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Heartwood provides professional accredited training in counselling and psychotherapy. You can study a variety of post qualification courses in Relationship Counselling, Clinical Supervision, Working with Adolescents and Psychotherapy. We also have a yearly programme of CPD workshops run by specialists in their field. We are located in the heart of Devon within the beautiful grounds of The Dartington Hall Estate. Heartwood also deliver the Level 4 equivalent Advanced Diploma in Counselling (weekend option) at Regent’s Park, central London, West Bretton, West Yorkshire and Edgbaston, Birmingham. We work under the Code of Ethics laid out by the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society). We run courses that are accredited by leading professional bodies such as the NCPS. Our accredited courses are fully moderated and externally verified to ensure high standards are met. You are therefore guaranteed a high-quality of training. Our Diploma students can apply to become Student Members of the BACP or NCPS whilst in training and can join the professional register once qualified.
I studied level 3 and level 4 with Heartwood in London. I had great tutors in both levels. I highly recommend it.
Reply from Heartwood Counselling & Psychotherapy
Thank you so much for your kind words We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed both Level 3 and Level 4 and that our tutors made such a positive impact on your experience. We appreciate your recommendation and wish you every success for the future, from us all at Heartwood.
This review concerns the communication / experience l had with the Heartwood (HW) Counselling Centre Director(CD) and the Operation Director(OD) in regard to a refund request: the whole experience was very negative.
I have made it clear to HW that my request for a refund is primarily about: I was unfairly removed from class for a whole month, due to my misbehaviour reports against my tutor and harassment from another student who sent me unsolicited sloppy messages on my private number, even at night. Worse, the tutor showed motherly affection to the abuser. I have proven HW breaking their own policy,they tried to cancel my complaint by using the excuse of my withdrawal, but they stopped once I proved them wrong.
I paid £927.00 for the course at HW like all other students, however, if a tutor refuse to teach a student, she breaks the contract with the paying student. Worse: the abuser was allowed to remain in the class while I was excluded to the disappointment of my colleagues who did not see me in the class, this is "double standard treatment",a form of discrimination, when someone is treated favorably over another.
This I explained and proved to the OD. Witness statements from a former student were emailed to each party regarding the dispute, in addition to the negative comments from my colleagues taken from our WhatsApp group. But the CD and OD ignored this too.
I promptly informed the CD of the tutor unprofessionalism and how it made me feel uncomfortable many times. Sadly the CD was negligent and complacent with the tutor.
I kept sending her emails of complaints but the CD behaved in a controlling manner with me and sent me intimidating emails, these are on record as evidence.
There were months of emails/evidence I provided to HW where I proved them wrong with over 15 reports/evidence.
I emailed the OD with evidence on: July 20, Sept 10,21, Oct 05, Dec 21, 2023 - Jan 14,15, Mar 11, Apr 07, 30, May 14, Jun 22, 2024 and till this Dec, considering I am a foreigner, English is not my first language. Now the OD is acting silent and refuses to take responsibility.
The OD offered me to sign a DISPARAGEMENT AGREEMENT in exchange for refund: which means I cannot leave a negative review, why? I have proven that HW violated their policy, so I am entitled to a refund. ln hindsight this proves them even more wrong bcs they are afraid of me telling the truth with no way to prove me wrong.
I asked to change tutors many times, but instead of supporting me, the CD kicked me out of the sessions. I was unfairly marginalized bcs of my legitimate report. Is this acceptable in 2023/24? And after paying £927.00 for the course?
The injustice, the assignment deadlines, the intimidating emails from the CD for being kicked out of the course caused me depression that forced me to withdraw my complaints. The whole experience was detrimental to my mental health: I had to see a psychiatrist who prescribed me tranquilizers. My mental health was seriously compromised by the abusive tutor and the CD.
Everything written above is proven by evidence and recorded in my email+witness statement from students+recorded communication with the CD and OD/Heartwood. EVERYTHING IS ACCURATE and TRUE.
If the Trustpilot Team has any doubts about this, I am more than happy to provide full evidence to support my review. l am honest. Review left on Google Map too.
NB: 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
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