The PCC perceives itself, and is considered among sister organizations as a leading organization in mental health in the West Bank.  This leaves the Center with a great responsibility of having to employ high power professionals, and recruit the most promising graduates and organize ongoing training and supervision for mental health professionals.  The PCC has been developing its capacity to be able to respond to the increasing need for mental health services both on the therapeutic and professional training needs of our target groups. 

The main goal of this department is to upgrade the capacities of individuals and institutions working in mental health.  These activities focus on three levels; one building the capacities of university students through hands-on training while at the same time developing a training program for them; second is model building counseling and therapy programs that can be adopted by organizations and three, working through short-term training workshops with individuals (university students) and organizations (NGOs, GOs and charitable societies) to enhance their professional intervention capacities.   In our line of work, which involves working with people, high efficiency is required and expected. 

The PCC is an accredited training center for the main local universities in the central area of Palestine like Birzeit, Bethlehem, and Al Quds universities.  Tens of students from the social work, psychology and education departments intern at the Center yearly.  The PCC prides itself in having a very good reputation in training and our interns are in demand on the job market and can find work fairly easily.

Recruitment, training, and placement for university graduates and undergraduates:

Through this program, the PCC develops training programs targeting university students from local universities.  The aim of the activities is to increase the capacities of university students and prepare them for the work force upon graduation.  These activities focus on two levels.  The first is the development of a training program for the students and second is placing the students in groups based on specialization in order to provide them with hands-on experience.  Each student is required to complete 12 hours of hands-on work per week during a period of six months to one year.   The university students taking part in the activities are specializing in psychology, social work and education.  The students must be in their third or fourth year.

Another component of these activities has a different target group from above, however, with the same goal.  This component focuses on new graduates and those continuing towards their masters in the field of psychology, social work and education who will work closely with PCC directors of departments so that they are involved in planning, implementation and evaluation of the various activities. The students work (intern) at the PCC for one full year and are expected to provide counseling, receive supervision from PCC staff, share in intakes (primary information), read reports and contribute to information and systemization of mental health information and finally, submit individual final reports to PCC and their direct supervisors at their university.

Promoting Model Building:

An important part of PCC’s work continues to be model building, i.e., rehabilitation for chronically ill patients, non-formal education activities, and developing training specialized clinical (one to one and group therapy) programs for organizations and institutions working in mental health.   The long term goal is to pass on these models to larger institutions and/or organizations working in the field that provide services to Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  For example, the Big Brother-Big Sister Program and the Recreation and Enrichment Rooms for Children with Long-term Illness are presently duplicated by a national youth organization for the first and an organization working with children with cancer for the latter.  

Another example initiated in 2006 is a rehabilitation program for chronically ill patients, a pilot project that was initiated in the village of Azoun in the Qalqilya District in the West Bank.  Following at least three years of implementation, monitoring and evaluations, the PCC plans to pass this model to the Ministry of Health's Mental Health Department where they can implement this model in 11 community mental health centers throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 

The activities of this program are implemented in coordination with the Clinical and Socio-Education Departments. 

Specialized Training programs:

This program aims to develop and implement short or long term training programs for local and international organizations.  The training is PCC tailor made and is developed to meet the needs of beneficiaries.  Prior to implementation of a training program, the PCC conducts a needs assessment to ensure that the needs and topics identified are those required and requested by the trainees.  Pre and post tests are administered; a follow-up is conducted after the completion of the training, and at times placement for hands-on observation and supervision take place. 

In 2005, the PCC introduced an activity that aims to offer alternative professional enrichment for those that work in the field of mental health.  The monthly Professional Mental Health Lounges provide a forum where mental health related studies are presented, discussed and debated, allowing healthy and constructive discussions and information sharing therefore empowering professionals in the filed.