year Postgraduate qualification in Psychosynthesis Counselling (accredited by BACP). This course is an in person-only course (Covid dependant) and you will need to see clients in the UK.

The final step in the journey is to enter the training to train as a psychotherapist and apply for the 2-year Advanced Diploma in Psychosynthesis Psychotherapy (accredited by UKCP).

📥 Application form

Next step in your training

Postgraduate Diploma in Psychosynthesis Counselling →

testimonials

“An incredible adventure”

The Foundations Year has been an incredible adventure. The balance of experiential and academic work at the Trust makes this course truly unique and invaluable to personal development. It challenged me and provided me with insight and information I previously felt was out of reach, all in an environment where the experienced trainers support with ease and compassion. The course teaches and supports you as an individual as well as a potential future practitioner.

Foundations participant

testimonials

“A gift”

The Foundations Year is the best gift I have ever given myself. The chance to explore my psyche is a rare luxury, yet an essential one to achieve full well-being of mind/body and spirit.

Foundations participant

testimonials

“A life-enhancing journey”

I would recommend the Foundations Year to anyone as a life-enhancing journey in itself.

Foundations participant

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