Your Diploma Journey

The Human Givens Diploma is a flexible part-time psychotherapy course, which you can complete at a pace that suits you.

A SCoPEd-recognised qualification, some elements of the training are completed online, the rest is taught in person. Because of the universal applicability of what you will learn, the course has wide-ranging applications and has been taken by people from diverse backgrounds, not only those in mental health and wellbeing. It is ideal CPD training for anyone who wishes to gain additional skills to become more effective, but is also suitable if you are looking to for a career change. Passing all 3 parts of the Diploma enables you to join a professional register which is accredited in the UK by the PSA.

Our supportive team are here to help you every step of the way, if you have any questions, please contact us.  For information about SCoPEd – click here.

I can't speak highly enough of the Human Givens Diploma course. It had all the elements to make it challenging, stretching, stimulating and, above all, thoroughly practical

Psychotherapist
Useful downloads

Useful downloads

Your Diploma Journey – a quick flow chart summary of all the elements that make up the Diploma Course
Working towards Part 3

The diploma course is made up of three stages:

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

You can apply for the Diploma in human givens counselling and psychotherapy whenever you feel ready, but we always recommend you take several of the online courses and attended workshops that make up Part 1 before doing so, to make sure that our training is right for you.

Part 2 allows students to gain further in-depth knowledge about the human givens approach and how best to subtly combine the psychological knowledge and range of therapeutic skills taught on our online courses and in-person workshops. During these two weeks, observation skills, clinical understanding and therapeutic ability are also tested for.

Passing the course at Practitioner Level (Part 3) enables you to practice as a fully-qualified human givens practitioner and be included on the HGI’s Professional Register of HG therapists, which is accredited in the UK by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA).

A growing base of research shows how effective the HG approach is – with the latest research project meeting NICE’s strigent criteria for real-world evidence.

Your route to an accredited register
Why train in this approach?

How long will it take?

Completing the full Diploma programme to practitioner level typically takes around two years, but can be anything from 1.5–3 years. People with natural ability and aptitude, or lots of previous therapeutic experience, often find they progress quickly through the course, but anyone who feels they need more time and experience can move through the course at a speed that suits them.

(For a more detailed breakdown of hours, visit: www.hgi.org.uk/stages-qualification-and-registration-human-givens-therapist)

Also see: Fast Track Options >

Who is it suitable for?

The Human Givens Diploma is primarily for people already working in mental health, education or social services, who would like to develop their skills, knowledge and effectiveness. But because the course deals with fundamental issues that affect all human beings, and the approach provides a highly practical framework for improving emotional health and wellbeing, other professions – such as education, social work, business consultancy, parenting programmes, physical health, chaplains, diplomacy, back-to-work schemes and more – find it hugely beneficial too.

It is also suitable for those wishing to change career or embark on a career in counselling or psychotherapy for the first time, as all the rich information and skills-training is presented clearly, without jargon. The accessibility and flexibility of the course enables anyone with the appropriate aptitude to progress through all 3 stages of the Diploma at a pace that suits them.

I’ve made friends for life and transformed my ability to help people – highly recommend doing the HG Diploma

Behaviour consultant

Students often find the course hugely helpful personally, as well as professionally, and thoroughly enjoy networking with the many like-minded people they meet during their training.

People from a wide range of professions have taken the Diploma, including: counsellors, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, GPs, childcare managers, teachers, police and school counsellors, family court welfare officers, paramedics, drug project managers, nurses,  HR professionals, youth workers, consultant physicians, social workers, addiction counsellors, hairdressers, complementary therapists, chaplains, life coaches, community development consultants and midwives (you can read some of their comments here).

The Human Givens Diploma also has worldwide appeal – English speaking professionals have come from all over the world to attend, including: America, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, India, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Scandinavia and South Africa, as well as from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. The United Nations sent someone on the course and in 2017 the Part 1 of the Diploma was taught in America for the first time, more courses in America are currently being organised.

Starting Part 1   Benefits of the HG approach

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All three parts of the HG Diploma have been independently assessed by the internationally recognised CPD Standards Office.

The SCoPEd Framework

The Diploma is a recognised part of the SCoPEd national training framework, with approved routes for its graduates to progress through the framework’s 3 columns.

The Human Givens Institute (which holds the register of human givens therapists) was one of the six organisations, along with BACP, UKCP and NCS, involved in developing the SCoPEd Framework, which was officially adopted by them all in February 2023.

Each organisation has developed appropriate pathways for their own members to transition between the SCoPEd framework’s 3 columns, given the appropriate experience and training; these were shared and agreed with their fellow organisations.  All newly trained therapists and counsellors start at Column A, but will be able to move to the other columns once they have gained sufficient therapeutic practice, experience and ongoing appropriate learning and development.  (Completing the HG Diploma course also count towards some of the training hours required for Column B.)

Employers are already beginning to reference the SCoPEd framework’s columns when advertising positions.

The HGI has worked closely with the college to develop the routes for Human Givens Diploma graduates to be able to transition from Column A, to Column B and up to Column C should they wish to do so. These routes will be published in the autumn.

Find out more

Find out more

Get in touch

Get in touch

If there’s anything else you’d like to know, or you’d like to discuss your options in more detail before applying, please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona Heffernan, on +44 (0)1323 811690 or via our enquiry form.

You may also find our Diploma FAQs helpful.

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