Psychotherapeutic Counselling

Our Psychotherapeutic Counselling MSc will develop you into a reflexive counsellor who can work effectively with clients on a diverse range of issues.

The course aims to:

• Provide students with an in-depth exploration in integrative counselling and its application to counselling and the mental health field.
• Equip students with the conceptual understanding, skills and knowledge to assess critically research findings in the context of the developing discipline of counselling.
• Encourage students to consider and critically reflect on ethical, legal and moral aspects of different approaches to counselling issues.
• Facilitate a critically reflexive attitude around diversity and difference to develop awareness of the impact of cultural and family messages on development of self and self in relationship with others.
• Equip students with the skills that will prepare them for employment as professional counsellors.
• Develop students’ abilities so that they become competent and reflexive practitioners, able to work effectively and professionally with others,
• Sustain a culture of research and learning, while encouraging students to question their previous assumptions and develop an open and enquiring attitude.
• Enable students to develop their ability to carry out independent research at an advanced level and to incorporate this learning into written assignments, demonstrating self-direction and originality. 

The course aims to:

• Provide students with an in-depth exploration in integrative counselling and its application to counselling and the mental health field.
• Equip students with the conceptual understanding, skills and knowledge to assess critically research findings in the context of the developing discipline of counselling.
• Encourage students to consider and critically reflect on ethical, legal and moral aspects of different approaches to counselling issues.
• Facilitate a critically reflexive attitude around diversity and difference to develop awareness of the impact of cultural and family messages on development of self and self in relationship with others.
• Equip students with the skills that will prepare them for employment as professional counsellors.
• Develop students’ abilities so that they become competent and reflexive practitioners, able to work effectively and professionally with others,
• Sustain a culture of research and learning, while encouraging students to question their previous assumptions and develop an open and enquiring attitude.
• Enable students to develop their ability to carry out independent research at an advanced level and to incorporate this learning into written assignments, demonstrating self-direction and originality. 

You’ll be taught five different counselling approaches:

• Person-centred
• Cognitive behavioural
• Psychodynamic
• Attachment
• Systemic

You’ll also be encouraged to reflect on your own integrative approach as it develops over the course.

You’ll need to undertake a counselling placement of at least 100 hours and at least 30 hours of approved personal therapy.

You’ll attend a compulsory residential weekend at the start of the course which offers space to focus on personal development and group dynamics. We also host other compulsory events such as conferences and workshops.

The philosophy of the suite of counselling courses takes a holistic view of the person, incorporating aspects of phenomenological experience, emotional and thought processes, developmental aspects, and family context with an emphasis on social and cultural influences. The overall objective is to facilitate development of reflexive counsellors who value the significance of the therapeutic relationship, who can engage with flexibility in response to a diverse range of client issues and facilitate client change.

A unique aspect of the course is the offering of diversity groups designed to explore aspects of difference and diversity such as gender or privilege and the impact of this on the therapeutic relationship. We also offer ‘safer spaces’ groups to support students who are members of marginalised or minority groups.

For the MSc 3^rd year, you will be assigned a supervisor with experience in the particular area or method of counselling research that you’re interested in.

As this course incorporates an element of online learning and skills practice, it is important that you have suitable technology, good internet connection, the technical ability to work online, and access to a private space to attend online taught sessions. This is also a crucial requirement for any remote client work undertaken as part of your practice learning. Consideration and understanding must be given to the BACP Online and Telephone Competence Framework Online and phone therapy (OPT) competence framework and user guide (bacp.co.uk)).

You’ll be taught five different counselling approaches:

• Person-centred
• Cognitive behavioural
• Psychodynamic
• Attachment
• Systemic

You’ll also be encouraged to reflect on your own integrative approach as it develops over the course.

You’ll need to undertake a counselling placement of at least 100 hours and at least 30 hours of approved personal therapy.

You’ll attend a compulsory residential weekend at the start of the course which offers space to focus on personal development and group dynamics. We also host other compulsory events such as conferences and workshops.

The philosophy of the suite of counselling courses takes a holistic view of the person, incorporating aspects of phenomenological experience, emotional and thought processes, developmental aspects, and family context with an emphasis on social and cultural influences. The overall objective is to facilitate development of reflexive counsellors who value the significance of the therapeutic relationship, who can engage with flexibility in response to a diverse range of client issues and facilitate client change.

A unique aspect of the course is the offering of diversity groups designed to explore aspects of difference and diversity such as gender or privilege and the impact of this on the therapeutic relationship. We also offer ‘safer spaces’ groups to support students who are members of marginalised or minority groups.

For the MSc 3^rd year, you will be assigned a supervisor with experience in the particular area or method of counselling research that you’re interested in.

As this course incorporates an element of online learning and skills practice, it is important that you have suitable technology, good internet connection, the technical ability to work online, and access to a private space to attend online taught sessions. This is also a crucial requirement for any remote client work undertaken as part of your practice learning. Consideration and understanding must be given to the BACP Online and Telephone Competence Framework Online and phone therapy (OPT) competence framework and user guide (bacp.co.uk)).

Professional body accreditation

Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)