Mental Health Practioner Program
Program Overview
The Mental Health Practitioner Program is a comprehensive professional pathway offering complete training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Psychotherapy. This innovative two-year program serves four distinct learning pathways within one comprehensive curriculum: Mental Health Professionals seeking advanced training and specialized techniques, Mental Health-Informed Professionals (social workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, HR professionals) wanting to integrate mental health knowledge into their existing roles, Personal Development Seekers looking to significantly improve their mental health and self-awareness, and Career Changers transitioning into mental health careers who need comprehensive foundational and advanced training for full practitioner credentials.
Year 1: Mental Health Practitioner Foundation provides 290 hours of training over 10 months across 4 comprehensive terms: Introduction to Therapy (foundations, rapport building, communication skills), Therapy with Depression (depression, grief, suicide prevention, CBT techniques), Therapy with Anxiety (anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, trauma-informed approaches), and Advanced Applications (specialized techniques, integration, professional practice). Year 1 includes 190 hours of live/recorded sessions, 36 hours of online coursework, 8 hours of training analysis, homework and reading assignments, and final examinations. Clinical requirements vary by audience: Mental Health Professionals complete 64 clinical hours, Career Changers complete 64 clinical hours, while Non-Clinical tracks complete 64 hours of practical application.
Year 2: Advanced Practitioner Specialization offers 154+ hours of specialized training, combining 106 hours of core mandatory modules with 48 hours of elective specialization. The five mandatory modules include Introduction to Advanced Practice, Ethical Dilemmas, Satir Family Therapy Level 1, Art of Dying – Thanatology & Case Conceptualization, Sensorimotor techniques, and Attachment theory. Students select their 48 hours of electives from five specialized categories: Therapy Modalities (such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems), Specialized Treatment Approaches (anger management, chronic pain through psychotherapy, play therapy, overcoming hopelessness), Body-Based Intervention (breath therapy, emotional trauma release, EFT, nutrition and integrative methods), Relationships and Sexuality Topics (understanding love and relationships, untangling shame, sex and sexuality), and Professional Development Areas (compassionate fatigue, priming clients to change, group process). Year 2 also includes 100 hours of supervised therapy, case studies and documentation, continuous personal therapy, final exam and capstone project, and creating a therapeutic ritual.
Certification Pathways: Year 1 completion awards a Certificate of Attendance from Capital Knowledge (Bahrain), Certificate in CBT in Depression and Anxiety, and Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy from Royal Berkshire College (UK). Year 2 Advanced Completion provides Advanced Mental Health Practitioner Certification, specialized credentials in chosen elective areas, and full clinical practice qualification. Career Changers must complete Year 2 for full credentials, while other audiences may choose Year 2 as optional advanced specialization.
MHPC Year 1
Program Intentions
- Equip participants with clinical expertise to address a wide range of mental health challenges effectively.
- Foster a deep understanding of depression and anxiety within psychological, social, environmental, cultural, and historical contexts.
- Provide tools and techniques from various therapeutic modalities to address depression and anxiety holistically.
- Emphasize the importance of tailoring approaches to clients’ multifaceted needs, recognizing no single method fits all.
- Highlight the integration of trauma understanding and treatment at both individual and collective levels.
- Build a supportive community, encouraging participants to connect, share insights, and collaborate.
- Prepare participants for seamless integration into mental health practice with practical tools and motivation.
- Cultivate cultural competence, enabling participants to work sensitively with diverse populations.
- Promote critical thinking and lifelong professional development to adapt to the evolving mental health field.
- Uphold ethical standards by emphasizing professionalism and integrity in all therapeutic practices.
Module 1 : Introduction to Therapy
Course Objective
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to therapy, covering key concepts, theories, and techniques. Students will develop foundational skills to confidently apply in therapeutic practice.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the distinction between healing and fixing, embracing holistic approaches in therapeutic contexts.
- Differentiate between feelings, emotions, and perceptions, and their significance in client growth.
- Explore the James Lange Theory and its insights into physiological and emotional connections.
- Understand the role of neurochemistry in emotions and how body chemicals regulate emotional states.
- Develop skills to use submodalities like visual imagery and sensory tools for therapeutic change.
- Gain a foundational understanding of cognitive therapy, including models, automatic thoughts, and beliefs.
- Learn strategies like cognitive restructuring and adaptive thinking to support client well-being.
- Master cognitive therapy techniques, including thought records, behavioral experiments, and guided imagery.
- Set clear therapy session agendas, establishing goals collaboratively with clients.
- Use guided discovery to help clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors for self discovery & insight.
- Work with clients to create meaningful, achievable goals that guide the therapeutic process.
- Build collaborative therapeutic relationships, fostering trust and rapport with clients.
- Understand the principles and benefits of hypnosis and hypnotherapy in therapy.
- Address misconceptions about hypnosis, promoting accurate understanding for informed client decisions.
- Gain an introduction to the subconscious mind and its impact on thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- Learn to use progressive inductions for relaxation and readiness in hypnotherapy.
- Build safe, trusting environments through effective rapport-building with clients.
- Apply pre-hypnotic techniques to enhance therapeutic interventions and outcomes.
Module 2 : Working with Depression
Course Objective
This course provides a foundational understanding of depression, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to effectively support clients. Through theoretical approaches, therapeutic techniques, and practical strategies, students will learn to address depression and foster positive change.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain a clear understanding of depression, its symptoms, causes, prevalence, and effects on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning.
- Explore the historical and theoretical foundations of depression and analyze therapeutic approaches for working with clients.
- Develop rapport-building skills to create safe, trusting, and collaborative therapeutic relationships with clients.
- Learn strategies to establish emotional safety, trust, and confidentiality within a therapeutic environment.
- Understand cognitive therapy concepts, including the cognitive model, core beliefs, attitudes, and automatic thoughts.
- Apply the cognitive model of depression, focusing on the interplay between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors for effective interventions.
- Identify and challenge negative or maladaptive beliefs that contribute to depression using evidence-based techniques.
- Explore how rules, attitudes, and assumptions impact clients’ thinking patterns and develop strategies to foster adaptive thoughts.
- Recognize and restructure automatic negative thoughts that influence depression using cognitive therapy techniques.
- Learn the cognitive triad of depression and apply strategies to address interconnected thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- Familiarize yourself with Dr. Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to identify and dispute irrational beliefs while fostering rational thinking.
- Identify common cognitive distortions like overgeneralization and personalization, and learn techniques to address them effectively.
- Build solid therapeutic relationships with clients by fostering trust, empathy, and active listening tailored to individual needs.
- Develop effective treatment plans and structure sessions with clear, evidence-based goals for clients with depression.
- Understand Virginia Satir’s family therapy theory, emphasizing communication, self-esteem, and family dynamics.
- Explore coping stances in Satir’s theory, such as placating or blaming, and recognize their relevance to depression.
- Use Family Mapping to visualize a client’s family system, relationships, and dynamics for deeper therapeutic insights.
- Apply Satir’s temperature readings to assess and address the emotional and relational climate in therapy sessions.
- Understand John Fisher’s model of change, including stages of therapeutic progress and the role of collaboration.
- Explore the concept of hypnotic suggestibility and its potential benefits in therapeutic interventions for depression.
Module 3 : Grief
Course Objective
This course aims to provide a deep understanding of grief and equip students with the knowledge and skills to support individuals and families navigating loss. Through theoretical insights and practical techniques, students will learn to address grief, promote healing, and support adjustment.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore the psychological impact of rejection and its role in grief, focusing on emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses.
- Learn about Terrance Watts’ personality type model and its relevance in understanding individual differences.
- Understand the definition, types, and common experiences of grief, examining its physical, emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions.
- Study the phases of grief, including shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, and their therapeutic implications.
- Explore key tasks of mourning, such as accepting loss, expressing emotions, and finding purpose, using techniques to support grieving individuals.
- Gain practical skills for supporting patients and families through grief, including empathic listening and effective communication.
- Understand the therapeutic alliance in cognitive therapy, emphasizing empathy, genuineness, and positive regard.
- Develop guided discovery skills to help clients explore thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, promoting self-discovery and cognitive restructuring.
- Learn the Elman Rapid Induction technique for hypnotherapy, including its protocol and therapeutic applications.
- Analyze societal attitudes toward emotions, addressing cultural factors and creating safe spaces for emotional expression.
- Recognize the value of vulnerability and therapist authenticity in fostering a supportive therapeutic relationship.
- Address dark emotions like anger, guilt, and shame, using strategies to promote healing and healthy adjustment in grief.
- Help clients identify and articulate feelings, building emotional awareness and facilitating expression.
- Explore therapists’ comfort with pain, emphasizing self-care and professional support to maintain well-being.
- Understand grief responses across life stages and develop appropriate interventions for children, teens, adults, and seniors.
- Learn techniques to identify and challenge automatic thoughts, fostering cognitive restructuring and adaptive thinking.
- Guide clients in evaluating unhelpful beliefs by examining evidence, promoting cognitive flexibility and coping skills.
- Apply the 20 Questions for Rational Responding to help clients challenge automatic thoughts and adopt balanced perspectives.
- Utilize behavioral experiments to test maladaptive beliefs, encouraging positive coping and adjustment.
Students will gain a thorough understanding of grief, its psychological impact, and strategies to support individuals and families. They will acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to promote healing, adjustment, and healthy grieving.
Module 4 : Suicide and Self Harm
Course Objective
This course equips students with a deep understanding of suicide and self-harm, focusing on assessment, intervention, and therapeutic techniques. It provides the knowledge, skills, and ethical guidance needed to support individuals experiencing suicidality or engaging in self-harming behaviors.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn effective techniques for using written suggestions in therapy to support client progress.
- Understand conversational hypnosis principles and how to use language patterns, metaphors, and indirect suggestions to facilitate therapeutic change.
- Explore the concept of self-hypnosis as a tool for self-regulation and coping for clients.
- Recognize the power of silence in therapy, using it to create space for clients to reflect and explore emotions.
- Develop skills in using open-ended questions to facilitate client self-reflection and expression
- Understand the concept of secondary gains, and learn strategies to address underlying motivations for self-harming behaviors.
- Learn techniques for creating and removing anchors to evoke desired emotional states in therapy.
- Familiarize yourself with the swish technique, an intervention for managing triggers and negative emotions.
- Understand the timeline technique in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to reframe past experiences and promote healing.
- Gain a thorough understanding of suicidality, including risk factors, warning signs, and evidence-based assessment tools.
- Examine the role of hopelessness in suicidality and self-harm, and strategies to foster hope and resilience in clients.
- Learn skills for conducting comprehensive suicidality assessments, including risk evaluation, safety planning, and collaboration with healthcare professionals.
- Differentiate between suicidality and self-harm, understanding their motivations and developing tailored interventions.
- Explore strategies for managing clients experiencing acute or chronic suicidality, including crisis intervention and safety planning.
- Develop skills in implementing evidence-based interventions for suicidality, including cognitive therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and solution-focused brief therapy.
- Familiarize yourself with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for working with clients who experience suicidality or engage in self-harm.
- Learn practical strategies for handling suicidal crises, including de-escalation, safety planning, and collaboration with emergency services.
- Understand cognitive therapy techniques for addressing suicidal thoughts, including cognitive conceptualization, schema change, and the downward arrow technique.
- Develop strategies for managing client resistance and noncompliance, including motivation-enhancing techniques.
- Learn techniques to increase client motivation for homework assignments through goal-setting and collaborative problem-solving.
- Gain skills in identifying and addressing therapeutic impasses, enhancing client engagement and promoting progress.
- Understand relapse prevention planning and how to collaborate with clients to identify triggers, coping strategies, and support resources to prevent setbacks.
By achieving these outcomes, students will gain a thorough understanding of suicide and self-harm, including assessment and intervention techniques. They will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations needed to support individuals facing suicidality and self-harm, fostering healing, resilience, and positive change.
Module 5: Working with Anxiety and Phobias
Course Objective
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of anxiety, including specific phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and adjustment disorders. Students will learn the cognitive model of anxiety and evidence-based treatment strategies to effectively support individuals experiencing anxiety-related challenges.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the cognitive model of anxiety, including how thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders.
- Learn fundamental strategies for treating anxiety, including cognitive restructuring, relaxation techniques, and behavioral interventions to reduce symptoms and promote healthy coping.
- Gain knowledge of the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing specific phobia, and learn to assess and diagnose based on these criteria.
- Learn the principles of exposure therapy and how to design and implement exposure-based treatment plans to reduce anxiety and fear associated with phobias.
- Understand the DSM-5 criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and learn to assess symptoms like excessive worry, anxiety, and cognitive and physical effects.
- Develop intervention skills for treating GAD using techniques such as cognitive restructuring, problem-solving, and relaxation training.
- Recognize how safety behaviors and avoidance perpetuate anxiety, and learn strategies to address these behaviors in treatment..
- Explore the Fast Phobia Cure technique in NLP as an intervention for phobias, and learn its step-by-step process for creating lasting change.
- Understand the nature of fear, including its physiological, cognitive, and emotional components, and its role in anxiety disorders.
- Examine factors contributing to fear, including genetic, environmental, and learned influences, and their impact on anxiety development.
- Compare fear responses in children and adults, exploring how fear evolves across the lifespan.
- Understand the fight-or-flight response and the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie this physiological reaction to perceived threats.
- Explore the role of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in fear responses, and learn about their physiological effects.
- Examine physical manifestations of fear, such as goosebumps and digestive changes, and the mind-body connection in fear responses.
- Learn about the relationship between fear and memory, including how fear memories are formed and their role in phobias.
- Identify different types of phobias, such as specific phobias, social phobia, and agoraphobia, and understand their impact on daily functioning.
- Examine the effects of stress on mental and physical well-being, and its association with anxiety disorders.
- Understand how anxiety affects sexuality, including its impact on desire, performance, and satisfaction, and explore strategies to address these concerns.
- Explore the fear of losing oneself or identity in anxiety disorders, and develop strategies to address it in therapy.
- Understand psychological security and its importance in creating a safe, supportive environment for individuals with anxiety.
- Recognize sensitizing events that contribute to anxiety disorders, such as trauma or significant life stressors.
- Identify common cognitive errors therapists make when working with individuals with anxiety disorders, and learn strategies to overcome these biases.
- Learn therapeutic strategies for treating adjustment disorders, including assessing and addressing maladaptive coping and facilitating healthy adjustment.
- Understand common stress symptoms, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral signs that contribute to anxiety.
- Explore the cognitive model of stress and its role in anxiety, learning how cognitive restructuring can help manage stress more effectively.
- Learn when and where to intervene when working with individuals experiencing anxiety, including early, crisis, and long-term interventions.
- Acquire a range of cognitive-behavioral techniques for anxiety management, including thought challenging, relaxation, exposure, and problem-solving.
Module 6: Intensive Trauma Treatment
Course Objective
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of trauma and its impact across all stages of life. Students will explore the neurobiological, psychological, and developmental aspects of trauma, while learning evidence-based strategies and interventions to alleviate symptoms, foster healing, and build resilience.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore how trauma influences cognitive and perceptual processing, including its impact on memory, attention, and decision-making.
- Learn sensorimotor techniques to regulate arousal, reduce hyperarousal, and integrate trauma effectively.
- Understand how trauma during infancy, childhood, and adolescence shapes attachment, emotional regulation, and relationships.
- Examine the neurobiological and psychological effects of trauma on brain development and key developmental processes.
- Stay updated on recent advances in trauma neurobiology, including its effects on brain structures, neural networks, and neurotransmitter systems.
- Differentiate between the effects of disrupted attachment and traumatic stress on emotional and relational health.
- Study the lasting impact of adverse childhood experiences on brain development, emotional regulation, and cognitive function.
- Explore evidence-based techniques for physical self-regulation, emotional processing, and trauma memory integration.
- Understand Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD), its symptoms, and how it differs from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Discover how to integrate diverse therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and trauma-focused interventions, into comprehensive treatment plans.
- Explore innovative trauma treatment alternatives, including mindfulness, expressive arts, body-based techniques, and complementary therapies.
- Learn the role of neuroscience in trauma recovery, focusing on brain plasticity and the mechanisms underlying trauma-related symptoms.
- Understand how children develop self-regulation skills and the role of caregivers and environments in fostering emotional stability.
- Examine how trauma disrupts attachment, contributes to negative patterns like dissociation or self-blame, and impacts trust and relationships.
- Apply reframing techniques to replace negative thought patterns and habits with positive and adaptive ones.
- Understand how trauma causes structural changes in the brain and their implications for trauma-related disorders and treatment.
- Learn about the somatization of early trauma, including feelings of guilt and shame, and explore therapeutic strategies to address these challenges.
Module 7 : Clinical Application of Trauma Treatment I
Course Objective
This course equips students with the knowledge and skills to apply trauma treatment techniques in clinical practice. It covers theoretical frameworks, therapeutic approaches, and practical strategies to address trauma-related symptoms and support healing and recovery.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand false memory syndrome by exploring the controversies surrounding false memory formation and retrieval, along with its implications for trauma treatment and therapy.
- Examine research on memory distortion to gain insight into factors contributing to memory inaccuracies and their effects on trauma narratives and treatment outcomes.
- Learn techniques for rewiring and reframing cognitive patterns in trauma treatment to help individuals modify negative beliefs and foster positive cognitive restructuring.
- Analyze different perspectives on depression, including cognitive, psychodynamic, and systemic approaches, and discover strategies for addressing depressive symptoms in trauma contexts.
- Explore Gabor Maté’s insights on addiction and its link to trauma and adverse childhood experiences, gaining trauma-informed strategies for addiction treatment.
- Understand how trauma contributes to loneliness and learn therapeutic approaches to address isolation and foster meaningful social connections for survivors.
- Study the concept of regression in trauma therapy, focusing on recognizing and working effectively with clients who regress to earlier developmental stages.
- Learn the psychodynamic technique of free association to access and process unconscious material related to trauma in a therapeutic setting.
- Familiarize yourself with Gestalt therapy’s principles of awareness, contact, and responsibility, and its holistic approach to addressing trauma-related challenges.
- Explore Gestalt therapy experiments, including techniques like the empty chair, exaggeration, and projections, to support insight, healing, and integration in trauma treatment.
- Develop skills in creating a safe therapeutic space where clients can process and engage with their emotions fully during trauma therapy.
- Understand ego state therapy and its focus on identifying and working with different parts of the self to address trauma symptoms and encourage healing.
- Gain proficiency in parts work, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, to resolve inner conflicts and promote integration for individuals with trauma histories.
- Recognize and address unconscious biases in trauma treatment by fostering cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and equity in therapeutic practice.
- Learn to identify and work with individuals experiencing illness anxiety disorder (hypochondria) by understanding its symptoms and developing effective strategies.
- Understand obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options, such as psychotherapy and pharmacological approaches.
Module 8 : Clinical Application of Trauma Treatment II
Course Objective
This course aims to deepen students’ expertise in trauma treatment, building on foundational knowledge to explore advanced therapeutic techniques. Students will enhance their skills in addressing complex trauma and supporting survivors through evidence-based interventions.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop advanced skills in parts therapy for trauma care by exploring approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Students will learn techniques to foster healing, integration, and self-awareness in individuals with complex trauma histories.
- Understand the role of rebirthing breathwork in trauma treatment, focusing on how conscious connected breathing can help release trauma-related emotions and memories, and learn how to incorporate breathwork into therapy.
- Apply neuroscience principles to trauma-focused psychotherapy by examining the neurobiological impacts of trauma and integrating this knowledge into effective therapeutic interventions.
- Explore the concept and ethical application of past life regression therapy as a potential tool for addressing trauma imprints and facilitating emotional healing.
- Understand Polyvagal Theory and its relevance to trauma therapy, learning how to utilize nervous system-informed strategies to support clients in achieving safety, connection, and emotional regulation.
- Expand expertise in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with advanced techniques for addressing complex trauma, relational dynamics, and deepening self-understanding in therapeutic settings.
- Examine the connection between chronic pain and trauma, and explore mind-body approaches to understanding and managing pain in clinical practice.
- Study how children develop arousal regulation skills and identify therapeutic strategies to support healthy emotional and physiological self-regulation.
Module 9 : Clinical Application of Trauma Treatment III
Course Objective
This course equips students with advanced skills in trauma treatment, emphasizing attachment theory, somatic therapy, and expanding the window of tolerance. Students will explore the interplay between attachment and trauma while learning mind-body techniques to foster healing, emotional regulation, and social connection.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore the core principles of attachment theory, including attachment styles, the behavioral system, and how early experiences shape development and relationships.
- Understand the historical evolution of attachment theory through the contributions of pioneers like John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.
- Learn the key ideas of Bowlby’s attachment theory, highlighting the role of secure attachment in fostering emotional well-being and resilience.
- Examine the defining traits of attachment styles, from secure connections rooted in trust to the patterns of insecure styles like anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment.
- Analyze the secure attachment cycle, understanding how proximity, safety, and exploration create emotional security and adaptability.
- Delve into the characteristics and impact of insecure attachment patterns, exploring their effects on emotional regulation, stress responses, and relationships.
- Gain insights from the Still Face Experiment to understand the significance of responsive caregiving in building secure attachments and emotional stability.
- Identify the four primary attachment styles—secure, avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized—and their distinct behavioral patterns and traits.
- Recognize the importance of consistent, predictable caregiving in fostering secure attachments and supporting trauma recovery.
- Explore the connection between attachment experiences and stress responses, and learn therapeutic interventions that address attachment-based stress reactivity.
- Understand the principles of somatic therapy, focusing on the mind-body connection, nervous system regulation, and body-based techniques for trauma healing.
- Learn how trauma is stored and expressed in the body, and discover somatic approaches to accessing and processing these trauma imprints.
- Explore movement therapy techniques, such as expressive movement and dance, to support regulation, embodiment, and trauma integration.
- Develop the ability to interpret micro expressions and nonverbal cues, enhancing therapeutic attunement and understanding of clients’ emotional states.
- Discover how creative movement, role-play, and expressive arts therapies can facilitate emotional expression and trauma processing.
- Gain practical tools to expand clients’ window of tolerance, helping them regulate distress, manage arousal, and build resilience.
- Learn the role of social engagement and connection in trauma recovery, and strategies to help clients foster supportive relationships.
- Build skills in nervous system regulation, including co-regulation and self-soothing techniques to create safety and resilience.
- Understand how psychologists collaborate with medical professionals to deliver integrated, holistic care for clients.
- Recognize the signs of burnout in yourself and others, and adopt effective self-care practices to prevent and address burnout.
- Learn to identify and work with transference in therapeutic relationships, understanding its role and applying strategies to address it effectively.
Module 10: Clinical Application of Trauma Treatment IV and Year Review
Course Objective
This course aims to help students consolidate their learning and refine their skills through a comprehensive review of key concepts. The focus is on identifying complex issues, mastering advanced therapeutic techniques, and effectively navigating the therapy termination phase.
Learning Outcomes
- Master the core concepts, theories, and interventions from the trauma treatment program. Students will review and synthesize knowledge from previous years, preparing for advanced clinical applications and effective integration into practice.
- Enhance skills in identifying trauma-related challenges and formulating personalized treatment plans. Students will learn to conduct detailed assessments, uncover underlying issues, and develop tailored therapeutic strategies to meet clients’ unique needs.
- Explore the use of hypnoanalysis in trauma therapy. Students will gain practical insights into using hypnosis to access and resolve unresolved traumatic memories, emotions, and conflicts, fostering deep emotional healing.
- Apply somatic bridge techniques to integrate mind and body in trauma treatment. Students will learn to connect cognitive and physical experiences through somatic awareness, promoting comprehensive healing and emotional regulation.
- Utilize the Watkins Affect Bridge technique to process trauma-related emotions. Students will explore how to access and resolve deeply rooted feelings linked to traumatic events, facilitating emotional recovery and integration.
- Navigate the therapy termination phase with confidence. Students will learn strategies for concluding treatment effectively, addressing attachment dynamics, reviewing progress, preventing relapse, and supporting clients post-therapy.
- Incorporate body-oriented and neuroscience-based approaches in trauma therapy. Students will explore techniques to address nervous system dysregulation, enhance resilience, and support holistic healing.
Study Hours
In the first year, students will attend monthly classes totaling 190 hours of in-person tuition. They will also complete 36 hours of online coursework, designed to complement class learning with additional insights and resources. The program includes 8 hours of training analysis (therapy sessions provided as part of the course) and 64 hours of clinical work. Additionally, students should dedicate 4–8 hours per month to homework, including readings, essays, practical tasks, and online post-tests. This balanced structure ensures a comprehensive and enriching learning experience.
Investment
The tuition fee for the course is BD 2,210, reflecting a 30% discount from the original price. This comprehensive fee includes certification, licensing fees, course materials, external verification, training analysis, and the full course cost.
To secure your registration, a deposit of BD 500 is required.
Participants opting for an installment plan can settle the remaining balance through nine equal installments of BD 190each.
Please note that installment payments are exclusive of applicable taxes.
Certificate of Completion/Graduation Requirement
To qualify for the Certificate of Completion, students must fulfill the following requirements:
- Attendance: Students must attend live sessions or watch the recordings. For missed live sessions, proof of completing the recordings is required by scoring 80% or higher on a post-test.
- Pre-recorded Material: All pre-recorded materials provided during the course must be watched in full.
- Homework: Completion of all assigned homework by the specified deadlines is mandatory.
- Reading: Students must thoroughly complete all reading materials outlined in the course curriculum.
- Training Analysis: Participation in 8 hours of training analysis, as directed by the course instructor, is compulsory.
- Final Exams: Students must pass two take-home final exams to meet the course requirements.
- Supervised Clinical Hours: Completion of the designated number of supervised clinical hours is required as part of the curriculum.
- Audio Listening: After completing the first six modules, students must listen to the audio recordings provided to deepen their understanding.
MHPC Year 2
Program Intentions
- Advance specialized clinical expertise through in-depth exploration of targeted therapeutic modalities and evidence-based interventions tailored to specific mental health populations and conditions.
- Cultivate mastery in complex case conceptualization by integrating multiple theoretical frameworks and developing sophisticated treatment planning skills for challenging clinical presentations.
- Deepen ethical reasoning and professional judgment through examination of contemporary ethical dilemmas, boundary challenges, and the evolving landscape of digital-age therapeutic practice.
- Enhance cultural competency and inclusivity by exploring diverse therapeutic approaches, understanding systemic influences on mental health, and developing skills to work effectively across cultural, social, and identity contexts.
- Integrate somatic and embodied approaches to trauma treatment, recognizing the profound mind-body connection in healing and developing skills in sensorimotor psychotherapy and body-based interventions.
- Strengthen relational and attachment-informed practice by understanding attachment dynamics in therapeutic relationships and applying attachment theory to foster secure connections and promote healing.
- Develop expertise in specialized populations and presentations including treatment-resistant conditions, complex trauma, relationship dynamics, and life transitions such as grief, loss, and end-of-life care.
- Foster professional identity and advanced clinical confidence through exposure to expert guest instructors, diverse therapeutic modalities, and opportunities for self-reflection and professional growth.
- Build consultation and collaboration skills essential for advanced practice, including case consultation, interdisciplinary teamwork, and ongoing professional development within the mental health community.
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Prepare for board certification and professional registration while maintaining the highest standards of ethical practice, clinical competence, and commitment to lifelong learning in the evolving field of mental health.
Mandatory Modules
Ethical Dilemmas
Ethical guidelines for therapists were once clear-cut: no gifts, no dual relationships, and no contact outside sessions. However, the rise of digital communication and evolving professional norms have introduced complex questions about boundaries in modern practice. How should therapists navigate interactions via email, texting, and social media? Is it ethical to Google clients before the first session?
This course dives into the ethical challenges unique to contemporary therapy. Through thought-provoking discussions and case studies, participants will explore real-world dilemmas and share diverse perspectives in both small and large group settings. By fostering collaboration and consultation, the course emphasizes a practical, consultative approach to managing ethical issues in today’s therapy landscape.
Course Instructor
Mary Jo Barrett
Virginia Satir Counselling Model for Individuals, Couples, and Families - Level 1
This course offers an in-depth exploration of Virginia Satir’s Family Therapy approach, providing students with a solid foundation in its core principles and techniques. Key topics include Satir’s meta-goals, communication model, coping stances, and the dynamics of the family learning triad. Students will also learn how to transform rigid family rules into effective guidelines, map individuals and family systems, and apply the seven essential ingredients of all interactions to foster congruence. The course covers practical tools such as sculpting for family reconstruction and strategies for navigating chaos during periods of change. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively integrate Satir’s transformative model into their therapeutic practice with families.
Course Instructor
Patt Bragg
Patt Bragg
Art of Dying
This course offers an in-depth exploration of the complex dimensions of death and dying, providing students with a deeper understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of this universal experience. Key topics include the concept and process of dying, the subjective meaning of death, integrating the reality of death into life, and the role of rituals and ancient wisdom in supporting the dying process. Designed for therapeutic professionals, the course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to address death-related challenges in therapy, facilitate end-of-life planning, incorporate meaningful rituals, navigate death anxiety and denial, and promote conscious dying. Students will also learn compassionate approaches to support non-communicative patients, plan inspiring funerals, guide clients through mourning, and foster hope and healing after loss.
Course Instructor
Eman Nooruddin
Capital Knowledge
Attachment in Action
This course offers a deep dive into attachment theory and its application in clinical practice, providing students with the tools and knowledge to integrate these concepts into their therapeutic work. Students will explore the evolution of attachment theory, its foundational principles, and key classifications, including secure, dismissing, and preoccupied attachment styles. The course also examines how unresolved trauma influences attachment patterns and relationships.
Designed to enhance clinical skills, this course equips participants to use attachment theory as a framework for fostering secure connections in therapy. Students will gain insights into the therapist’s role in promoting secure attachments, facilitating mourning processes, and navigating attachment-related challenges such as borderline presentations. Additionally, the course introduces the Crittenden Dynamic Maturational Model and emphasizes using self-awareness and the therapeutic relationship as tools for healing and growth.
Course Instructor
Linda Cundy
Linda Cundy Psychotherapy
Trauma in the Body - A Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Perspective on Embodying Trauma Recovery
Clinicians can learn to tap into the wisdom of the body to help their clients heal from trauma. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is based on current research on neurobiology and trauma and the technique is used to address both traumatic and non-traumatic attachment related issues incorporating the wisdom of the body.
During the various stages of the work, through embedded relational mindfulness, we integrate the emotional, cognitive, and bodily processes to achieve adaptive strategies for self-regulation with respect to traumatic experience, and for relationship in daily life. The work seeks to increase the emotional repertoire of the individual for healthier attachment relationships, and more functional daily living.
Course Instructor
Tony Buckley
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Elective Modules (2025-2026)
Breathwork for Transformation
The Treatment-Resistant Depression (Sensorimotor) Course offers mental health practitioners specialized tools and insights to address depression that remains unresolved through traditional methods. This course introduces the sensorimotor approach—an innovative, mind-body therapeutic framework designed to foster deep healing and transformation.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors contributing to treatment-resistant depression, including unresolved trauma, somatic symptoms, and the role of the body in emotional health. By exploring the sensorimotor approach, they will learn to identify and address these challenges, promoting greater well-being and resilience in their clients.
Combining theoretical knowledge, case studies, and hands-on exercises, this course equips practitioners with practical skills to integrate sensorimotor techniques into therapy. Participants will learn to engage the body in the therapeutic process, regulate physiological imbalances, and support emotional regulation and recovery.
Topics covered include embodied mindfulness, somatic tracking, grounding techniques, and working with non-verbal trauma expressions. The course also examines the influence of attachment and relational dynamics in depression, providing actionable strategies to address these critical areas effectively.
Course Instructor
Tony Buckley
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Untangling Shame
Course Description Coming Soon!
Course Instructor
Tony Buckley
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Understanding Love & Relationships
The objective of this course is to explore the complexities of love and relationships, offering a nuanced exploration of the challenges and dynamics that shape romantic connections. Students will engage with critical topics such as love, desire, infidelity, betrayal, shame, forgiveness, and the unique role therapists play in couple therapy.
With a focus on infidelity, toxic and narcissistic relationships, and the impact of parenthood, the course aims to deepen students’ understanding of relational dynamics. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed to support clients in navigating the emotional and psychological challenges of romantic relationships, fostering healing and growth in the face of adversity.
Course Instructor
Eman Nooruddin
Capital Knowledge
Understanding Sex & Sexuality
The objective of this course is to explore various topics including desire, myths and facts about sex and sexuality, communication, sexual differences, and the impact of conflict, trauma, and societal influences on sexual relationships.
Course Instructor
Eman Nooruddin
Capital Knowledge
Study Hours
Year 2: Advanced Practitioner Specialization offers 154+ hours of specialized training, combining 106 hours of core mandatory modules with 48 hours of elective specialization.
Year 2 also includes 100 hours of supervised therapy, case studies and documentation, continuous personal therapy, final exam and capstone project, and creating a therapeutic ritual.
Investment
The tuition fee for the second year is BD 2,210. Kindly note it may differ by year depending on topics chosen and external instructor fees. This comprehensive fee includes certification, course materials, external verification, training analysis, and the full course cost.
To secure your registration, a deposit of BD 200 is required.
Participants opting for an installment plan can settle the remaining balance through nine equal installments of BD 190each.
Please note that installment payments are exclusive of applicable taxes.
Certificate of Completion/Graduation Requirement
To qualify for the Certificate of Completion, students must fulfill the following requirements:
- Attendance: Students must attend live sessions or watch the recordings. For missed live sessions, proof of completing the recordings is required by scoring 80% or higher on a post-test.
- Reading: Students must thoroughly complete all reading materials outlined in the course curriculum.
- Final Exams: Students must pass two take-home final exams to meet the course requirements.
- Supervised Clinical Hours: Completion of the designated number of supervised clinical hours is required as part of the curriculum.
Faculty
On Course Completion
Upon completing MHPC successfully, you can apply for the following boards:
- Association for Professional Hypnosis & Psychotherapy
- National register of Psychotherapists and Counselors
- Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
- Hypnotherapy Association
Program Handbook
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