Course Professional Diploma in Group Therapy Processes & Facilitation

The Professional Diploma in Group Therapy Processes & Facilitation is designed for practitioners who want to develop confidence and skill in working therapeutically with groups. The course provides a solid grounding in the theory and practice of group work, exploring what makes groups powerful places for growth, insight, and change.

You will examine key concepts such as group stages of development, cohesion, norms, roles, sub-groups, power dynamics, and resistance. Attention is given to how issues such as inclusion, trust, identity, conflict, and endings show up in groups, and how these can be understood and worked with in a constructive way. You will also explore different models of group therapy, including psychodynamic, humanistic, psychoeducational, and skills-based approaches.

A central focus of the programme is the role of the facilitator. You will learn how to set up and contract for safe group work, establish boundaries, and create an atmosphere of psychological safety and respect. Practical skills are developed in managing group processes, responding to challenging behaviour, working with strong emotions, and balancing individual and group needs. You will also consider ethical issues, risk, diversity, and inclusion within group contexts.

Teaching methods typically include experiential group work, live facilitation practice, reflective exercises, lectures, and case discussions. Wherever possible, you will learn about groups by being part of a group, allowing you to experience directly the dynamics you are studying and to reflect on your own patterns and responses as a participant and facilitator.

This diploma is particularly suited to counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, youth workers, educators, and professionals in health, social care, community and organisational settings. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of group processes, a stronger facilitation toolkit, and increased confidence in designing, leading, and evaluating therapeutic and developmental groups in your own practice context.