Posts by Bob Cooke
FUTURE PLANNING OF THE MANCHESTER INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY
As the Manchester institute for Psychotherapy is transitioning to its formal closure at Easter 2029, I have outlined below the timetable of the transition to closure and necessary objectives on that road.
1. Safeguarding Registrants and Trainees
It is imperative to consider transparency and clarity to trainees and graduates of MIP on their road to UKCP accreditation.
In July 2027, the four year training of MIP comes to an end.
However, the trainees who are going forward to plan for accreditation with the UKCP will need to either join accreditation groups or individual trainers to support them in that route. The major trainers of MIP have agreed to take trainees through with this process and will therefore play a safeguarding role with regards to UKCP accreditation.
The trainers who have agreed to this process for graduates of MIP are:
* Susie Hewitt
* Steff Cooke
* Marilyn Wright
* Ruth Birkebaek
* Janet Fengeros (also has committed to the second marker process)
* Sylva Jolliffe
2. “Teachout” Group
MIP has its final “teachout”, ie its current cohort of trainees that end in July 2027, and their graduation will be in July 2027, this marks the end of 3 decades of Psychotherapy training at the Manchester Institute.
After the graduation in July 2027, MIP will provide the following options with regards to trainees’ future pathways.
3. Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy Closure – Easter 2029
The Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy will be formally closed at Easter 2029. However, we will ensure that all the APL procedures are in place and undertaken for trainees who may not have finished their final accreditation to UKCP and will need to transfer to another organisational member.
At the time of writing, MIP is in communication with Susie Hewitt, the director of the Psychotherapy Institute in Bolton, around APLing any students in Easter 2029 onto her programme.
Susie Hewitt/Psychotherapy Institute will be applying for OM status with the UKCP in September 2027, therefore by Easter 2029 her institute will be able to fulfil that role.
In the event that for some reason that isn’t possible, MIP is also in conversation with other OMs with regards to this journey.
4. Trainee Notification of the above and Formal Closure of the Manchester Institute
Paramount in this process is safeguarding trainees’ professional future journey and transfer to other member organisations with similar training, as well as complete transparency with regards to information needed for trainees and graduates alike.
To this end, there will be detailed information of this process on the Manchester Institute’s website and there will be verbal and written information given to all trainees, via email and social media.
5. Outstanding Complaints/Admin
Any outstanding complaints, grievances, fitness to practice issues, and outstanding debts will be resolved before final closure of the Manchester Institute in Easter 2029.
6. Record Retention
The Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy will ensure that clinical training and disciplinary records are archived, transferred, or securely destroyed in full compliance with the Data Protection Act.
7. Final Administration re Closure of MIP at Easter 2029
When the Manchester Institute closes, we will:
* Close all business bank accounts
* Destroy all official headed paper
* Close websites affiliated to the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy, portals, and databases associated with the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Finally, we will inform the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy that all the above has been done.
8. Business/Overall Timeframe
1. July 2027 final graduation of the “Teachout” cohort of training and formal training 4 year training in psychotherapy will end.
2. The Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy will stay an accrediting member of the UKCP to Easter 2029.
3. MIP will stay as member and accrediting status of the UKCP to Easter 2029.
4. MIP will still run CPD trainings, Supervision trainings, and maintain the Low Cost Clinic until Easter 2029.
5. Formal Closure of MIP – Easter 2029.
Bob Cooke
July 2026
QUALITY & PROCEDURES COMMITTEE
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. The remit of the Quality & Procedures Committee is to develop policies, review and revise them over an 18 months cycle, as well as giving advice and guidance to facilitate the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy’s overall development. It also administers MIP’s Complaints procedure.
Responsibilities:
* The Quality & Procedures Committee is responsible for ensuring acceptable standards in the delivery of training and in the provision of clinical services.
* To deal with complaints/grievances with regards to the training programme.
* In carrying out these functions the Quality & Procedures Committee may have access to documents, papers, courses and correspondence.
* The Quality & Procedures Committee meets a minimum of six times a year and when need to deal with active complaints and grievances.
* The Quality & Procedures Committee will complete an annual report which will contain the following:
(1) Activities and actions from previous Quality & Procedures Committee meetings; and
(2) Items requiring action to support and improve the quality and delivery of training at MIP.
Membership
* In order to function effectively, the Quality & Procedures Committee should consist of at least five members.
* The quorum for the Committee is three members.
* The Committee may co-opt new members onto their Committee, though there must be a unanimous decision for this to happen.
* Minutes must be kept of the meetings held by the Quality & Procedures Committee, which will include any emergency meetings which have been actioned. A copy of these minutes must be forwarded to MIP.
* The Quality & Procedures Committee should include at least two senior members of MIP, and graduate members.
* The Chair of the Committee will serve for a period of five years and may serve no more than three consecutive terms.
* A minimum of 50% attendance at meetings is required by the quoracy.
* A consensus decision-making process will normally be followed.
HOW TO START, MANAGE AND MAINTAIN A PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP
Please click on the link here for this manual: https://mcpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/HOW-TO-START-MANAGE-AND-MAINTAIN-A-PSYCHOTHERAPY-GROUP.pdf
WORKING WITH COUPLES MANUAL
Please click here to download the manual https://mcpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Working-with-Couples-from-a-Transactional-Analysis-Model-1.pdf
Joanne Fowles
Hi, I’m Jo. I offer psychotherapy and counselling from an integrative perspective, having over 20 years of experience of supporting young people, adults, and families with a range of difficulties.
I have specialist training in attachment and trauma, CBT, person centred therapy, somatic approaches and transactional analysis.
I believe that one size does not fit all and therapy is tailored to suit the needs of the individual. I offer a warm, collaborative trauma informed approach to therapy.
A member of the BACP and UKCP (Advanced Clinical Trainee), I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and relationship challenges.
CARWYN LANGDOWN
People seek therapy for a variety of reasons, whether it’s to help with depression or anxiety, a sense of feeling lost, identity exploration, relationships or just seeking to change something about themselves.
Psychotherapy offers a confidential, steady space to slow down, listen closely to yourself, and make sense of what has shaped you — so that new ways of living and relating can become possible. I offer a warm, safe and non-judgemental space to support you with these matters.
I work with a wide range of people but have a particular interest in identity, adoption (being an adoptive parent myself), relationships and the ways we learn to adapt to the systems and families we grow up in. I draw from integrative approaches, weaving together different models in a way that is tailored to you rather than expecting you to fit a formula.
At the heart of my practice are values of curiosity, respect, and collaboration. I don’t see you as “the problem” to be fixed, but as a person doing your best in conditions that may have been — or still are — very difficult. Together, we can gently turn towards what has felt too much to hold alone.
HOW TO WORK WITH PARENTAL INTROJECTS ** PLEASE NOTE THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED**
A One Day Workshop by Bob Cooke, TSTA
DATE: TUESDAY, 17TH MARCH 2026
In this workshop Bob will teach How to Work with Parental Introjects, the Two Chair technique, as well as demonstrating how to interview the Parent from a Transactional Analysis perspective.
This workshop will be useful for beginning Psychotherapists, experienced Psychotherapists and Counsellors alike.
Bob Cooke is an experienced Psychotherapist of 40 years standing. He is also the founder of the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy and has been training and supervising psychotherapists for over three decades.
This workshop can be counted as CPD hours.
Time: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
Venue: Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Cost: £175 – Deposit of £75 (non-refundable) required.
WORKING WITH COUPLES
One Day Workshop run by Bob Cooke, TSTA
DATE: MONDAY 18TH MAY 2026
Bob Cooke will teach a model for working with couples and will be useful for beginning Psychotherapists, experienced Psychotherapists and Counsellors alike.
Bob Cooke is an experienced Psychotherapist of 40 years standing. He is also the founder of the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy and has been training and supervising psychotherapists for over three decades.
This one day workshop carries CPD hours.
Time: 10.00 am to 500 pm.
Venue: Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Cost £175. Deposit (non-refundable) required of £75
To book online please click the shop
Please contact us on 0161-862 9456 to pay by card.
2 DAY THERAPY INTENSIVE
BY BOB COOKE, TSTA
DATE: 30TH APRIL & 1st MAY 2026 (THURSDAY AND FRIDAY)
This 2 day Psychotherapy Intensive with Bob Cooke can count as CPD hours and therapy hours for UKCP purposes.
Please note it is important to have access to your personal therapy for this workshop.
Time: 10.00-5.00 pm both days.
Venue: Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Cost: £275 – deposit (non refundable) required of £100.
Please contact us on 0161-862 9456 to pay by card
HOW TO RUN AND MANAGE PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUPS
A One Day Workshop by Bob Cooke TSTA
DATE: MONDAY, 8TH JUNE 2026
In this workshop Bob will talk about how to run, manage and maintain Psychotherapy Groups. This workshop will be useful for beginning Psychotherapists, experienced Psychotherapists and Counsellors alike.
Bob Cooke is an experienced Psychotherapist of 40 years standing. He is also the founder of the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy and has been training and supervising psychotherapists for over three decades.
The day can be counted as CPD hours.
Time : 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy
Cost: £175. Deposit (non refundable) £75
To book online please click the shop
Please contact us on 0161-862 9456 to pay by card