OLT4C is one of our profession’s longest established online training providers. ACTO is delighted to welcome the organisation as an Online Training Provider.
One of the principal aims of ACTO is to ensure that it fully represents the rich diversity within our growing profession. We are therefore extremely pleased to confirm that OLT4C, widely recognised for the excellence of its provision of professional training in Online Therapeutic practice, is our newest Online Training Provider.
Suzie Mosson and Maria O’Brien are co-directors of OLT4C and describe the values inherent in their organisation:
“At the core of OLT4C is an ethos that ensures all students regardless of experience and/or academic achievement will step into a learning environment which is rooted in the principles of warmth, encouragement and compassion. We strongly believe that these principles are pivotal to empowering students to develop a crucial understanding of the knowledge, skills and awareness required for safe, legal and ethical online practice.
“Along with this, we are a warm and friendly group that values each student and their contributions.”
OLT4C offers an extensive range of CPCAB externally accredited professional training courses starting with, General Certificate in Online Counselling Skills, A Diploma in Online Counselling and a level 6 Diploma in Online Therapeutic Supervision. In addition,
they have various CPD courses, independent study workshops and regularly develop bespoke pieces of training for small, medium and large corporate organisations.
In their joint statement announcing the decision to join ACTO, Suzie and Maria explained how online training can help practitioners to work online safely and confidently:
“One of the challenges we have faced and overcome is the idea that working online means working via video only. We recognise that the increase in this understanding is likely to have been informed by the initial guidance from counselling membership bodies in how to support clients during the early days of the global health crisis. The message then was, where possible therapists could offer to support existing face to face clients online until the therapy ended. In a bid to replicate the face-to-face counselling environment, hence they chose to work via videoconferencing.
“Thankfully, many therapists realise that working online without specific training is outside their limit of competence which raises questions around ethical practice. In a bid to bridge this gap they have sought externally validated training to develop their perception, comprehension, and prowess of this different discipline. OLT4C is well placed to meet these needs and as members of ACTO, we are demonstrating our transparency and responsibility as members of the national register.”
Adrian Rhodes, Chair of ACTO, said:
“ACTO values the contributions from every single individual member – and that includes the work of our Online Training Providers. We know that OLT4C has a very clear understanding and commitment to ensuring that counsellors, therapists and supervisors are trained, skilled and therefore able to treat their clients ethically and respectfully.
“We are grateful and honoured to have OLT4C on board as part of our growing organisation and look forward to the OLT4C team helping us to develop further services that meet the needs of online counsellors and therapists.”