The PICT Childhood Abuse Training - Syllabus
What to Expect from PICT Childhood Abuse Training

Throughout the course participants can expect to learn, laugh, cry, change, develop, relax and become inspired. 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 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, 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).

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 fully understand the client’s perspective and to also clear any personal material that could be a possible restriction when facilitating clients.

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

Important note: 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. During the course all students will find personal therapeutic benefit, but for those who need a large amount of undivided one to one attention, the course format is inappropriate.

The PICT Childhood Abuse Training 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
  • adaptability
  • self‑awareness
  • willingness to embrace change
  • self‑respect
  • integrity

Students will be assessed against these qualities, as well as, assessed on written work and pairs work.
Students can be unsuccessful in achieving PICT Certification through failure in the Questions Sheets, the Appraisal of Personal Qualities or both. The PPF does not present PICT Certification to those who can answer all the questions correctly, yet lack the Personal Qualities needed in a PICT therapist. PICT is a powerful therapeutic resolution model for trauma based issues, which means it is crucial for the practitioner to administer PICT from a sound emotional base that encompasses the Personal Qualities mentioned above.

Individual students may also be ‘tasked’ (given specific undertakings during the course) should the trainer feel it would be of positive benefit in their development towards becoming a PICT therapist.
 
PICT is based on varied and flexible scripted work, if potential students are unable to, or are averse to, reading aloud in a relaxed, conversational manner they will not be suitable for this course.
   
Additional optional training:
One year after achieving PICT Certification, and after having met the clinical practice criteria, students can add to their expertise the pioneering skills contained in PICT Quick Change Therapy format (developed in 1996). In comparison to traditional weekly, one hour sessions, this intensive therapy model can offer, at the least, the equivalent of five months work in five days and, at the most, remarkably shortened therapeutic time scales.  During the year after certification, students will be required to keep a clinical practice journal to evidence sufficient experience of using PICT, to apply for the PICT Quick Change training.

 

PICT Childhood Abuse Training Content

This eighteen day course offers unique tools and skills to enable practising therapists or counsellors to work quickly, competently, thoroughly, confidently and compassionately (which means without taking clients through details of traumatic experiences). The PICT Childhood Abuse Training manual includes handouts for clients and has every exercise scripted for ease of use.

  • The PICT Childhood Abuse Training is accredited through the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP).
  • The nine module course will contain 117 CPD hours.
  • The additional optional PICT QC module is 13 hours.
  • A PICT Certification document will be given upon successful completion of the nine module course with the title PICT Practitioner.
  • A PICT QC Certification document is given upon successful completion the PICT QC module, plus QC will be added to their title.
  • Successful students will be invited to be listed on The Penny Parks Foundation website [£25.00 per year].
  • Successful students will also qualify to apply for membership to the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP). NCP membership is normally secured after an exhaustive process. However, because of the high standard of PICT training, successful students (upon application) will qualify to apply for licentiate membership of the NCP and, if successful, be entitled to use the NCP logo on any literature.

Group size is limited to a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 students (those numbers can be doubled if two PICT Trainers choose to work together). Most courses will be held in the Trainer’s locality, but it can be arranged with some Trainers to hold the course for a group in their own locality (see PICT Trainers).

The course is offered in 9, two day, modules held once a month (week days or weekends).
Plus, one year later, after having met the clinical practice criteria, students can add to their expertise the pioneering skills contained in PICT Quick Change - Module Ten (two days).

Module hours are, 9.30 for 10am start – 5.30pm with an hour for lunch and two breaks.

Course content:
Module One – Understanding Childhood Abuse and PICT
Module Two – Creating Foundations for Change Work
Module Three – Changing Beliefs & Utilising Inner Resources
Module Four – Basic Technique to Resolve Trauma & to Rewrite Personal History 
Module Five – Comprehensive Procedure to Resolve Trauma 
Module Six - Comprehensive Procedure to Resolve Trauma II
Module Seven – Grief Work; Anger Management Manoeuvres
Module Eight – Release Limiting Perspectives; Challenging Client Issues
Module Nine – Trauma Stoppers, Phobia & Allergy Work

Module Ten - PICT Quick Change

Participants will learn to:

  • gain a thorough understanding of the childhood abuse experience
  • have the expertise to create rapid, lasting change and resolution for clients
  • establish fast and deep rapport
  • build the strong foundations that facilitate change
  • easily measure the change clients experience
  • identify and change limiting beliefs
  • recognise false memories
  • build a powerful resourceful state for clients
  • rewrite  client’s personal history

Students will also learn the PICT advanced skills that allow them to create resolution for:

  • childhood and adult traumas
  • all aspects of grief
  • phobias
  • allergies
  • anger
  • crippling inner conflict
  • the PTSD associated with witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
  • abreactions
  • learn the remarkable PICT Quick Change model

 

Who Can Apply?
  • Prospective students will be fully qualified counsellors, therapists or practitioners with one year minimum of practical experience since their qualification. Copies of the relevant qualification must be submitted with the application form.

 

How Do I Apply?
  • Contact the trainer of your choice to determine their course dates and 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 Training and invoiced.
  • Upon receipt of your first module payment your placement will be confirmed and the first module’s notes, and course ring binder, will be posted to you (see bold paragraph below about reading module notes).

 

PICT Childhood Abuse Training Criteria
  • Students are expected to attend the full 18 training days to receive PICT Certification. Up to two days may be missed through illness or unforeseen circumstances, but 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. 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.
  • The remaining monthly module notes will be given by the Trainer at the end 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 that 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 later 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)
    • One year after achieving PICT Certification, and after having met the clinical practice criteria, students can add to their expertise the pioneering skills contained in the optional two day, Module Ten - PICT Quick Change Therapy (adding QC to their PICT title).