What Makes This Course So Special?
Counselling Studies gives you a unique combination of knowledge, skills and personal development which help prepare you for working with people in a whole range of ways. You learn the intentional use of active listening skills and group work, explore who you are and how other people experience you, study different ideas about how we can help people make changes in their lives, and you develop a questioning approach to understanding the growth of ‘therapy culture’. This course is not training for counsellors but gives you an excellent foundation to go on and train to be a counsellor or to work in on of the other helping professions.
Course Intro
Counselling and therapy have undergone tremendous growth and Counselling Studies is a discipline that explores all aspects of this approach, helping people’s emotional and psychological health.
You will explore the key issues around counselling. This will include learning how individuals develop and change, how psychological therapies work and what they have to offer society. As well as studying the theory behind counselling, you will practice helping skills and develop your self-understanding. The knowledge and practical skills you will acquire will serve as a solid platform from which you can progress to a full qualifying counselling qualification.
The work placement in the second year enables you to make clear links between the theory and skills learnt and real world practice. It will significantly accelerate your understanding of counselling and the workplace and will help you clarify your future career aspirations.
What you study
Year 1
• Counselling Theory
• Human Development and Change
• Introduction to Research
• Skills for a Professional Environment
• Plus 2 modules from other joint subject
Year 2
• Contemporary Issues in Counselling
• Individual and Group Work Facilitation
Skills
• Professional Practice (work placement)
• Research Methods
• Plus 2 modules from other joint subject
Year 3
• Counselling & Society
• Dissertation
• Plus 1 module from other joint subject
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
Graduates of this course may choose to go on to train at postgraduate level to qualify as a counsellor or another similar profession such as social work. Recent graduates have entered a variety of other careers which involve listening to, working with and/or caring for other people. These include human resources, housing, midwifery and a wide range of other careers which involve listening to, working with and/or caring for other people.
Interview Required
No interview will be required if you meet the programme entry requirements. However, we would encourage you to use the opportunity to attend one of our Open Days to talk to the tutors about the course.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of methods including: essay writing; exams; case study; transcript analysis; experiential exercises; group discussions; role play; simulation; video work and a dissertation.
Student Soundbite
“I have enjoyed attending the lectures as I find the majority of them really interesting. They open my mind to issues that I wouldn’t usually consider and enhance my enthusiasm to learn more.”