Psychological Therapies Training Centre Graduation Ceremony- September 2026
Our Psychological Therapies Training Centre (PTTC) held its final and largest graduation ceremony of the year on 15 September 2026.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of more than 100 trainees who successfully completed one of eight postgraduate training programmes focused on working with children, young people and their families during 2024–25.
The PTTC is one of the few non-university organisations offering postgraduate-level psychological therapies training, providing training for hundreds of skilled mental health practitioners across the UK each year.
Graduates were recognised for completing one of the following programmes:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Pathway
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People: Parent Training for Conduct Disorders Pathway
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People: Systemic Family Practice for Depression and Conduct Disorders
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People: Systemic Family Practice for Eating Disorders
- Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Psychological Therapies: Children and Young People's Wellbeing Practitioner
- Postgraduate Certificate in Evidence-Based Psychological Therapies for Children and Young People: Working with the 0-2s age group
- Postgraduate Certificate in Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescents
- Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Clinical Practice: Learning Disabilities and Autism for Children and Young People
The ceremony took place at our headquarters, The Curve, and provided an opportunity for graduates to reconnect with their fellow trainees and members of their training teams. The event was also attended by our Chief Executive, Chris Oliver.
In August 2026, the PTTC was pleased to announce the successful outcome of its periodic review by the University of Manchester (UoM), resulting in the full validation of all programmes for a further five years. The successful revalidation ensures that the PTTC can continue to deliver accredited, high‑quality training programmes that lead directly to professional recognition and employment within the NHS. It confirms that the Centre’s courses remain academically rigorous, clinically relevant and aligned with national priorities for mental health workforce expansion.
Chris Oliver, our Chief Executive, said:
“One of the highlights of my week was attending the graduation ceremony and presenting certificates to our graduates. It was a privilege to recognise the commitment and hard work that has brought them to this moment. Congratulations to every graduate on a well-deserved achievement, and I wish them every success for the future.”
Freda McManus, Head of The Psychological Therapies Training Centre, said:
“Our trainees come from all over the region, and sometimes further afield, both from the NHS, and other public sector or voluntary organisations. The training programmes are highly demanding and require a great deal from the trainees. In addition, they are all adult learners, who have the usual complicated set of demands and responsibilities in their lives, so are having to juggle these as well as the requirements of the training programme, over a sustained period. The fact that people have reached the point of graduation reflects a high level of sacrifice and commitment.
"The graduation ceremonies give us an opportunity to acknowledge the work that our trainees have done, and how much they have achieved in completing the training successfully and highlight the likely future benefit for service users and their families and carers. We are very proud of them all.”
