British Autogenic Society

Diploma in Autogenic Training (Dip AT) - Level 1

Level 1 - Fast track training for professionals
This one-year part-time course is open to those already working in the helping professions. It is required that you first learn basic AT for yourself. After this, you will complete application forms and supply references, and if these are satisfactory you will be invited for an interview.

The Course
The course leads to a Diploma in Autogenic Training awarded by the British Autogenic Society. All teaching staff are highly qualified, experienced practitioners of Autogenic Therapy.

There are four Modules in all, the first being over five (5) consecutive days, the second over two (2) consecutive days, the third over three (3) consecutive days and the fourth over two (2) days. Teaching strategies include lectures, small group work and experiential learning techniques.

Students are expected to spend time on home study, participate in and report on an 8-10 week AT group (Group Training Assistantship), write up two case studies and an essay.

Our training course aims to integrate the theory and practice of Autogenic Therapy.

The process
First and foremost, you need to have learned and experienced AT for yourself, by completing a basic 8-10 week course with a BAS practitioner. Ideally you will consolidate your own personal AT process over a 6-month period, before undertaking professional training.

Entry requirements
* Qualification in one of the helping professions such as: medicine, nursing, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, social work, counselling or other relevant life experience.

* Completion of basic Autogenic Training course

* Personal interview

Venue
At present the courses are held at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital in central London, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3HR.

In future we hope to introduce courses virtually anywhere in the UK.

Course Fees
Course fees for Spring 2007 are Ł2,500.

The first 'starter' payment of £650 is due by March 1st, Ł250 of which will be non-refundable in the event of a cancellation after this date. Thereafter, 10 monthly payments of Ł185 are made by Standing Order from 1st April 2007 to 1st January 2008 inclusive. If you wish to pay the full amount up front, you will avail of a 5% discount of £125 reduces the cost to £2375.00. This total figure is all-inclusive of the following:

* three training modules
* one introductory book (AT - Self-Help for Mind and Body) more info>>
* one general text book (AT and Organic Illness)
* the six volumes by Schultz and Luthe on Autogenic Therapy. more info>>
* training manual
* 12 supervision hours
* Group Trainer Assistantship
* one year's subscription for Associate Membership
* marking course work
Other costs to bear in mind
* Travel
* Accommodation
* Practitioner insurance (costs considerably less compared to other therapies)
* Purchase of BAS leaflets to publicise your practice
The course begins to pay for itself after Module 1. Some students are surprised to find that by the end of the training year, they have managed to recoup around half of the course costs.

Cancellation Policy
Before training:

£250 of the Starter Payment is non-returnable if cancellation occurs less than two weeks before the course.

During training:

If a student wishes to leave the training course, three (3) months notice is required.

Difficulties occurring during the course:

Every effort is made by the Education and Training Team, and the BAS Treasurer, to accommodate difficulties, whether personal or financial.

Application
When you have completed the relevant application forms, and organised a reference from a professional colleague, and we have contacted your BAS therapist for a reference, you will be invited for interview with two members of the BAS Education and Training Team. Acceptance on the course is by interview only.

COURSE CONTENT
The Diploma in Autogenic Training Course (Dip AT)

Course 2006/2007
The course starting in March 2007, is in four modules. The dates are as follows:

Module 1 (5.5 days): March 4 (Sun afternoon), March 5-9 (Mon-Fri)

Module 2 (2 days): April 28 & 29 (Sat, Sun)

Module 3 (3 days): September 8-10 (Sat, Sun, Mon)

Module 4 (2 days): December 1 & 2 (Sat, Sun)

Viva Interview: Feb-March 2008

After module 1, you will become an Associate Member of the British Autogenic Society and your name is included in the Practitioner Telephone List which goes out to enquirers, and in the Practitioner list on this website.

When do I start to teach AT?
After Module 1 you will have all you need to begin working with clients.

Tutorial Supervision
Your personal tutor will help and support your early practice with AT. Twelve compulsory tutorial hours are accounted for in your training.

Written Course work
Two Case Studies
You are required to submit two typed in-depth case histories of two clients to whom you have taught Autogenic Training as part of your continuous assessment. In order for you to gain the most from this useful self-reflective process, you are asked to write up your very first client, and one other. It will be interesting for you to see the growth in confidence and awareness in your approach between the two.

The Case Studies should be discussed with your tutor, who will guide you as you go.

This piece of work is vital to your progress. It is the only written work by which we can assess the actual procedures you carry out in teaching AT. There is plenty of guidance about how to present your studies and we do not necessarily ask for a 'success story'. Sometimes we learn more from 'failures' than so-called successes. The subtleties of AT are quite elusive at times, and our task is not to 'claim success' or even wish for it. The client is in our care to engage in their autogenic process, and the outcome is going to vary enormously.

Of course the outcomes will be assessed (and it will very likely be a success!), and most important we would like to hear your own self-reflection about it. What have you learned? How might you approach things differently another time? Were there any aspects of feedback which surprised you? Did you find yourself in conflict at any time with your clients? How did you resolve this?

Group Trainer Assistantship
As part of your continuous assessment, the student is required to assist in the leading of an autogenic group, which will be task oriented. The aim of undertaking the Assistantship is to provide you with an opportunity for observation, experience and assessment of the AT group process from initial selection procedure to the completion of the course, from a course leader's point of view. Also the experience aims to help you develop the skills of the reflective practitioner.

At the end of the Group Trainer Assistantship the student gives a Written Summation. This report is about the group experience in your eyes. Questions you raise with the therapist are always helpful for you to learn from. The summation will include observation of the group process, its story and its dynamics; discussion with the trainer about their rationale and method.

The length of the written summation will vary according to the size of group, course will inevitably mean writing a collection of 'mini-case studies', with other information.

The summation will include a week by week account of the group's progress: your observations of each client's process, any difficulties or queries from their week's practice, and how these were managed by the therapist. You will also comment on how the exercises were introduced.

You will learn from observing and noting the therapist's style. Ask afterwards about any uncertainties you may have. 'The story of the group': Take into account any difficulties in the dynamic of the group. How was this handled?

Finally an overview will give you the opportunity to reflect on the whole experience for yourself.

Extended Essay
This can take the form of an article/discussion paper/report for a medium-weight professional journal of the student's choice - always with guidance from the student's supervisor. Or it can be an essay on AT exploring its application in an area of particular interest to the student.

The purpose is to stimulate the student's thinking and research abilities; to test their ability to present AT clearly and describe its relevance to a particular potential target client group.

The essay should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words in length, or as appropriate for the target audience/journal.

The essay will include reference to several sources and authors.

Some suggested topics for your in-depth essay might be:

* AT and altered states of consciousness
* AT and anxiety
* AT and asthma
* AT and the child with dyslexia
* AT and education
* AT and migraine
* AT and performance
* AT and pregnancy and childbirth
* AT and stress
* AT as compared with other therapies
Course Syllabus

Module 1
* History and Development of AT; Models and stages of AT
* Practical aspects of preparing a group
* Practical: Introducing Standard Exercise One - Heaviness
* Theory of Intentional Exercises
* Practical: Introducing Heaviness Part 2
* The Practice of Intentional Exercises
* Safeguarding the client
* Contraindications to AT

Intentional Off-loading Exercises

These are a vital adjunct to the autogenic process. Using the powerful relaxation tools of AT can sometimes lead to emotional difficulties that need extra support and management. These exercises are called Intentional, because they carry a deliberate intent, unlike autogenic exercises, which rely on passive awareness and acceptance. The Intentional Off-loading Exercises cover strategies for dealing with anger, grief, anxiety, muscular tension in the body and throat.

* Review of practice of Intentional off-loading Exercises
* Physiology and Biochemistry of stress
* Practical: Standard Exercise 2 - Warmth
* AT and physical illness part 1
* Psychotherapeutic factors of client assessment
* Practical: Space, Partial and Short-stitch exercises
* Psychopathology Part 1
* AT & physical illness Part 2
* Practical: Standard Exercise 3 - Cardiac regulation
* Practical: Standard Exercise 4 - Respiration
* Understanding AT discharges
* The pre-course assessment: demonstration and role play
* AT & physical illness Part 3
* Practical: Standard Exercise 5 - Abdominal Warmth
* Role play: Introducing Intentional Exercises
* Practical: Standard Exercise 6 - Cool Forehead
* Getting started in your teaching

Module 2
* Student debriefing
* Role play: Client difficulties with the training diary
* Counselling and AT
* Tutorial 1
* Psychopathology part 2
* Personal and Motivational formulae
* Tutorial 2 Creative work of E L Rossi: psychobiology of the basic rest-activity cycle and its relation to AT
* Neurosciences and AT
* Psychopathology part 3
* Running a follow-up group
* Tutorial 3
* Audit and research
* Group dynamics
* Tutorial 4
* Death related themes
* Sleep problems
* Networking AT - presentation skills
* Tutorial 5

Module 3
* Developing your practice
* Codes of Ethics and Practice
* Equal opportunities
* Business planning
* Record keeping
* Final test

Tutorial discussions
These address specific topics for discussion. They are designed for the student who is starting out in practice, to widen their knowledge and develop their therapeutic skills in teaching AT. Incorporated into these discussions is group supervision, where students present case studies of their client work, for peer discussion.

The topics include:
Revisiting the introduction and management of all the Standard exercises

Revisiting the introduction and management of all the Intentional off-loading exercises

Theoretical issues include:

* Passive and Active concentration
* The importance of the training diary
* The contra-indications to learning AT
* Visual imagery emerging
* Strategies for safeguarding the client
* The merits of working with AT in groups or individuals
* How would you proceed with the following: AT and hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy, asthma, severe eczema, alcoholism
* Discussion and Introduction of advanced autogenic methods

Practical issues include:

* Motivating a client to practise
* Referring a client on for additional help
* Partial exercises; short exercise - their function and purpose
* Managing breaks in the course
* Managing client difficulties
* Instruction in the use of Personal and Motivational Formulae
* Record keeping and audit

The tutorial session works well as a further training opportunity for our own members who wish to join the training team.

Further information

If you would like further information about practitioner training, or an application form, please email here giving your postal address, and telling us how you heard about us, or contact us at the address on the Contacts Page.

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