This course is intended for trainees who plan to pursue a professional career as psychotherapists.

The training is accredited by the Humanistic and Integrative College of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) for the purpose of registration. Trainees completing the course will normally take the international examination set by the European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA) for accreditation as a Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA) in the field of Psychotherapy. Success in the CTA examination gives you the right to be listed in the UKCP’s National Register as a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist.

We offer an MSc in TA Psychotherapy and a Postgraduate Diploma in TA Therapeutic Counselling, validated and quality assured by Middlesex University. Work for the Masters’ degree is closely integrated with our existing framework of training and examination for accreditation as Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA). MSc students follow the training course already described for CTA, and the final written and oral examinations for the CTA are also the final examinations for the award of the MSc

Postgraduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling

Our Diploma course has been validated by Middlesex University for the award of their Postgraduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Counselling as an exit award from the Middlesex University MSc programme. The training and final examinations for this Diploma are identical to those for The Berne Institute’s in-house diploma. However, students wishing to take the Postgraduate Diploma will be registered with Middlesex University on the MSc programme as well as with The Berne Institute. The PGDip is not an award in its own right but is an exit award from the MSc programme. Students have to submit a number of written assignments for formal marking during the course. The duration of the PGDip is 2 years (min) of part time study, with enrolment normally taking place in the third year of post Foundation training.

External accreditation (BACP)

Trainees wishing to gain accreditation by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) must undertake the external accreditation procedure set forth by the BACP itself. Contact hours accrued on The Berne Institute’s Diploma course (including the Foundation Year) can normally be counted toward the number of hours’ training required by BACP (this will be checked by BACP in every individual case). Berne Institute trainers will be glad to assist trainees in preparing materials for the BACP accreditation process.

The UKATA Diploma

Members of UKATA who are awarded the Berne Institute Diploma can also apply for the UKATA Diploma (also available for all TA fields).  More details can be found here.  Note that you need to log in to the UKATA site to see this information.f you do decide to progress to further training in TA, you will need to pass the assessment for the Foundation Certificate in TA, which you take at the end of Foundation Year. The assessment includes three parts:

Completion of the EATA/ITAA standard 10-question “TA 101 Written Exam” (about one A4 page per question).

A short case study (about 2000 words) on how you have applied the ideas of the course in a personal or a work situation.

A Personal Journal of Learning (about one A4 page for each of the 10 training weekends), which you are encouraged to compile in whatever creative way you wish.

Upon successful completion of the Foundation course:

you will receive the Berne Foundation Certificate and are eligible for the UKATA Transaction Analysis Award.

you will also be eligible for the “TA 101” certificate of the European Association for Transactional Analysis.This course – the “official TA 101” – is recognised by the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) and the European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA) as their standard approved introduction to TA. Completion of the course affords you the “TA 101” certificate, a necessary requirement if you should later wish to enter accredited training as a TA practitioner.

The course content centres around four modules, or themes:

Module 1: Problem analysis, diagnosis and intervention planning, including the study of, for example, subjects such as histrionic adaption e.g. Shizoid Process, Borderline and Narcissistic Structure, Obsessive Compulsive Personality adaption and mental health issues.

Module 2: Practical applications of Transactional Analysis theory, including the study of, for example, bereavement and loss, ethics and the TA professional, diversity and intersectionality.

Module 3: Comparative approaches and schools in Transactional Analysis, including the study of, for example, the cathexis and classical schools, redecision therapy, TA and spirituality and the relational approach.

Module 4: Modes and models of intervention and change, including the study of, for example, impasses and resolution, treatment planning and client protection, working with sexuality, dreams and fantasy, neuroscience and TA.

You must normally have completed the Foundation Year, or a comparable course at another EATA-accredited training institute comprising at least 120 hours’ TA training, and have a degree or degree-equivalent qualification.