PgDip/MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling

Introduction

The programme provides an intermediate pre-professional training, and includes taught, clinical, "experiential" and self-directed components.  (An ‘experiential’ component provides the irreplaceable, unique experience of taking part in certain sorts of learning activities.) 

Successful graduates of the programme will be able to go on to the final stage of training that leads to eligibility for UKCP registration as integrative or existential psychotherapists. 

Objectives

Through successful completion of all components of the programme, students will be able to:

• achieve eligibility for professional training at the advanced diploma level
• acquire a broad body of knowledge in theories of psychotherapy, showing understanding of  the work of key historical and contemporary figures
• prepare for psychotherapy practice by acquiring skills in the controlled environment of the classroom
• gain clinical experience applying knowledge of theory and acquired skills in an approved clinical placement under the supervision of experienced practitioners, both in placement and at the School
• demonstrate a capacity for insight into self obtained through personal therapy, and for ongoing self-evaluation and examination of own assumptions, beliefs and prejudices that may affect clinical practice
• implement research methodologies in order to carry out in-depth, ethical investigation of relevant topics
• begin to consider development of an individual approach to a theoretical model of psychotherapy

Awards

Three different awards are possible from this course depending on amount of programme covered by the student.

• Year One within a maximum of two years may exit the programme with the Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling.
• Years One and Two (within a maximum of three years) may exit the programme with the Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Years One and Two: and a 15,000-to-20,000 word dissertation (within a maximum of four years) may exit the programme with the MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling.

Clinical Placement

Students undertake a supervised clinical placement from the end of Year 1. The School has an excellent relationship with a large number of providers of psychological healthcare and is able to provide guidance and support for students at this stage of their training.

Applicants are advised that competition for clinical placement opportunities is intense, and that prior experience of the mental health field, social care contexts or relevant volunteer work, will be vital in ensuring that they find an appropriate and practicable placement. Failure to begin working with clients in a clinical placement at the beginning of Year 2 of the course may delay students’ progress, and this may also incur additional fees

Personal Therapy

Students are required to be in individual therapy of at least one hour a week throughout the course with a UKCP registered therapist.

Personal Tuition

Each trainee is assigned a personal tutor who is available to offer guidance and support through the course.

Dissertation

Candidates for the MA are required to write a dissertation exploring a relevant subject. This final dissertation is expected to be a minimum of 20,000 words in length. The dissertation is prepared with the assistance of an academic supervisor and is evaluated by two readers. A viva examination may take place after submission of the dissertation.