Jon Wilson Cooper Dip I.G.C.

Psychotherapist, Trainer, Clinical Supervisor

and Director of :


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I started my professional therapy career in July 1987 working in therapeutic communities with people with severe mental health difficulties as well as drug and alcohol problems. Since that time I have worked all over England then America and also in India.
I started supervising others within my job from around October 1990 and continued conducting therapeutic/management supervision until the present day.

I commenced formal training as a Gestalt Psychotherapist in the summer of 1991, graduating in July 1995, I then set up in private practice which included one to one therapy, supervising individuals working one to one and individuals and pairs of counsellors/psychotherapists working in groups.

Alongside my private practice, I worked at management and then consultant level from 1992 till 2001 developing, supervising and training staff teams.

Since 2001 I have been involved in training others including, from September 2002, working as tutor and course co-ordinator on a Foundation Degree in Person Centred Counselling.


                                      jonwilsoncooper@hotmail.com      


For details on the services I offer please click here                                     

PSYCHOTHERAPY QUALIFICATION

Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy from The Irish Gestalt Centre awarded July 15th 1995.

SUPERVISION QUALIFICATION

Postgraduate certificate in Professional Practice: Counselling Practice (with merit at level 7 masters) awarded by University College Plymouth 15th January 2010.

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Affiliate member of The Institute for Learning

WORKING CAREER

October 1986 - July 1987          

Youth Action, Hull:                                                                                                                                                                                                             Project Worker                                                                                                                                                                                                         Duties included co-ordinating school age volunteers, visiting hospitals and youth groups for people with learning difficulties.

July 1987 – Feb 1989                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Richmond Fellowship Therapeutic Community, Manchester:                                                                                                     Trainee              

Feb 1989 – Oct 1990                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Richmond Fellowship, USA, Miami Beach and New York:                                                                                                                           Mental Health Worker & assistant to the Executive Director of the American Richmond Fellowship group of therapeutic communities.

Oct 1990 – June 1992                                                                                                                                                                                             Freelance residential Social Worker, Greater London:                                                                                                                                Various client groups                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       June 1992 – Feb 1999                                                                                                                                                                                           Family Welfare Association (FWA), Watford, Herts:                                                                                                                                       Registered Manager                                                                          

Duties included setting up a humanistic therapeutic community for 7 residents with long-term severe and enduring mental health problems, with all the contracts, policies and procedures necessary to meet Registered Homes requirements; recruitment and appraisal of all staff, initiating and delivering a training programme for staff, clinical supervision of the team individually and in groups; managing and supervising student placements; developing and instilling a therapeutic milieu; facilitating the team in day-to-day running of the house programme; meetings with purchasers of services, contract meetings appraising  and developing the  service.

Feb 1999 – January 2000                                                                                                                                                                                           

FWA, Islington, London:

Locum Registered Manager                                                                                                                                           

Duties as in previous job.

January 2000 – March 2001                                                                                                                                                                         Richmond Fellowship, Delhi, India:                                                                                                                                                               Consultant and Trainer                                                                                                                          

The tasks of this job were to set up a therapeutic community and day centre as well as develop outreach services for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems. I acted as trainer and consultant to the local board of governors in Delhi, Bangalore and Sri Lanka, Richmond Fellowship International and the various staff teams. I also designed all the policies and procedures for the projects in Delhi and delivered training to post graduate students, professors of social work and some politicians at the University of Delhi, in Sri Lanka and at other venues.

April 2001- December 2002                                                                                                                                                                                    FWA Head Office, Dalston, London:                                                                                                                                                                      Head of Training and Quality                                                                                                                     

 I set up and delivered a highly successful training programme for this major social care organisation with over 350 staff and as many volunteers. Many times I was the trainer on various topics such as: Working with people who are psychotic, Group work skills, Management of health and safety at work. I was responsible for managing student Social Worker placements across the organisation, ensuring that both the students and the organisation’s practice teachers are supported. I am recognized by the University of Hertfordshire as a trainer and supervisor for students of social work. In addition I have acted as a consultant in developing key policies procedures and strategies around Induction, Quality Assurance, National Vocational Qualifications and other areas. 

August 2004- April 2005                                                                                                                                                                                         

FWA Harrow Middlesex:                                                                                                                                                                                           Locum Registered Manager                                                                                                                                   

Duties as in previous jobs managing registered homes.

April 2001- Present      

FWA (now Family Action) Head Office, Dalston, London.                                                                                                                                      

I have helped develop and deliver a new service commissioned by the public guardianship office to act as receiver for numerous clients who have been judged by the Court of Protection to be incapable of managing their own financial affairs.

September 2002 – October 2012

Harrow College:

Founding Tutor on the first Foundation Degree in Counselling in England (Person Centred Counselling) including Course Co-ordinator/ Course Director October 2006 – March 2007 and since January 2009.

March 2008- May 2009                                                                                                                                                                                          

University of Bedfordshire Faculty of Health and Social Care                                                                                                                           Acted as a consultant for development work on a new Foundation Degree in Counselling, wrote the Foundation Degree and gained validation of the course by a university panel.

January 2003 - Present                                                                                                                                                                                           

Self Employed Trainer, Consultant, Supervisor and Psychotherapist.                                                                                                               My work has included training volunteer counsellors, supervising therapeutic groups and delivering one-off training workshops. I also developed and delivered a project supported by the Government Department of Transport working with drink drivers.

I was a supervisor and trainer for the Alcohol Advice Centre Watford from 1995 until 2007

I am currently a supervisor to Counsellors at Signpost youth counselling service in Watford and was acting temporary manager between June and December 2009. I also supervise counselling students on placement at Turning Point Watford and Hemel Hempstead.

July 2010 – Present

Director The Albany Centre for Personal and Professional Development


4th September 2012 – March 2013

Metanoia Institute Course Leader Foundation Degree in Counselling Studies

 

VOLUNTARY WORK

November 2013 – Present

Chair of the board of trustees for Signpost youth counselling service in Watford