Psychotherapeutic Counselling

Study options

Award

University Professional Diploma

Key facts

Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Part-time
Duration:
2 Years
Start date:
School:
School of Life Sciences and Education

Counselling placement

Hands on experience in practice to develop your integrative approach

Integrative approach

Draws on a range of established psychotherapeutic approaches

BACP accredited

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredits Diploma

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

As anxiety, stress and various associated conditions become increasingly common in today’s hectic world, more and more people are recognising the benefits of counselling.

Taking an integrative approach, this course will help you to develop a range of psychotherapeutic strategies – and enable you to begin to call on your own life experiences – to help your clients better understand their feelings and overcome the challenges they face.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: University Professional Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling

Course content

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.

As a part-time student, you’ll normally complete the course over two years.

You’ll need to undertake a counselling placement of at least 100 hours, 50 hours of work-based learning and at least 20 hours of approved personal therapy.

You’ll attend a compulsory residential weekend near the start of the course which offers space to focus on personal development, skills and group dynamics in a tranquil setting.

There are also two compulsory Saturday day schools in both Year 1 and Year 2.

Professional body accreditation

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

Accredited by BACP logo
Psychology at Staffordshire University

Psychology at Staffordshire University

Video

Study Psychology and you’ll gain skills that will be valued by a range of employers.

Modules

This module map provides an indicative list of the modules that make up your course. Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you may be able to take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, enabling you to cover key subject knowledge while developing your own interest. You must take modules worth a total of 180 credits. The number of optional modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at a given level, you may have more choice in later parts of the course.

Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them in our module catalogue. We aim to ensure that all optional modules run as scheduled. If for any reason an optional module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Personal Development And Counselling Skills 1 30 credits
Theory, Research & Professional Issues In Counselling 1 30 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Personal Development And Counselling Skills 2 30 credits
Theory, Research & Professional Issues In Counselling 2 30 credits

Entry requirements

You must have successfully completed at least a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling or equivalent and should also have a good standard of written and spoken English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent).

You must obtain a counselling placement involving a minimum of 100 hours of supervised counselling practice during the course.

Your emotional maturity and resilience will be assessed as part of the application and interview process.

University Certificate in Counselling

If you don’t meet the requirements to study at Professional Diploma level, you may be interested in our University Certificate in Counselling, which is studied part-time over one year.

For students who are not equipped to begin Certificate-level study and have little or no counselling experience, a 10-week Introduction to Basic Skills in Counselling course is also available. Successful completion of the Introduction will enable you to apply to enrol on the Certificate.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Facilities

Careers

When you’ve completed the Professional Diploma plus 450 client hours, you can apply to the BACP to become an accredited counsellor.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Teaching includes formal lectures, small and large group work, triads, discussions, guided reading, video presentations, demonstrations and counselling sessions. During the training, you’ll take on the role of both counsellor and client, and explore your own reflexivity and self-awareness. In Year 2, with permission, there will be the opportunity to review audio recordings of actual practitioner-client sessions.

You’ll be required to critique an audio recording of a client on placement as part of the skills portfolio assessment. 

Assessment

Among other activities, during Years 1 and 2 assessments include essays and presentations on ethics, theory, skills critiques and personal development activities. In Year 2 you’ll also be assessed on your critique of audio from an actual client session.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You’ll receive constructive feedback on all work submitted for assessment. Feedback is intended to help you learn and develop, and you’re encouraged to discuss it with your personal tutor. You’ll be continually assessed on your skills during the triad sessions.

Feedback is normally provided within 20 working days following submission of work.

Your overall workload will consist of independent learning and assessment activity, equating to a total study time of approximately three days per week, including placement, supervision and wider reading. You’ll have approximately 7.5 contact hours each week.

Independent learning

When not attending sessions on campus or accessing Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment, you’ll be expected to complete research and reading in support of the topics you’ve been taught. You must also keep up-to-date with contemporary research and literature surrounding counselling.

Staff

Beverley Meakin

Senior Lecturer

I have 15 years' experience of providing counselling with a relational focus for couples, individuals and families.I currently teach on the Postgraduate/Professional Diploma and MSc Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

Beverley's profile

Keith Walmsley-Smith

Lecturer

I teach across a wide spectrum of courses, all involving counselling approaches to psychology. I'm interested in what motivates people to train in therapeutic work, and how the training process impacts upon them and their relationships.

Keith's profile

Susan Fleming

Course Director

My professional experience includes working as a counsellor for the NHS, Douglas Macmillan Hospice and IMPACT & Aquarius alcohol agencies including counselling within the probation service.

Susan's profile

Fees

When studied part time, the duration of the course and the amount of fees you’ll pay each year depends on the speed at which you wish to progress. This is called the ‘intensity of study’. The usual study pattern on this programme enables you to complete modules totalling 60 credits in your first year of study. This would be equivalent to studying at 50 per cent course intensity.

If you follow this pattern of study you will complete the course in two years. In your second year you will pay the pro rata (equivalent) fee shown for your first year of study.

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Included in the fees:

The compulsory residential weekend, which takes place in Year 1, is normally held in Ambleside, Cumbria, and is included in the course tuition fee. However, travel costs are not included.
Not included in the fees:

You’ll need to complete 20 hours of personal therapy, which can be done over the two years. On average, counsellors charge around £40 per hour, but this cost will vary. It’s your responsibility to arrange counselling supervision, with a requirement to have one hour every two weeks, working to a ratio of one hour of supervision to six hours of counselling. On average, supervisors charge £40 per hour. Once again, this cost can vary, with some supervisors offering a discount to students.

Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced DBS) check

On the first day of the course, you’ll need to complete an Enhanced DBS application form. You’ll be expected to cover the cost of the check.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a loan of up to £10,609 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options - part-time, full-time and distance learning. You won’t have to start repaying the loan until you are earning more than (currently) £21,000 per year.

For more information and how to apply visit postgraduate loans.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Applications are currently unavailable.

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Have you considered?

Counselling University Certificate

Study options
Part-time

Forensic Psychology BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Part-time
Placement year

Psychology BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Part-time
Foundation year
Placement year

Psychology and Child Development BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Part-time
Placement year

Psychology and Counselling BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Part-time
Placement year

Psychology and Criminology BSc (Hons)

Study options
Full-time
Part-time
Placement year
Top 250 Young University

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Rated Gold for Teaching Excellence

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold logo
Shortlisted for University of the Year

Times Higher Awards 2020
Top 15 for Teaching Quality

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021

Top 15 for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021

Midlands University of the Year

Midlands Business Awards 2020