Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy

We offer this Diploma in 2 versions:

1.  Online: September 2024 to July 2025 – Zoom – 20 days
2.  In class: February 2025 to December 2025 – London – 20 days

We are now accepting applications for both intakes.

We run a number of dedicated seminars on sex, sexuality, psychosexual therapy and relationship therapy, including relationship enhancement. We endorse and collaborate with the London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy, a two year training accredited by COSRT, NCIP and Middlesex University.

For a direct link to the website of the London Diploma click here.

Our Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy with couples requires specific skills rather than those applicable to general psychotherapy work. This course aims to build on existing psychotherapy and counselling skills and to widen these to include systemic and psychosexual skills. We support individual students in building on, enhancing and honing their practice when working with couples. Our intention is to enable participants to work with complex and multi-faceted presentations at a deep level incorporating a variety of psychotherapeutic models within the couple framework.

This Diploma is a route to NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) training accreditation once the London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy (provided by LDPRT) has been successfully completed.

Entry requirements
Counsellors, psychotherapists or related professions with a minimum of 2 years training.


Accreditations 2025 in-room
This version is accredited by NCIP (link here) and in part fulfilment of the NCPS (link here) pathway into the Accredited Register of the Professional Standards Authority. It also leads directly onto NCPS’s new Relationship Therapist Register (RTR) if students become a member of this organisation.
At this moment COSRT (link here) offers only a thematic qualification.


Accreditations 2024 on-line: zoom
This version is accredited by NCIP (link here) and in part fulfilment of the NCPS (link here) pathway into the Accredited Register of the Professional Standards Authority. It also leads directly onto NCPS’s new Relationship Therapist Register (RTR) if students become a member of this organisation.

The online course is also accredited as a Professional qualification as a Relationship Therapist (link here) by COSRT (link here). This requires student membership of COSRT (at reduced rates)  while on the course. You will be eligible to apply for entry onto COSRT Relationship Therapist Register once 100 clinical hours under a registered COSRT supervisor have been met an additional reflective pieces have been submitted after each module.

Accredited Thematic Level 7NCIP LOGO new 2022   NCPS_Training_Accredited

We run a number of dedicated seminars on sex, sexuality, psychosexual therapy and relationship therapy, including relationship enhancement. We endorse and collaborate with the London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy, a two year training accredited by COSRT, NCP and Middlesex University.

This Diploma is a route to NCPS (link here) training accreditation once the London Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy (provided by LDPRT) has been successfully completed.

Dates

Zoom, online

September 2024 to July 2025. Times: 10.00 – 16.30 hrs. 10 modules of 2 days, Sunday and Monday, 20 days in total.

Weekend 1: Sunday 15 September and Monday 16 September 2024
Weekend 2: Sunday 6 October and Monday 7 October 2024
Weekend 3: Sunday 10 November and Monday 11 November 2024
Weekend 4: Sunday 19 January and Monday 20 January 2025
Weekend 5: Sunday 9 February and Monday 10 February 2025
Weekend 6: Sunday 9 March and Monday 10 March 2025
Weekend 7: Sunday 6 April and Monday 7 April 2025
Weekend 8: Sunday 11 May and Monday 12 May 2025
Weekend 9: Sunday 8 June and Monday 9 June 2025
Weekend 10: Sunday 6 July and Monday 7 July 2025

In class, face to face

February 2025 to December 2025. Times: 10.00 – 16.30 hrs. 10 weekends, 20 days in total.

TBC
Weekend 1: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2025
Weekend 2: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025
Weekend 3: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April 2025
Weekend 4: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 2025
Weekend 5: Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June 2025
Weekend 6: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2025
Weekend 7: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 2025
Weekend 8: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October 2025
Weekend 9: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November 2025
Weekend 10: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025

Fees

Fees for zoom version
£3250.00 for the year (incl 20% VAT). We require a deposit of £250 to secure your place followed by 10 monthly instalments of £300. Applicants who wish to pay for the year a one off payment, are offered a 2.5% reduction in fees.

Fees for face to face version
£3,395.00 for the year (incl 20% VAT). We require a deposit of £245 to secure your place followed by 10 monthly instalments of £315.00. Applicants who wish to pay for the year a one off payment, are offered a 2.5% reduction in fees.

Testimonials

Testimonials 2022
“I absolutely loved the course and the space you all created for our growth. Your choice of students and teachers was absolutely perfect, allowing all of us to experience the rich range of our society which ultimately will be reflected by our clients.”

“Your course is a deeply transformative experience on a personal level.”

“Thank you to you, Jaap, David and your fabulous team of lecturers.”

“A very informative course, brought to life by the enthusiasm and expertise of the teachers. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interesting in working with couples or those in relationships.”

“One of the best courses I have taken. Great material and quality of teaching. Fantastic opportunity to network with other therapists. I feel I have grown a lot both professionally and personally.”

“I especially enjoyed the group was the most diverse group I have ever been in. This was so refreshing for me as I am also a person with non-British background. The positivity and high standards both in the group and our teachers gave me the confidence and the passion to work with couples and the same time staying humble and recognising that there is always so much more to learn.”

“Whilst I had already qualified as a couples/relationship therapist this course supported me in developing and honing my personal psychotherapeutic approach to working with couples and growing my confidence in this work. This was achieved through the leadership of the course, quality of the visiting lecturers, excellent support materials and highly supportive peer group.”

“The couples therapy course provided an enriching and challenging learning experience. Although at times it was challenging to navigate through the different personalities in the group, it provided an opportunity for personal growth and reflection. Through the course, I have learned to identify and set personal boundaries, a valuable lesson that will be beneficial in my work as a therapist.”

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the faculty for their warm and welcoming attitude throughout the course. Their generosity in greeting the group with flowers, biscuits, and fruit each month was a kind gesture that added to the overall positive experience.”

“Overall, the course has provided me with valuable skills and knowledge that I will carry with me throughout my career. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with such a supportive and inspiring group of people.”

Testimonials 2021
“A great range of subjects and presenters.”

“A very important learning experience for me, supported by a very high quality faculty. ”

“Taking the Advanced Diploma in couple therapy not only helped me grow on a professional level but on a personal level as well. Meeting new people and working in a very supportive environment has enriched my growth. The faculty members are all very supportive and made me feel very safe while helping me to improve my confidence on both personal and professional levels. I highly recommend this course to anyone who’s looking to develop themselves and their work.”

“NAOS are a tremendous organisation to train with, I undertook their Advanced Diploma in Couple and Relationship Therapy and it has enhanced my practice, my understanding and my own relationships hugely.”

“The faculty are extremely knowledgeable in their field of expertise and I would highly recommend any course they offer!”

“This is an absolutely outstanding course. It is a must for anyone considering working in the field of relationship therapy. Thank you so much for everything this year Naos!”

“A very important learning experience for me, supported by a very high quality faculty.”

“As a recently qualified counselor I was keen to expand into the world of couples therapy. I feel privileged to have benefitted from so many expert tutors, who were generous in sharing their knowledge, experience and resources. The course was exactly the preparation I needed for couples work.”

“Informative and engaging, great material, great tutors, the couples diploma has it all.  I look forward to future training with NAOS!”

“Up to date and relevant content delivered by experts tutors. I’m signing up for more NAOS courses to enrich my current psychotherapy practice.  I cannot thank you enough”

Testimonials 2020/21
“This course is a comprehensive training in couples work, with highly knowledgeable and skilled trainers, that gives counsellors an excellent grounding in working with couples.” 2020/2021

“Studying with NAOS is one of the best decisions I ever made. You know a course is good when you feel genuinely sad that it is over.” 2020/2021

“I am so pleased that I chose to do the Advanced diploma in Couples Therapy with NAOS. You offer a very good couples training and you are, without question, at the top of your game. Your teaching team brings a wide and deep knowledge and experience which overall creates a very colourful and rich tapestry of learning. I feel that the course has been a positive experience, a privilege to hear and learn from people who are passionate about their work.” 2020

“This was a lively interactive course that deepened and enriched my own experiences as well as enhancing my practice in the therapy room. The facilitators are highly experienced, thoughtful and challenging. The peer group was international, eclectic and enlightening. I had a very special experience and learned a lot. I would thoroughly recommend the course.” 2019/2020

“This course is a must for any couple therapist, it makes you grow personally and professionally, gives you great tools to work with, encourages your creativity, and offers you the most contemporary thinking on therapy.” 2019/2020

Testimonials 2019
“Thank you for this past year but also the past three years. I have had the most amazing experience with you and the entire vital spirit that NAOS has been to me.” Student 2019

“The experiences, the people, the teaching and enlightenment, the place, the insides and the outsides, everything has contributed to profound changes within in me other personally and in my work. Thank you really doesn’t feel a significant enough phrase to express the gratitude I feel.” Student 2019

“I have really enjoyed training with your over the last 3 years. They have been great trainings and wise investments.” Student 2019

“Bernd is warm, irreverent, brave, experienced, shaped by grit, free.” Student 2019

“The year on this course has given me so much, mostly time with incredible thinkers who, as a group of professionals both trainers and attendees, have contributed to broadening my mind and my approach to the way I am able to work with clients. NAOS is a centre of excellence and brings together excellent people to learn and grow with. Thank you.” Student 2019

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Naos learning experience and the insights into couples work I gained on the Diploma. I have used what I have learned in my day to day practice and got the chance to meet some really fantastic, skilled people that I would otherwise not have met. The teaching staff form a well-integrated network of clinicians who seem to have worked together and formed an approach to the work that I was very interested to learn about.” Student 2019

Testimonials 2017
“Another brilliant day facilitated by Bernd. Experiential work hugely beneficial and insightful. Thank you!” Student 2017

“The course has been terribly enriching and thought provoking. I left feeling much better equipped to think about and work with couples. I was also able to integrate the knowledge and use it into my individual work. I recommend this course wholeheartedly.” Dr Yasmine Haimovici, 2016

“Each of the course modules gave me unique insights which is very useful in my work. I learnt the theory but also how to use them practically in therapy. It had enhanced my level of working with couples.” Rima Hawkins, 2016

“The course gave me a great foundation from which to understand the dynamics between couples and tools to assist them. I am much more confident about tackling some of the more complex situations that couples bring to the consultant room” RG, 2016

“I highly recommend the Advanced Diploma Course for anyone currently working with couples or anyone who is interested in working with couple relationships.  The course content was informative and challenging, stimulating and insightful for the couple process and relationship developments.  The course tutors offered their experience and knowledge to inform theory and bring alive practice, which I valued as a real learning resource.  I felt supported and encouraged by the structure of the course, the delivery of the material plus discussion and role play that transformed theory and learning into practice.
I valued and enjoyed my time with you and continue to work with couples in a more confident and, I hope, more competent way than I did before completing the course.” J.M. 2016

“It’s been a pleasure to study with you and get to know you over the year. Many thanks for an enriching experience and allowing me to learn more about myself.” David Piner, 2014

“I was delighted to be a part of it.” Dominic Davies, 2014

“I found this to be an exciting and diverse training, giving me many more skills to integrate into my work with couples.” Priya, 2014

“It was a lovely ending, very graceful, kind and elegant…” Carolyn Cowan, 2014

“Thanks for the ending. I certainly hope it’s the start of some beginnings in terms of keeping in touch. I’d love to catch up and see how things are going with everyone.” Janine, 2014

Faculty

Bernd C. Leygraf  and David Piner (Course Directors), Effie Soultani, Dr Joanne Collins, Ana Rhodes, Judi Keshet-Orr, Jaap Westerbos, Serge Nicolson, Keeley Mardon, Steven Hayward

Location

At NAOS premises, 74 Castlebar Road, Ealing – London W5 2DD

Full Course Content

The Curriculum includes

  • The role of the therapist in couples work
  • A psychotherapeutic and developmental framework
  • Stages of Couples Relationship: symbiosis to differentiation, practicing, rapprochement to mutual interdependence
  • Diagnosis of the couple’s stages including stress and anxiety within the couple relationship 
  • Principles for Intervention which will include managing betrayal and affairs
  • A critical review of sexual aversion in the couple 
  • Narcissistic-Borderline couples
  • A synopsis and review of Developmental and Transpersonal models of relationships 
  • Relationship enhancement models vs. couples therapy 
  • Mental health issues in either one or both of the couple 
  • Working with same-sex couples 
  • A culturally sensitive approach to ethnically diverse clients
  • Domestic violence
  • Neuroscience and gendered relationships

Entry requirements
Counsellors, psychotherapists or related professions with a minimum of 2 years training.

Assessment

  • A case study of a couple of 5000 words which is submitted in March 2023  (extensions are given if necessary)
  • Attendance of no less than 85% is required
  • Course director and faculty feedback
  • Peer and self-assessment

Dates

 

Zoom, online: September 2024 to July 2025. Times: 10.00 – 16.30 hrs. 10 modules of 2 days, Sunday and Monday, 20 days in total.

Weekend 1: Sunday 15 September and Monday 16 September 2024
Weekend 2: Sunday 6 October and Monday 7 October 2024
Weekend 3: Sunday 10 November and Monday 11 November 2024
Weekend 4: Sunday 19 January and Monday 20 January 2025
Weekend 5: Sunday 9 February and Monday 10 February 2025
Weekend 6: Sunday 9 March and Monday 10 March 2025
Weekend 7: Sunday 6 April and Monday 7 April 2025
Weekend 8: Sunday 11 May and Monday 12 May 2025
Weekend 9: Sunday 8 June and Monday 9 June 2025
Weekend 10: Sunday 6 July and Monday 7 July 2025

In class, face to face: February 2025 to December 2025. Times: 10.00 – 16.30 hrs. 10 weekends, 20 days in total.

TBC
Weekend 1: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2025
Weekend 2: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025
Weekend 3: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April 2025
Weekend 4: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 2025
Weekend 5: Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June 2025
Weekend 6: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2025
Weekend 7: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 2025
Weekend 8: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October 2025
Weekend 9: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 November 2025
Weekend 10: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025

Accreditation
Students may undertake this training in part fulfilment of the Accredited Register (Professional Standards Board), as a pathway into UKCP registration or BACP accreditation.
The course is accredited with NCPS and NCIP and faculty members are all accredited with national accrediting bodies (AHPP, NCP, NCS, BACP, UKCP, COSRT)

Fees for zoom version
£3250.00 for the year (incl 20% VAT). We require a deposit of £250 to secure your place followed by 10 monthly instalments of £300. Applicants who wish to pay for the year a one off payment, are offered a 2.5% reduction in fees.

Fees for face to face version
£3,395.00 for the year (incl 20% VAT). We require a deposit of £245 to secure your place followed by 10 monthly instalments of £315.00. Applicants who wish to pay for the year a one off payment, are offered a 2.5% reduction in fees.

Enquiries and Application
If you require more information, please fill in an application form (click here). We will contact you as soon as possible.
All applicants are required to complete the application form. This will be followed by a telephone interview. If offered a place, a course contract will have to be completed and an initial non-refundable deposit of £250 or £245 to secure a place will be required.

Zoom online version

Zoom, online: September 2024 to July 2025. Times: 10.00 – 16.30 hrs. 10 modules of 2 days, Sunday and Monday, 20 days in total.

Weekend 1: Sunday 15 September and Monday 16 September 2024
Weekend 2: Sunday 6 October and Monday 7 October 2024
Weekend 3: Sunday 10 November and Monday 11 November 2024
Weekend 4: Sunday 19 January and Monday 20 January 2025
Weekend 5: Sunday 9 February and Monday 10 February 2025
Weekend 6: Sunday 9 March and Monday 10 March 2025
Weekend 7: Sunday 6 April and Monday 7 April 2025
Weekend 8: Sunday 11 May and Monday 12 May 2025
Weekend 9: Sunday 8 June and Monday 9 June 2025
Weekend 10: Sunday 6 July and Monday 7 July 2025

Accreditations

Accreditations

2024 in-room
This version is accredited by NCIP and in part fulfilment of the NCS pathway into the Accredited Register of the Professional Standards Authority and as thematic qualification by COSRT (link here). For COSRT registration this means that the equivalent standards have to be evidenced such as COSRT supervision and 100 hrs of relationship therapy practice. To join the Relationship Therapist Register (TR) graduates may progress onto this via NCS

2024 on-line: zoom
This version is accredited by NCIP and in part fulfilment of the NCS pathway into the Accredited Register of the Professional Standards Authority. It may also lead directly onto the NCS new register at Relationship Therapist.The course is also accredited as a Professional qualification as Relationship Therapist (link here) by COSRT and it therefore requires, at reduced rates, student membership while on the course. This means that there is automatic entry onto the COSRT Register as Relationship Therapist once 100 clinical hours under COSRT supervision have been met.