Heartwood Counselling and Psychotherapy College Devon - Totnes

Judith

I was studying at Heartwood where I was intending to complete Level 4 Diploma, but instead I completed half of it. I would be lying if I were to say that I was well supported. Unfortunately my experience was very limited and in fact wasn't supported much. Personally I was very misunderstood by the tutors, especially the course leader who. She claims to have worked and had an empathetic understanding for autistic people but she clearly didn't know what she was doing.

The support was very surface level and this goes for Heartwood overall. The support and resources may be there but it doesn't mean they would work for everyone. the college is very disorganised and it made my experience very overwhelming. They can say want they like about adhering to an ethical framework but their empathy was not consistently there. Although, I gained knowledge and I'm glad I met lovely peers on the course, I wish my experience could have been better.

The tutors and the college need to learn and own up to their errors and take full accountability for their actions. I'm glad I am not there any more as I have embarked on a new journey elsewhere.

Katie Clancy

I completed the online Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Level 3 equivalent) with Heartwood. The course was an amazing experience, I learnt so much about counselling and about myself, and I'm now progressing on to the next steps of training. Heartwood provided everything I needed to begin this journey and decide that counselling was for me. The tutor was so knowledgeable and approachable, and I formed meaningful relationships with my peers. This course definitely requires your input as a learner - the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

kate philbin

I'm close to completing my level 3 qualification and it's been a really positive experience. The tutor is excellent - experienced, compassionate and professional. The course materials are clear and well-presented. The setting could not be bettered. There is a three-way learning structure which I find deepens my learning and understanding of the subject. I like this place a lot and will be applying here for my level 4.

S W

I chose this college because it is set up in beautiful Dartington hall,Totnes and it didn’t disappoint.
My tutor Sarah was incredible and my group that I was put together have become a friends and support for a life.My personal journey was possible because it facilitated safe, confidential and caring space.I always wanted to become accredited and qualified in something that is so natural to me ,being in service to others ,Heartwood has given me this opportunity.It is a one of the life changing experiences.

Jason Budge

I have recently completed an11-week Level 3 Introduction to Counselling course at Heartwood, and I couldn't be more professionally satisfied with my experience there. The course provided an excellent overview of the main counselling approaches - Gestalt, CBT, and Person-Centred Therapy. With Each thoroughly and clearly taught, giving a strong foundational understanding of how they could be used in an integrative manner.

My highlight was the ample opportunity to practice counselling and listening skills in triads with fellow students. This hands-on approach I found really invaluable, and made the experience as practical and useful in any present endeavour as possible. All of the time ensuring this practice was professional through a focus on the NCS ethical framework to ensure good practice.

The course was also delivered by an experienced and 'open' practitioner whose passion and knowledge made learning both rigorous and enjoyable. And the beautiful surroundings of the Dartington Estate further enriched the learning experience.

As a former teacher and lecturer, I can safely say that the course's rigour definitely matches the best of teacher training, and effectively helps prepar students for the real profession of counselling. Now that I've completed the Level 3 certificate, I do feel well-prepared and am eagerly looking forward to pursuing a Level 4 certificate with Heartwood. For anyone seeking a solid, professional grounding in counselling, I highly recommend studying with them

Suki Bhinder

I found them totally unsympathetic. I signed up to this course shortly after having a baby. They took me on purely based on my level 3 certificate without any interview. The tutor was fine however when I realised I couldn’t cope with a newborn and the course I was told I couldn’t differ. I wasn’t happy but accepted this. However I will never forget the course director’s comments which were - did I not think I needed an interview before the course? I should do my due diligence before signing up for a course, you wouldn't buy a car without looking under the bonnet first and to top it all she said she thought I was over panicking. I felt like saying do they not think they have a duty of care to the people signing up to the course instead of just taking their money. They gave me a partial refund as they knew they were in the wrong (I wish I requested a full refund). Don’t go here there are many better training centres.

Andy MacCallum

I trained here in 2017 and returned to teach in 2022. The estate and the college are a truly Zen environment and conducive to an immersion in therapeutic learning and healing. I love it.

Roberto Leo

As a participant in the Level 3 Counselling course at Heartwood(HW) in Nov 2022, it was an unbearable experience with the tutor and the Centre Director(CD) for all the time.

•The CD removed me from the final online sessions spanning the whole month of April 2023. At that time, HW was supposed to investigate what l reported: harassment suffered by another student.
•My tutor said "these are very serious accusations and something that we take very seriously" -"if l wish to report the harasser as having breached the student code of conduct, to do so via email to our CD who will conduct an independent and thorough investigation". l did it but instead of responding appropriately HW allowed the student l reported to continue to join the sessions whilst l was removed.
Hence the tutor and CD did not treat me and the person l reported, EQUALLY.
•Worse the tutor acted towards the harasser with a motherlike affection while there was an investigation going on, this was witnessed by another learner who also provided a witness statement but this was ignored by the management. This was UNprofessional conduct, as we all paid the same amount of money despite l was treated differently. This is discrimination and it is a form of racism.

•The outcome of the investigation was biased. Below the Evidence:
-The HW Scope and Purpose of Breaches to the Student Code of Conduct, states:
•"This procedure applies to all students of the College when they are at the College, placement or event. They also apply when behaviour outside of the College has a detrimental impact on other people attending the College". See the 1st file attached below.
•lt clearly states "When behaviour OUTSIDE of the College has a detrimental impact", but the response from the CD: "Any incident that you have described concerning the other student have taken OUTSIDE of the class / social media and that are separate to HW and out of their control". See the 2nd file attached.
•HW broke their own policy despite l suffered strong detriment due to harassment from that student and the tutor. IMPORTANTLY: this occurred before my withdrawal.
•The injustice,assignments deadlines, the intimidating emails to be excluded from the course caused me depression which forced me to withdraw my complaints.
•l requested to change tutor but instead of supporting me HW excluded me from the sessions. l was unfairly marginalized bcs of my legitimate report!

•l requested a full refund but HW denied that and gaslighted me. HW used my withdrawal, any references to my complaints to not qualify for review within my latest complaint,etc. HW DID NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN POLICY. Importantly, their negligence caused my withdrawal and their mismanagement occurred before my withdrawal: they willfully misapplied their protocol and deceived me.
•The independent adjudicator sided HW, it overlooked their policy and the evidence l supplied.
• Worse: when a tutor refuses to teach to a student that tutor is in breach of contract. THIS IS THE LAW.

•A counseling course is meant to be a safe educational  environment and as a registered institution with extensive experience, it was shocking to see HW management handling my reports so poorly. l was singled out for making a complaint about harassment from a fellow student and removed from the sessions, which was clearly not fair and denied a refund as well.
HW management should have demonstrated the application of the ethical framework which was an important part of the program, but they failed to apply the very principles they profess to teach. You do not expect that from an institution that trains professional counsellors.

•The HW comment below says that my review contains a number of inaccuracies? There has been months of email/evidence exchange with HW management from Jan 2023 till June 2024 where l proved HW wrong with more than 20 reports but they want me to sign a disparagement agreement where l cannot leave a negative review and still denying my money back?!
Everything written above is proved by evidence and recorded on my email+witness statement. IT IS ACCURATE.