Metanoia Institute

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Metanoia Institute's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Metanoia Institute is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Blunkett signature Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Pickles signature Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

metanoia.ac.uk

THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
18 | METANOIA INSTITUTE
CEO, Professor SheilaOwen-
Jones
Students arriving at
Metanoia Institute
Founded in 1993, Metanoia Institute is an educational
charity that provides “humanistically oriented” professional
training programmes. Specialising in education for
counsellors, psychotherapists and supervisors – as well as
many other vocations – the Institute prides itself on offering a
personal style of education. CEO Professor Sheila Owen-Jones
explains how she and her team emphasise the importance of
developingrelationships.
In the early 1980s, Dr Petruska Clarkson, Sue Fish and Dr Brian Dobson, white
South Africans, left their country of origin because of apartheid. They were clever
academically, Petruska a writer with experience in the area of psychotherapy,
Sue a trained teacher and therapist and Brian a medical doctor and psychiatrist.
Together they had a vision to change the psychoanalytic counselling and
psychotherapy training prevalent in the 1980s. As psychologists, they sought to
offer the first systemic three-year course that lent itself to an academic structure
of humanistic and integrative professional counselling and psychotherapy training
in Ealing. In 1984 the group gave themselves the name of “metanoia”, meaning
transformation, which they believed could be achieved through therapy.
Metanoia Institute was established in 1993 and has since become the UK’s leading
provider of specialist higher education in counselling and psychotherapy. Our
academic portfolio includes practitioner doctorates, PhDs, 12 master’s programmes
and undergraduate provision. We have a long-term relationship with Middlesex
University and professional accreditation through UKCP, BACP, HCPC, BPS and the
European Association for Psychotherapy.
FACTS ABOUT
METANOIA INSTITUTE
»Chair of the Board:
Professor Ronald Parker
»CEO: Professor Sheila
Owen-Jones
»Founded in 1993
»Located in London
»Services: High-quality training
in the psychological and
therapeutic disciplines
»No. of employees: 140
»metanoia.ac.uk
Metanoia Institute
19METANOIA INSTITUTE |
EDUCATION SERVICES
We pride ourselves on our reputation
for high-quality specialised provision.
For example, the doctorate in
psychotherapy is unique among
professional doctorates in providing
a dedicated research programme for
senior qualified practitioners seeking
a professional programme to support
their further development as clinicians,
trainers, supervisors, managers
orwriters.
No single approach
Our ethos is defined by an
understanding that no single approach
to therapy is significantly more
effective than any other and that all
have something to offer the practising
clinician. All programmes are designed
to develop a coherent philosophical,
professional and ethical base as an
ongoing support for clinical practice
and to enable students to become
authoritative in the critical evaluation
of philosophical paradigms and value
systems in relation to therapeutic work.
Our guiding principles and
responsibilities are to inspire, educate
and develop the next generation in the
psychological therapies, empowering
students through excellence in learning
and teaching, research and enterprise.
Higher learning, higher
standards
While we are primarily a place of
higher education, with our core work
in developing the next generation
of counsellors and psychotherapists,
we continue to offer support in the
community by providing counselling
through a low-cost clinic open from
9.00 am to 9.30pm, Monday to
Friday. Counselling and Psychotherapy
Service provides a training placement
for our students and a service to the
community. The clinic currently offers
130 placements per year, with students
expected to see up to three clients per
week. All clients are initially assessed
by a team of experienced assessors.
As a result of the fact that MCPS is a
research clinic, students are expected to
evaluate their work with clients using
agreed clinical measures. Students
also have an ethical responsibility to
regularly present their work in clinical
supervision in strict confidence, thereby
maintaining continuous feedback for
training and practitioner development.
From MCPS, multiple research
projects have developed, resulting in
the foundation of a research clinic,
with Metanoia Institute being the
largest provider of counselling and
psychotherapy in the UK and Europe.
The development of counselling and
psychotherapy is not static but is
constantly working towards new ways
of supporting those with mental health
issues. To illustrate, we work closely
with the voluntary, health and higher
education sectors to deliver training
provision for the improvement of mental
health support for children and young
people. In 2011 a programme known as
Children and Young People’s Improving
Access to Psychological Therapies was
introduced and, as part of this, we
worked with King’s College London
and the Anna Freud Centre to train
counsellors to work in Ealingschools.
Here4You
Our ethos is
defined by an
understanding
that no single
approach to
therapy is
significantly
more effective
than any other
and that all have
something to
offer the
practising
clinician
“
“
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
19METANOIA INSTITUTE |
EDUCATION SERVICES
We pride ourselves on our reputation
for high-quality specialised provision.
For example, the doctorate in
psychotherapy is unique among
professional doctorates in providing
a dedicated research programme for
senior qualified practitioners seeking
a professional programme to support
their further development as clinicians,
trainers, supervisors, managers
orwriters.
No single approach
Our ethos is defined by an
understanding that no single approach
to therapy is significantly more
effective than any other and that all
have something to offer the practising
clinician. All programmes are designed
to develop a coherent philosophical,
professional and ethical base as an
ongoing support for clinical practice
and to enable students to become
authoritative in the critical evaluation
of philosophical paradigms and value
systems in relation to therapeutic work.
Our guiding principles and
responsibilities are to inspire, educate
and develop the next generation in the
psychological therapies, empowering
students through excellence in learning
and teaching, research and enterprise.
Higher learning, higher
standards
While we are primarily a place of
higher education, with our core work
in developing the next generation
of counsellors and psychotherapists,
we continue to offer support in the
community by providing counselling
through a low-cost clinic open from
9.00 am to 9.30pm, Monday to
Friday. Counselling and Psychotherapy
Service provides a training placement
for our students and a service to the
community. The clinic currently offers
130 placements per year, with students
expected to see up to three clients per
week. All clients are initially assessed
by a team of experienced assessors.
As a result of the fact that MCPS is a
research clinic, students are expected to
evaluate their work with clients using
agreed clinical measures. Students
also have an ethical responsibility to
regularly present their work in clinical
supervision in strict confidence, thereby
maintaining continuous feedback for
training and practitioner development.
From MCPS, multiple research
projects have developed, resulting in
the foundation of a research clinic,
with Metanoia Institute being the
largest provider of counselling and
psychotherapy in the UK and Europe.
The development of counselling and
psychotherapy is not static but is
constantly working towards new ways
of supporting those with mental health
issues. To illustrate, we work closely
with the voluntary, health and higher
education sectors to deliver training
provision for the improvement of mental
health support for children and young
people. In 2011 a programme known as
Children and Young People’s Improving
Access to Psychological Therapies was
introduced and, as part of this, we
worked with King’s College London
and the Anna Freud Centre to train
counsellors to work in Ealingschools.
Here4You
Our ethos is
defined by an
understanding
that no single
approach to
therapy is
significantly
more effective
than any other
and that all have
something to
offer the
practising
clinician
“
“
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
20 | METANOIA INSTITUTE
Here for You
We have our own “Here for You”
provision within nine local schools,
offering a counselling service for staff
and students. Out of the nine schools,
five came through the “Recruit to
Train” route and four schools invest in
this themselves. Within these schools
for the academic year 2018/19, 246
students received personal counselling
for issues such as anxiety and stress,
family, self-esteem and anger,
behavioural problems, self-harm,
bullying, trauma/abuse and self-identity.
Clearly, more funding is required within
schools for this important work.
School-based counselling can help and
may alleviate psychological distress
within schools. The Ethos Project,
funded by the ESRC between 2016 and
2018 was a randomised control trial led
by Professor Mike Cooper, University
of Roehampton, that took place in 18
schools. Our own Dr Peter Pearce was
the clinical lead, working with a team
of counsellors trained and employed
by the institute. Assessment criteria
for inclusion in the trial was: students
between 13 and 16 years of age who
had been experiencing moderate to
severe levels of emotionaldistress.
Its aim was to compare and evaluate
the clinical cost-effectiveness of
school-based humanistic counselling
with that being offered as part of
pastoral care in a school setting. Such
research will help inform national
guidelines for mental health support in
schoolcounselling.
A degree of progress
Improving access to the psychological
therapies is a key aim for the Institute.
Working with the NICE recommended
Person-Centred Experiential
Counselling for Depression has placed
us in a key position, as the approved
provider for the central and southern
region of England, to work with
colleagues in the NHS for training
within the IAPT service, supporting
patient choice and to ensure a range
of therapies to meet patients’ needs.
From humble beginnings, with just
three people having a vision to improve
the mental health of those in need
through counselling, therapy and
research, we have developed into
one of the United Kingdom’s leading
providers of specialist higher education
in the disciplines of psychotherapy,
counselling psychology and counselling.
We have 1,200 students, a budget of
over £4 million, two premises in Ealing
and employ 140 staff. We have applied
for degree awarding powers and
wish to become the first university for
counselling andpsychotherapy.
The
development
of counselling
and
psychotherapy
is not static but
is constantly
working
towards new
ways of
supporting
those with
mental health
issues
“
“
Students in the garden
at Ealing

metanoia.ac.uk

This article was sponsored by Metanoia Institute. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss

Even by the standards of the day –this has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable years in British politics.

The leadership election we’ve just seen marks a huge moment in our country’s history. This government is taking a decisive new direction, embracing the opportunities of Brexit and preparing our country to flourish outside the EU.

As international trade secretary, I’ll be driving forward work on the free trade agreements that are going to be a priority for the government. Free trade isn’t just an abstract concept bandied around by technocrats. It is crucial for a strong economy and for the ability of families to make ends meet. Free trade benefits people in every part of our country, as British firms export to new markets and people doing the weekly shop have access to a wider choice of goods at lower prices.

The essence of free trade is in the title: freedom. It’s about giving people the power to exchange their goods without heavy government taxation or interference. Commerce and free exchange are the engine room of prosperity and social mobility. I’m determined to tackle the forces who want to hold that back.

One of my priorities is agreeing an exciting new free trade deal with the US, building on the great relationship between our two countries and the Prime Minister and US President. But I’ll also be talking to other partners including New Zealand, Australia and fast-growing Asian markets.

And with the EU too, we want a friendly and constructive relationship, as constitutional equals, and as friends and partners in facing the challenges that lie ahead – a relationship based on a deep free trade agreement. Our country produces some of the world’s most successful exports, and the opportunity to bring these to the rest of the world should make us all excited about the future. It is this excitement, optimism and ambition which I believe will come to define this government.

For too long now, we have been told Britain isn’t big or important enough to survive outside the EU – that we have to accept a deal that reflects our reduced circumstances. I say that’s rubbish. With the right policies in place, we can be the most competitive, free-thinking, prosperous nation on Earth exporting to the world and leading in new developments like AI. To do that, we’ll give the brilliant next generation of entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. Since 2015, there has been a staggering 85 per cent rise in the number of businesses set up by 18 to 24 year olds – twice the level set up by the same age group in France and Germany. We’ll help them flourish by championing enterprise, cutting taxes and making regulation flexible and responsive to their needs.

As we do that, we’ll level up and unite all parts of the UK with great transport links, fibre broadband in every home and proper school funding, so everyone shares in our country’s success.

2019 has been the year of brewing economic and political revolution. 2020 will be the year when a revitalised Conservative government turbo charges the economy, boosts prospects for people across the country, and catapults Britain back to the forefront of the world stage.



Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
Secretary of State for International Development