Welcome to your Psychotherapeutic Counselling course

Welcome to the psychotherapeutic counselling course. We’re very excited to meet you and to be able to support you as you train to become counsellors.

Starting a new course can be daunting and this introduction is designed to be something of a help with that. You’ll begin the course in our ‘becoming a counsellor’ module, which is designed to give you the building blocks you need to be able to move into placement quickly and easily.

Our team consists of qualified counsellors from across a variety of modalities, which means that you will gain a wealth of experience, understanding and knowledge. Your placements will help you to gain the practical knowledge and understanding alongside the theory that informs your approach, and the reflexivity we ask for that helps to make you better counsellors.

We update and change module content every year to make sure that the course is relevant and exciting for you as you learn.

First activity

Welcome to your counselling course. This is a two year diploma course that runs on a Wednesday from 9-5

Semester one activities

The first module is “Becoming a Counsellor”. You have already started your counselling journey through either a level 3 or certificate course. In this module you will prepare for starting placement by covering the more practical aspects of being a counsellor and preparing for your readiness to practice assessment that you must pass before you start in placement. This means that alongside the practical side of doing ‘skills’ work and understanding what it means for us to work within the BACP ethical framework, we’ll be covering specifics about working online (BACP OPT Competence Framework), and in person. We’ll also be looking at reflexivity and developing this using a reflexivity tool called Patchwork of Practice. This module also requires you to identify and contract with your personal therapist, ready to begin your therapy hours requirement.

Delivery of course

We have a blended approach to learning, but the majority of teaching takes place face to face on campus. However, there are 6-7 online teaching sessions per year which are an important part of your development not only as a student but as a trainee counsellor working online. We follow the BACP Online and Phone Competence Framework (2021) to support you with practicing skills sessions online and the considerations required in this area of work.

The course is broadly split into theory (mornings) and personal development and skills (afternoons) for both years.

In the first year, mornings, we will start with some of the basics that you will need in order to practice safely, such as a broad understanding of ethics and the law. Then we will look at ourselves in relation to others, on the understanding that that as counsellors we are not neutral beings – values and assumptions are placed on us depending on what we look like, what we sound like, how we move, dress etc. So we cover the structural aspects of identity, 

along with a discussion of power. These are relevant across all modalities and are arguably what our clients notice about us the most. Do we know who we are in relation to our clients? The afternoons will all involve aspects of skills work, so that you can hone your abilities. In semester two you’ll start to have modality specific teaching, both in lectures and in skills sessions.

In the second-year mornings you will cover the main theories in more depth, as well as exploring some other topics that have been lightly touched upon further, as well as new topics that we could not put in to the first year. This includes facilitating group work, and spirituality, for example. The afternoon is a mixture of different types of personal development again.

Pre-learning

You may find these documents useful to read before the course begins. Please refer to the student reading list and student sway below:

Student Reading List

Student Sway

Software link: https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx

 

Progression

The course is designed that you progress from module to module. You must pass the end of year one to progress in to year two (you may not carry assignments over). Your progress is monitored by course tutors. We are trained in a variety of counselling approaches, and this means that sometimes you will hear feedback that we consider differently important. All tutors are aligned on the basis of what makes a good counsellor, and additional feedback is something of our own professional opinion.

 

 

Groups and Societies

During the first module it is expected that you join the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a student member and remain a member for the duration of the course.

Trips and Activities

Course Residential TBC

Counselling Research Conference March 2025

Meet the team

Mairi Smith

Lecturer

James Vernon

Lecturer

After completing his MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, James splits his time between academia and his private counselling practice. His research interests are in the field of bereavement counselling especially in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

James's profile

Jacqueline Jouannet

Lecturer

I am a lecturer on the MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and course lead on the University Certificate in Counselling. I work as a counsellor/supervisor in private practice, with interest in working with school counsellors in educational settings

Jacqueline's profile

Isabel Willerton

Lecturer

Johanna Johnson

Support Worker

I am a part-time lecturer and Specialist Mental Health Student Mentor at Staffordshire University and facilitate peer group supervision and provide clinical supervision in my private practice.

Johanna's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.

We look forward to welcoming you in October.

If you have any questions, please send them to your Course Leader: Mairi Smith mairi.smith@staffs.ac.uk

 

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