The Penny Parks Foundation

The advantages of using this powerful and versatile 'stand-alone' therapy model are shorter waiting lists, a chance to reduce the 'revolving door' syndrome with clients, and be able to offer a service that is more compassionate (which means without taking clients through details of traumatic experiences).

The 18 day course (two-day modules held once a month over 9 months  or three 6 day sessions held every 2 months) offers unique tools and skills to enable practising therapists or counsellors to work quickly, competently, thoroughly, confidently and compassionately. The PICT Childhood Abuse Training manual contains handouts for clients and has every exercise scripted for ease of use.

PICT students gain knowledge and techniques to deal with all aspects of the damaging results of sexual, physical and emotional childhood abuse, as well as, a wide range of other emotional problems like eating disorders, OCD, DID, self harm, ritual abuse, anxiety or depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, working with abusers, grief and loss issues (including murder, suicide, abortion and miscarriage, pets), and have the ability to assist with Critical Incident Debriefing (witnessing/experiencing highly traumatic events).

Throughout the course participants can expect to learn, laugh, cry, change, develop and relax. The training format is explanation, demonstration and practice. Participants will leave the course with a full 'tool kit' and the confidence to use it comfortably and effectively with childhood abuse, emotional problems and any issue found to be connected with the belief system.

Additional optional training in the PICT Quick Change Therapy format is also available 1 year after acheiving PICT Practitioner status. In comparison to traditional weekly, one-hour sessions, this QC intensive therapy model offers the equivalent of five months work in as little as five days. Successful students will earn certification as a PICT Practitioner QC.

PICT Trainers teach the course in their local area, but some are happy to also make arrangements to teach the PICT course at outside venues. This could be organised by any group who wishes training provided in their own area. The group would be responsible for providing the students, venue (room/s large enough to accommodate the students working in pairs), flip chart, refreshments, trainer accommodation and travelling expenses. Consequently, each group member would be granted the reduced ‘early bird’ fees for the entire course.

Contact the PICT Trainer of your choice for any queries and for an application form.

Susan Osborne: Beccles, Suffolk.
t:   07966 544336
e:   info@angliatherapy.co.uk
w:   www.angliatherapy.co.uk
Training formats offered:
  Weekdays only (Thursday/Friday)
  Local area and may also be booked for any area

Dawn Leaney: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
t:   07914 252039 or 01480 570141
e:   dawn.leaney@sky.com
Training formats offered:
  Weekends
  Local area and may also be booked for any area

Lindsay Schofield: Croydon, Greater London
t:   0208 6687527
e:   lindsay@citherapy.co.uk
w:   www.citherapy.co.uk
Training formats offered:
  Weekends – Weekdays (Thursday/Friday)
  Local area and surrounding counties

Joan Claridge: Norwich, Norfolk
t:   07789 726952
e:   joanclaridge@hotmail.com
Training formats offered:
  Weekends or Weekdays
  Local area and may also be booked for any area

PICT Childhood Abuse Training Course fees:
The fee per module: £250.00
*Early bird fee: £200

Certification fee: £35.00

To qualify for the early bird fee:

• initial booking two months or more before the course start
• any group who book a Trainer to come to them and provide venue, students and Trainer accommodation and travel expenses will receive early bird fees for the entire course

As the course continues, students wishing to maintain the early bird fee must ensure payment for ongoing modules is received three weeks prior to each module start. Module notes will not be sent out to students until their payment is received. Failing to meet the deadline will automatically bring payment (for that module) back to the full fee of £250.00 and the student may jeopardise their learning process by receiving their module notes late.

PICT Childhood Abuse Training Quick Change Module fees:
Module Ten fee: £425.00
*Early bird fee: £375.00

Certification fee: £35.00

Throughout the course participants can expect to learn, laugh, cry, change, develop and relax. The training format is explanation, demonstration and practise. Participants will leave the course with a full 'tool kit' and the confidence to use it comfortably and effectively with childhood abuse, emotional problems and any issue found to be connected with the belief system.

PICT is an experiential course, there is no role-play utilised, students will be expected to use personal material in all of the exercises.

Therefore, if any potential student feels s/he has a large amount of unresolved personal material, or material that feels overwhelming, it is suggested that therapy with a PICT therapist be arranged before enrolling on the PICT Childhood Abuse Training. All students will find personal therapeutic benefit during the course, but for those who need a large amount of undivided one to one attention, the course format is inappropriate.

Individual students may be 'tasked' (given specific assignments during the course) should the trainer feel it would be of positive benefit in their development towards becoming a PICT therapist.

Students will gain knowledge and techniques to deal with all aspects of the damaging results of sexual, physical and emotional childhood abuse, as well as, a wide range of other emotional problems, such as, eating disorders, OCD, DID, self harm, ritual abuse, anxiety or depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, phobias, agoraphobia, working with abusers, grief and loss issues (including murder, suicide, abortion and miscarriage, pets, jobs, relationships, etc.), and have the ability to assist with Critical Incident Debriefing (witnessing/experiencing highly traumatic events).

The course includes training in the PICT Quick Change Therapy format (developed in 1996). In comparison to traditional weekly, one hour sessions, this intensive therapy model offers the equivalent of five months work in five days. Successful students will be qualified to practise the PICT Quick Change Therapy with their clients.

Click here to view the full course syllabus

A PICT Practitioner certification involves more than a person's ability to learn and use techniques. The personal qualities each therapist needs to fully engage with clients and make the best of the PICT method are also assessed. Those personal qualities are flexibility and adaptability; self awareness and willingness to embrace change; and of course, a high level of self respect and integrity.

A PICT therapist needs to be secure and comfortable with his or her own material so that he or she can readily step into the often fearful and traumatic world of their client's inner child. From this position they are more likely to sense the information needed by their client at each step and enhance the quality of the work done. The course format is based on experiential learning - taking each student through a thorough 'client' experience to give each individual an opportunity to clear any personal material that could be a possible restriction in facilitating clients.

• Contact the Trainer of your choice for an application form, course dates and amount of student spaces available.
• Complete and sign the application form and cancellation policy form, submit a copy of your professional qualifications and post to the trainer. You will then be contacted to arrange an interview.
• If the interview is successful your references will be contacted.
• If your reference check is successful you will be notified of your placement on the course by the Penny Parks Foundation, invoiced and sent any further course information.
• Upon receipt of your first module payment your placement will be confirmed and the first module’s notes posted to you.

• Students are expected to attend the full 18 training days to receive PICT Certification. Therefore up to two days missed through illness or unforeseen circumstances must be made up by booking private tuition with the trainer, at extra cost.
• Leaving early on the last day of any module will be considered a day missed and a CPD certificate of attendance will not be issued. Therefore it is expected that students will arrange their travel plans and social engagements to fully accommodate the course hours – there will be no exceptions.
• ‘Rescuing the Inner Child’ and ‘The Counsellor’s Guide to Parks Inner Child Therapy’ are optional reading assignments, to becompleted before or during the course.
• Module notes will be sent two weeks before the start of each module. It is mandatory that students completely read and familiarise themselves with the material before the module starts. Students are instructed NOT to use any PICT technique contained in the module notes prior to attending the module and receiving proper training.
• Certification will be issued only on satisfactory completion of the course. Successful students will receive certification as a PICT Practitioner.
• At the end of each module students will complete assessment sheets, self graded from answer sheets, and handed in to the trainer on the day.
• After each module students will also receive evaluation sheets from the PICT Trainer assessing pairs work and the personal qualities mentioned on page two.
• Students may be ‘tasked’ by the Trainer to help the student reach their full potential as a PICT therapist. Tasks will vary according to the situation.
• Those attaining the PICT Practitioner Certification will be eligible to apply for entry into the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) and the PPF website. (PPF website fees are £25 per year).

Most PICT Trainers teach the course in the same location that they live, but others are happy to also make arrangements to teach the PICT course at outside venues. This could be organised by any group who wishes training in their location. The group would be responsible for providing the students, venue (room/s large enough to accommodate the students working in pairs), flip chart, refreshments, trainer accommodation and travelling expenses. Consequently, each group member would be granted the reduced ‘early bird’ fees for the entire course.