If you are thinking about longer term training as a counsellor or psychotherapist, the Foundation Year is where that journey begins. It is a year of learning, self-reflection, and personal growth, grounded in Transactional Analysis, and held within a small, supportive training group in Edinburgh. This post is a guide to what the Foundation Year involves, who it is for, and what comes next.

People often arrive at Physis with a sense that they want to work more deeply with people, but without a clear map of what counselling or psychotherapy actually mean, or how the training routes differ. The short answer is: they are closely related, and they overlap. The longer answer is more interesting, and it often helps people decide where they want to begin.

This article is about the psychotherapy route at Physis Scotland. What it actually involves, what you are working towards, and what kind of commitment it requires. It is written for people who are considering this seriously, and who want a clear picture of the training route before they decide.

This article is about the specialist institute route to train as a counsellor or psychotherapist If you have been thinking about training as a counsellor and want to understand what this route actually involves, here is what it looks like at Physis Scotland.

If you're curious about counselling training but not sure where to start, or what the full journey looks like, this post is for you. At Physis Scotland we offer a clear, step-by-step COSCA counselling training pathway - from your very first introduction to counselling skills all the way through to becoming a fully qualified and registered practitioner.

I have never experienced training like this. Physis welcomes you carefully, thoughtfully, and profoundly into the fold. You will grow, you will confront parts of yourself, and you will form deep and lasting connections. Your life may change in ways you never imagined possible.

Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychotherapy and counselling approach that helps us understand how people relate, communicate, and change - both with others and with themselves. One of TA’s strengths is that it’s clear and practical. The ideas are accessible early on, yet deep enough to support a lifetime of learning and clinical work. Many people find it immediately useful - in their work, relationships, and personal development.