Explore frequently asked questions.
Explore frequently asked questions for Optima Attachment Training, categorized by Level 5, Level 6, Level 7, and Retreats to help you find information quickly.
Level 5 Adoption Diploma
The Diploma is for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who want to develop their understanding of adoption and work more confidently with adults whose lives have been affected by it.
You may already encounter adoption in your practice, work within a specialist service, or want to develop this area of your clinical work.
You must hold a Level 4 counselling or psychotherapy qualification or above.
Entry includes an interview to explore your experience, professional interests and readiness for the training. You do not need to be an established adoption specialist.
No. You can apply if you intend to develop your work in this area.
Please discuss your current practice and plans during the interview so we can explore whether the course is suitable and how you will meet its clinical requirements.
No. This is specialist training for practitioners who have already completed their core counselling or psychotherapy qualification.
It develops your existing practice rather than qualifying you to begin practising as a counsellor.
Adoption can affect people in different positions within families and relationships, including adopted adults, birth parents, adoptive parents and other family members.
The course approaches adoption as an experience whose meaning may develop and change across adult life. It encourages attention to each person’s circumstances rather than assuming that everyone affected by adoption has the same needs.
No. This is a new specialist Diploma focused on working therapeutically with adults impacted by adoption.
Optima’s established attachment-based psychotherapy diploma has been developed and approved at Level 6. The adoption Diploma has a different specialist focus; it is not a replacement version of that attachment qualification.
No. The minimum qualification requirement for the adoption Diploma is Level 4, followed by an interview.
You do not need to complete Optima’s Level 6 before applying.
The Diploma develops your understanding of adoption through an attachment-informed therapeutic lens.
You will explore how adoption experiences may relate to identity, belonging, loss, relationships and expectations of others, while considering the wider family and social context.
The emphasis is on using this understanding thoughtfully in clinical work, with curiosity about the individual rather than making assumptions based on their adoption history.
Care experience is considered across the curriculum, including questions of caregiving continuity, placement change and relational discontinuity.
Adoption and care experience can overlap, but they are not interchangeable. The training encourages you to recognise both connections and differences and attend carefully to each person’s history.
No. An adoption history does not tell us, by itself, how a person understands their experience or what they need from therapy.
The course encourages practitioners to make room for complexity, including connection, loss, uncertainty, belonging and conflicting feelings, without imposing a particular account.
The Diploma is intended to develop your existing counselling or psychotherapy practice.
You will consider how an attachment-informed understanding of adoption can inform your formulation, therapeutic relationship and clinical responses, alongside your existing modality and professional responsibilities.
No. Personal experience of adoption is not an entry requirement.
If you do have personal experience, you are welcome to discuss what undertaking this training might mean for you during the interview. Personal experience can inform learning, while professional training also requires critical reflection and attention to the experiences of others.
Reflective participation is part of the learning, but personal disclosure needs to be considered within appropriate professional boundaries.
The course is a training environment rather than a therapy group. If you have questions about the experiential element or its potential personal impact, please raise them during the interview.
Please check the published course calendar for confirmed teaching dates and holiday breaks.
The Diploma runs over 31 weekly, four-hour teaching sessions during term time.
Please refer to your chosen cohort’s course calendar for teaching dates and holiday breaks.
Alongside the weekly teaching session, you should allow approximately half a day per week for reading and writing.
Please consider this additional study time alongside your client work, supervision, personal therapy and other commitments.
The Diploma will require you to demonstrate achievement of its learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
Please refer to the final course documentation for the confirmed assessment tasks, submission requirements and clinical evidence needed.
During the training, you will need to complete:
– 20 hours of client work.
– 1.5 hours of supervision per month.
– 20 hours of personal therapy.
These requirements support you to apply the learning in practice, reflect on your clinical work and develop awareness of your own responses.
The Diploma is awaiting CPCAB approval.
It has undergone external verification, but this should not be confused with final qualification approval. We will update the course information when CPCAB confirms its decision.
A short CPD course can provide a useful introduction or focus on a particular aspect of adoption.
The Diploma is designed to offer more sustained specialist learning, with opportunities to revisit ideas, reflect on practice and demonstrate learning through assessment.
The most appropriate choice depends on your existing knowledge, intended work and the depth of training you are seeking.
No course can guarantee acceptance by every agency or service.
Employers and commissioning organisations set their own requirements for qualifications, experience, supervision and specialist knowledge. If you have a particular role or organisation in mind, check its requirements before enrolling.
The Diploma is focused on developing therapeutic understanding and practice.
Consultancy roles can involve different responsibilities and requirements. Whether the training is suitable for a particular consultancy role will depend on the organisation, the work involved and your wider experience.
No. A qualification and individual professional accreditation are separate.
Specialist training can contribute to your professional development, but your professional body determines accreditation eligibility through its own requirements and assessment process.
An interest-free payment plan will be available.
Please refer to the current prospectus for the confirmed tuition fee, deposit, instalment schedule and VAT position. Any additional costs associated with clinical requirements will also need to be considered.
Yes. You can book a 15-minute tutor conversation to discuss your experience, interests and questions.
This is an opportunity to explore whether the Diploma fits your professional aims before deciding whether to apply.
Start by reading the prospectus and watching the course overview video. You can then book a tutor conversation if you would find it helpful.
When applications are open, follow the application link on the course page. Suitable applicants will be invited to interview.
Level 6 Attachment-based Psychotherapy Diploma
The Diploma is for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who hold a Level 4 counselling or psychotherapy qualification or above and want to deepen their understanding of attachment and apply it more confidently in clinical practice.
You may have covered attachment theory during your initial training but want a more developed understanding of how it appears in the therapeutic relationship, informs clinical formulation and shapes your therapeutic decisions.
You do not need to be an attachment specialist. The Diploma develops your understanding of attachment-based practice from the foundation of your existing counselling or psychotherapy training.
An interest in relational work, a willingness to reflect on your own responses and an openness to experiential learning are important.
No. This is a specialist qualification for practitioners who have already completed their core counselling or psychotherapy training.
It develops your existing clinical practice and does not replace an initial practitioner qualification.
You will develop your ability to use attachment theory to understand what may be happening beneath a client’s presenting difficulties and within the therapeutic relationship.
The training supports you to:
– Formulate using attachment histories, internal working models and protective strategies.
– Recognise patterns such as avoidance, dependency, mistrust and difficulties with closeness.
– Understand the contribution of attachment experiences to trauma, unresolved loss, anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation.
– Respond thoughtfully to ruptures, withdrawal, resistance and difficulties establishing trust.
– Select, justify and evaluate attachment-informed interventions.
– Recognise how your own attachment experiences and responses may influence the therapeutic relationship.
The emphasis is on connecting theoretical understanding with clinical decisions and relational practice.
Yes. The Diploma is intended to deepen your existing practice by helping you consider how attachment experiences influence clients’ expectations, protective strategies and ways of relating.
You will critically explore how attachment-based understanding informs your work, including where it complements or challenges your current approach.
Both. You will engage with attachment theory and research alongside clinical discussion, reflective work and experiential learning.
Understanding attachment involves considering your own relational responses as well as those of your clients. Personal reflection therefore forms an important part of the learning.
Yes. Developing awareness of your own attachment experiences, protective strategies and emotional responses is central to attachment-based practice.
The purpose is to strengthen your capacity to recognise your contribution to therapeutic interactions and use that awareness responsibly. Personal reflection takes place within the professional boundaries of the training; it does not replace personal therapy.
You must hold a Level 4 counselling or psychotherapy qualification or above. Entry also involves an interview to explore your experience, readiness for the training and whether the Diploma is appropriate for your professional development.
If you are unsure whether your qualification meets the entry requirements, please contact us before applying.
The Diploma is delivered through live online teaching, bringing learners together for discussion, clinical exploration and experiential work.
This is participatory training, so you will need to attend live sessions and engage with the learning group. Please check the relevant course listing for cohort dates and times.
Momentum offers the Level 6 Diploma over a shorter, 24-week period, with longer weekly live online sessions.
The learning and qualification requirements remain the same. Momentum provides a different study rhythm for practitioners who would prefer to complete the training over a more concentrated period.
Sessions include five hours of teaching and a 30-minute lunch break. The next Momentum intake starts in January 2027.
You will need to allow time for reading, reflection, written work and preparing clinical material outside taught sessions.
The commitment extends beyond attendance. When choosing a cohort, consider how independent study will fit alongside your client work, supervision, personal therapy and other responsibilities. Please review the current course information and discuss the workload at interview.
Assessment requires you to demonstrate theoretical understanding, clinical application and reflective evaluation against the approved Level 6 criteria.
At this level, you are expected to critically engage with theory and research, explain your clinical reasoning, justify therapeutic choices and evaluate your practice.
The current assessment requirements and submission guidance are set out in the course documentation.
Yes. Applying the learning to clinical practice, using supervision and engaging in personal therapy are important components of the Diploma.
Please review the current course requirements before enrolling, including the specified hours, suitability of your therapist and supervisor, and any costs payable separately from course fees. These can also be discussed at interview.
Live online learning provides opportunities for relational and experiential work, clinical discussion and reflection within a consistent learning group.
It also enables practitioners from different locations and professional settings to learn together, bringing a wider range of perspectives into the room.
Participation requires a reliable internet connection, appropriate equipment and a private space where you can engage without being overheard or interrupted.
Please see the relevant course page for current fees, payment options and any early bird offer. Check whether quoted prices include VAT and budget separately for any required personal therapy and supervision.
The Diploma is accredited by CPCAB.
This is separate from individual professional accreditation, which is awarded by your professional body through its own application and assessment process.
The Diploma can support your professional development and provide evidence of specialist learning, clinical understanding and reflective practice.
Many graduates of our previous Level 5 attachment-based diploma have used their training as part of their professional accreditation applications. Its case study assessment was mapped to relevant SCoPEd competencies to support the demonstration of clinical knowledge and practice.
Completing the Level 6 does not automatically confer professional accreditation or a particular SCoPEd status. Your professional body will consider your full training, experience and eligibility against its requirements.
The Level 6 provides a foundation for further attachment-focused study. Progression to Optima’s Level 7 is subject to meeting its full entry requirements, including the required clinical experience.
Our Level 7 offers advanced clinical development and can contribute towards an application for Senior Accreditation where the relevant professional body’s requirements are met. It does not automatically confer Senior Accreditation.
Level 7 Attachment-Focused Psychotherapeutic Practice Diploma
The Diploma is for experienced counsellors and psychotherapists who already have a foundation in attachment-based practice and want to develop their clinical understanding, professional judgement and capacity to work with complexity.
It is particularly relevant if you want to deepen your attachment-focused work, explore couples therapy and supervision, develop your understanding of trauma, and critically engage with research.
Applicants should have:
– A Level 5 or 6 qualification in attachment-based psychotherapy, or equivalent attachment-based training.
– At least three years of post-qualification experience.
– At least 450 client hours.
– Engagement in attachment-based personal therapy and supervision.
Your application will be considered against the full entry requirements. If you are unsure whether your previous training provides a suitable foundation, please contact us to discuss it.
No. Applicants with equivalent attachment-based training can be considered.
We will need to understand the content, depth and clinical application of your previous training to assess whether it provides an appropriate foundation for Level 7.
No. Graduates of Optima’s previous Level 5 attachment-based diploma can apply directly for Level 7, subject to meeting the other entry requirements.
The introduction of Level 6 has not created an additional compulsory step. If you hold an equivalent qualification from another provider, we can discuss its suitability with you.
Level 6 develops specialist attachment-based understanding and its application to clinical practice.
Level 7 builds on an existing attachment foundation and requires more advanced critical engagement, independent judgement and evaluation of complex practice. It extends the learning into attachment-informed supervision, couples therapy, advanced trauma and applied clinical research.
The distinction concerns both the areas studied and the depth of analysis and professional reasoning expected.
Level 6 develops specialist attachment-based understanding and its application to clinical practice.
Level 7 builds on an existing attachment foundation and requires more advanced critical engagement, independent judgement and evaluation of complex practice. It extends the learning into attachment-informed supervision, couples therapy, advanced trauma and applied clinical research.
The distinction concerns both the areas studied and the depth of analysis and professional reasoning expected.
The Diploma includes four areas:
– Attachment-Informed Supervision: exploring how attachment processes influence supervisory relationships, reflection and professional development.
– Attachment-Focused Couples Therapy: examining relational patterns and therapeutic work with couples through an attachment lens.
– Advanced Trauma: deepening your understanding of trauma and its implications for attachment-focused practice.
– Applied Clinical Research: critically engaging with research and considering its relevance to clinical questions and therapeutic work.
The training supports you to develop more nuanced formulations, consider competing explanations and make thoughtful clinical decisions in complex relational work.
You will explore how attachment patterns, protective strategies, trauma and relational expectations influence the therapeutic process, alongside your own responses as a practitioner.
The emphasis is on explaining and evaluating your clinical choices, as well as developing your knowledge.
Yes. You will bring your existing therapeutic knowledge and experience into the training and critically explore how attachment-focused understanding informs your work.
The Diploma encourages you to examine the strengths, limitations and implications of different perspectives rather than apply theory without considering the individual client and clinical context.
If you are not currently working with couples, please discuss this during the application process.
The course includes Attachment-Focused Couples Therapy, so it is important to clarify the clinical evidence required and whether your current or planned practice will allow you to meet the assessment requirements.
Previous specialist training can provide a useful foundation for further learning. The Level 7 brings these areas into an attachment-focused programme alongside supervision and applied clinical research.
Its relevance will depend on your existing training and professional aims. Please discuss these with us so you can make an informed decision about the commitment involved.
The Diploma includes Attachment-Informed Supervision. However, you should not assume that completing this module alone meets every requirement for working as a supervisor.
Before enrolling for this purpose, discuss your intended role with us and check any requirements set by your professional body, employer or commissioning organisation.
No. A Level 7 Diploma is not the same award as a full master’s degree.
The level describes the complexity and depth of learning expected. It does not mean that qualifications at that level have the same size, credit value or award title.
The Diploma is delivered through live online teaching, combining theoretical exploration, clinical discussion, reflection and experiential learning.
You will learn as part of a group and need to participate actively in the sessions. Please check your chosen cohort’s listing for its timetable and dates.
The standard route runs over 31 weeks, with four-hour weekly live online sessions.
Level 7 Momentum offers a more concentrated rhythm over approximately seven months, with 24 live lessons and 120 guided learning hours.
Both routes lead to the same Diploma and require you to meet its learning and assessment requirements. The main consideration is which timetable best fits your practice, study time and other commitments.
You will need time outside live sessions for reading, research, reflection, written assessments and preparing clinical material.
Level 7 requires sustained critical engagement, so it is important to plan for study alongside your clinical work, supervision and personal therapy. Review the current course guidance and discuss the workload with us before committing.
You must demonstrate achievement of the approved learning outcomes and assessment criteria through the course’s assessment requirements.
At Level 7, this includes critically evaluating theory and research, developing coherent arguments, explaining clinical decisions and reflecting in depth on your practice.
The current course documentation sets out the required submissions, clinical evidence and assessment guidance.
Yes. The Diploma is intended for practising therapists, and applying the learning to clinical work is central to the programme.
Before enrolling, confirm that your practice provides suitable opportunities to meet the course requirements, including any module-specific clinical evidence.
Attachment-based personal therapy and supervision form part of the course requirements.
Please check the current course documentation for the required hours, practitioner suitability and evidence needed. You should also budget for any therapy and supervision costs payable separately from your course fees.
If you already have a therapist or supervisor, discuss their suitability with us before assuming that your existing arrangements meet the requirements.
Yes. The Diploma requires you to examine how your attachment experiences, protective strategies and emotional responses may influence your clinical and supervisory relationships.
This reflection supports professional awareness and more considered practice. It takes place within the boundaries of the training and does not replace personal therapy.
Live online learning enables clinical discussion, experiential exploration and reflection within a consistent group.
Learning alongside practitioners from different locations and professional settings also brings a range of experiences and perspectives into the room.
You will need a reliable internet connection, suitable equipment and a private space where you can participate without being overheard or interrupted.
The Diploma is accredited by CPCAB.
The qualification is separate from individual professional accreditation or Senior Accreditation, which is assessed and awarded by your professional body.
The Level 7 can contribute towards an application for Senior Accreditation where the relevant professional body’s requirements are met.
It does not automatically confer Senior Accreditation. Your professional body will assess your full training, clinical experience, personal development and other eligibility requirements.
Before enrolling specifically for this purpose, check how the Diploma fits your individual accreditation pathway.
No. Completing an academic qualification does not automatically confer a particular SCoPEd status.
Your professional body determines your status through its own processes and consideration of the relevant requirements. The Diploma can provide learning and evidence to support your professional development, but the qualification level and professional status are distinct.
Please see your chosen course listing for the current fee, VAT-inclusive total, payment schedule and any available offers.
An instalment option is available. You should also allow for any required personal therapy and supervision costs outside the tuition fee.
Follow the application link on the relevant course page.
If you would like to discuss your attachment training, clinical experience or professional aims first, please contact us. We can help you clarify your eligibility and consider whether the standard or Momentum route suits your circumstances.
Therapist Retreat
The retreat is for counsellors and psychotherapists who would value time to learn, reflect and connect with others who understand the work.
You might work largely alone, want space to think about your practice, or simply feel ready to step away from your usual routine. You do not need to be an attachment specialist to benefit.
No. You are welcome whether you have studied with Optima previously or are joining us for the first time.
No specialist attachment qualification is required.
An interest in attachment and relational work will help you engage with the retreat, but you do not need to arrive with extensive theoretical knowledge.
There is genuine learning, alongside time to process it.
The retreat creates space for conversation, clinical reflection, walking, rest and connection. You can spend time with ideas and notice what they bring up, with more room around the learning than a conventional training timetable usually allows.
The retreat brings together three strands:
Connection and community: spending time with therapists who understand the demands and rewards of the work.
Clinical reflection: exploring attachment-informed ideas and considering their relevance to your practice.
Rest and regulation: opportunities to pause, walk and step out of your everyday responsibilities.
The programme varies between retreats. Please see the relevant booking page for the planned activities.
No. This is a professional retreat with reflective and experiential elements, rather than group therapy.
Some activities may feel personally meaningful, but the retreat does not replace personal therapy or provide a setting for intensive therapeutic work.
You are invited to participate thoughtfully and within your own boundaries. You do not need to tell your personal story to justify being there.
Some activities involve reflection or conversation, and you can consider what feels appropriate to share within a professional group.
There is room to make choices about your participation and recognise when you need some quiet time.
If an activity raises questions about accessibility or suitability for you, please contact us before booking so we can discuss it.
Reflective work can bring feelings to the surface. You are encouraged to notice your responses, take a pause when needed and speak with a facilitator if you need support with your participation.
If you are unsure whether the retreat is appropriate for your current circumstances, please contact us before booking.
Absolutely. You do not need to arrive with a colleague or an established group.
Coming alone can offer an opportunity to meet people beyond your usual professional circle. There will be opportunities for connection, alongside space to spend time by yourself.
You do not need to be outgoing or comfortable speaking to a whole room.
Participation can include listening, reflecting and talking with one or two people. You can take time to settle into the group and find your own way of engaging.
There will be opportunities for clinical reflection and discussion, according to the programme.
Please protect client confidentiality and avoid sharing identifying details. Retreat discussions do not replace your ongoing clinical supervision.
No. Creative reflection is about exploring and noticing, rather than producing something polished.
You do not need artistic experience or a particular level of skill. The value lies in the process and what it helps you think or feel.
Walking and outdoor reflection may form part of the programme, depending on the venue, weather and planned activities.
Please check the retreat information for details and contact us if you have questions about mobility, terrain or alternatives.
Rest is part of the purpose of the retreat.
Alongside the organised programme, there is space to pause and spend time away from the demands of practice. You do not need to fill every available moment.
The learning and reflective elements may contribute to your continuing professional development where they are relevant to your practice.
Please check the individual retreat listing for any stated CPD hours and certificate arrangements. Your professional body determines what it accepts, and time spent attending a retreat is not necessarily all countable as CPD.
Please see the relevant retreat page for the venue, travel information and arrival arrangements.
Venue details are provided for each retreat so you can plan your journey and consider whether the setting meets your needs.
Please check the retreat listing for the accommodation options offered. Depending on the booking arrangements, these may include single or twin/shared rooms.
Check your selected package carefully to confirm the room type and number of nights included.
The booking page sets out what is included in each package, such as programme participation, accommodation and meals.
Please review these details before booking, including any costs you will need to meet separately, such as travel or additional nights.
Please tell us about dietary requirements when booking so we can discuss them with the venue.
If you have a food allergy or a requirement that needs particular arrangements, contact us before booking to confirm what can be provided.
Access arrangements depend on the venue and activities.
Please contact us before booking to discuss any mobility, sensory, health or other access needs. We can clarify the facilities and explore what arrangements may be possible.
Comfortable clothing, something to write in and any personal items you need to feel settled are useful.
If outdoor activities are included, bring suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. We will provide any more specific guidance in the joining information.
Please check the booking page to see whether a day attendance option is available.
Accommodation and attendance arrangements vary, so contact us if the listed packages do not answer your question.
Please read the cancellation terms provided at the time of booking, including any deadlines and conditions relating to refunds or transfers.
If your circumstances change, contact us as soon as possible so we can explain the options available under your booking terms.
Follow the booking link on the relevant retreat page.
If you would like to discuss whether the retreat is right for you, or need clarification about accommodation, access or participation, you are welcome to contact us before booking.
The Development from Level 5 to Level 6
The Level 6 forms part of the ongoing development of Optima’s training, alongside plans for a new Level 5 Diploma specialising in adoption and care experience.
CPCAB approved the Level 6 on 16 October 2026, following a formal qualification review and revisions to all seven learning outcomes and 25 assessment criteria.
The Diploma builds on the theoretical and clinical foundations of our established Level 5. The revised criteria place greater emphasis on critical analysis, research appraisal, clinical formulation, justification of interventions, independent ethical judgement and critical reflection.
Guided learning hours, total qualification time and specified client hours remain unchanged. The distinction concerns the depth and complexity of assessed learning.
Your Level 5 remains a valid qualification and evidence of your specialist attachment-based psychotherapy training. You can continue to include it on your CV and in professional applications.
CPCAB has confirmed that students registered on the original Level 5 version will complete and be certificated on that version. The introduction of Level 6 does not change existing registrations or qualifications already awarded.
There is no retrospective conversion, bridging assessment or resubmission arrangement being offered. Level 5 certificates will not be reissued at Level 6.
Your work was assessed against the requirements of the Level 5 qualification. Because the Level 6 has revised learning outcomes and assessment criteria, CPCAB has also confirmed that it will not issue a letter of equivalence.
Your Level 5 remains valid. A qualification does not cease to be valid because a training provider subsequently develops or replaces its programme.
Employers set their own requirements and may consider qualifications alongside professional registration, accreditation, clinical experience and specialist skills.
Former students have used their Level 5 training as part of professional accreditation applications. Recognition for a particular role or application remains a decision for the employer or professional body concerned.
No. Graduates of our Level 5 can apply directly for Level 7, subject to its usual entry requirements.
The introduction of Level 6 has not added a compulsory step to your progression pathway, and there is no expectation that you should repeat your attachment training simply because Level 6 is now available.
The timing followed Optima’s course development and CPCAB approval process. Approval arrived sooner than we had anticipated.
Introducing a revised qualification creates a period when students are completing the previous version while the new version becomes available. Existing Level 5 students continue with the qualification on which they registered.
The change reflects the development of our training provision and does not indicate concerns about the quality or value of the Level 5.