Starting Off in Therapy — Foundations & First‑Session Skills Training

Starting Off in Therapy — Foundations & Skills Training (Jun 27 – Jul 25 2025) | The Thought Co.

Why This Training?

Newly‑minted therapists often feel adrift when they see their first clients. This five‑week, psychologist‑designed series turns theory into confident practice—covering intake skills, case conceptualisation, safe‑space structuring, process work and termination—so you can start sessions feeling grounded, ethical and effective.

  • Bridges textbook theories with real‑world client conversations.
  • Hands‑on: role‑plays, form‑building, peer feedback.
  • Focus on therapist self‑awareness, legalities and crisis protocols.
  • Live guidance from senior Thought Co. supervisors.

Session Calendar

We meet five consecutive Fridays, 9 AM – 11:30 AM IST:

  • Friday, 27 Jun 2025
  • Friday, 4 Jul 2025
  • Friday, 11 Jul 2025
  • Friday, 18 Jul 2025
  • Friday, 25 Jul 2025

Fee: ₹2,500 for all five sessions.

Curriculum Snapshot

Day 1 – Foundations & Understanding Clients

  • Why clients seek therapy; mapping inner worlds to observed data.
  • Theoretical lenses: Adler, Engel, Psychoanalysis, CBT, Trauma, Horney, Erikson.
  • Conversational intake interview & building your own Google‑Form performa.

Day 2 – Case Conceptualisation

  • The Eight P’s framework (Presentation → Prognosis).
  • Conceptualising through CBT, psychodynamic, family‑systems & trauma lenses.
  • Hands‑on: analyse sample cases & refine your performa.

Day 3 – Creating a Safe & Structured Therapy Space

  • Rogers, Polyvagal & Working Alliance principles.
  • Session structure, boundaries, availability & legal/ethical policies.
  • Therapist feelings, grounding, imposter syndrome & crisis planning.
  • Role‑play: intake with debrief.

Day 4 – Therapy Processes & Managing Dynamics

  • Theme extraction, Malan’s Triangles, counter‑transference work.
  • Addressing defences; handling aggressive or shut‑down clients.
  • Peer counselling practice.

Day 5 – Termination, Crisis & Legalities

  • Termination processes: planned, therapist‑initiated, ghosting.
  • Crisis & suicide‑ideation response basics.
  • Overview of MHA, RCI Act & allied health bill; networking next steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Conduct a confident, theory‑informed intake interview.
  • Build concise biopsychosocial case formulations.
  • Create safety, structure and clear boundaries from session 1.
  • Navigate counter‑transference & challenging client behaviours.
  • Terminate ethically and understand basic Indian mental‑health laws.

Meet Your Facilitators

Sessions are led by senior therapists from The Thought Co. with extensive supervision experience. Expect warmth, humour and plenty of real‑case illustrations.

FAQs

Is this beginner‑friendly?

Yes. It’s tailored for first‑time or early‑career therapists, interns and counselling students.

Will sessions be recorded?

Recordings are available for 14 days so you can review or catch up.

Do I get a certificate?

Attend all five Fridays (live or via recording) and receive a certificate of completion from The Thought Co.

Payment & refunds?

Scan the QR shown at checkout to pay ₹2,500. Full refund if you cancel ≥ 7 days before 27 Jun; after that you can transfer your seat.
    Register Here