About Chrysalis
Who are we?
Chrysalis is one of the UK's largest counselling and therapy trainers, with courses held across the country. We specialise in professional counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy courses. Chrysalis seeks to encourage all our students to grow themselves through practical, enjoyable and satisfying courses - and in doing so, to help others grow. We take great pride in what we have to offer.
Venues for the current year include: Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Hereford, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Maidstone, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Preston, Reading, Sale, Salisbury, Swindon, Warwick, Welwyn Garden City and Worthing.
Our Founder & Principal is Dr Chris Forester. Chris holds degrees from Oxford in Philosophy, Theology and Psychoanalysis, and numerous professional qualifications. Chris has held University Lectureships, chaired a national therapy organisation, has appeared on TV and given numerous workshops both in the UK and US. In 2000, the publication of best-selling thriller writer Peter James's novel Faith saw its hero, Oliver Cabot, based on Chris and his work in complementary therapies. Chris Forester has gathered a team of experienced and qualified tutors and staff.
For full details of our current team, click here
All Chrysalis courses seek to combine practical skills which will help others, with training in personal growth and development.
"Most people spend their lives doing the things they are second best at - they miss out on their true vocations... our courses should challenge everyone to find, and develop, a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, for it is only then that they can truly help
others, no matter what practical skills they are
taught or how many letters they have after
their names."
Dr Chris Forester
We feel our courses are unique in combining a creative, enjoyable and relaxed approach with professional recognition and accreditation from appropriate bodies. Students often have work or family commitments and our timetables are designed to help. We pride ourselves on treating our students as individuals. We feel that counselling and therapy is an art, not a science - our training will give you the skills and techniques, but the rest of it comes from within you. We don't like the impersonal, qualification factory, time-consuming approach of many counselling training programmes.
Most of us have seen those nature shows where, after plodding through life, the caterpillar spins its cocoon, transforms itself, and emerges as a butterfly - a completely new being. This imagery is what inspired us to call ourselves Chrysalis. Just like a chrysalis, we hope to be a safe, protective environment where practical and interesting training will help you emerge, with new skills and confidence, a sense of meaning and purpose, and the ability to help others. We hope you will consider our courses in this spirit.