Entry Requirements
What are the entry requirements?
· an honours degree with a minimum 2:2 Hons
· evidence of completing a Certificate in Counselling Skills qualification (minimum Level 2) which includes ongoing skills observation and feedback.
· English Language and Mathematics GCSE at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)
· a n Enhanced DBS check for the Adult Workforce which is registered with the Update Service
· Relevant work experience – you will need to demonstrate a minimum of 6 months voluntary or paid experience which involves working with vulnerable or distressed adults in a helping capacity.
A detailed CV and employer references will be required.
· sufficient availability to complete 100 supervised client contact hours in a work placement.
Do I need to do a Certificate in Counselling skills?
We request that applicants undertake a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills. A Certificate in Counselling Skills is usually 30 to 60 hours in length and the course content covers therapeutic theory, skills, and personal development work.
Applicants can undertake their Certificate training online, but it must include synchronous teaching (i.e. there must be a trainer in the room during the training) with skills work observed throughout the course. Therefore, the Certificate course you undertake cannot be a theory only based correspondence course that you complete in your own time. The Certificate in Counselling course must include a minimum of 30 hours face-to-face teaching.
We highly recommend that you have either completed or nearly completed your Certificate in Counselling prior to applying for the MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy.
If you are an international student, you still need to evidence training in Counselling Skills to access the training programme.
My work experience is with children, but do I also need experience with adults too?
Work with children is valuable experience but you also need to demonstrate a minimum of six months voluntary or paid work with vulnerable adults in a helping capacity.
What do I do if I can’t evidence that I have done a GCSE in Maths and English Language qualification or the equivalent?
If you do not have a GCSE in Maths or English Language or an equivalent qualification (such as Functional Skills Level 2), you can sit the London Met English and Maths tests. However, you must successfully pass this test to meet any conditional course offer. If you have completed a BSc Psychology or MSc Psychology, you may be exempt from the maths requirement.
Can I enter the training in year two due to my previous counselling or psychology qualification?
This course does not permit accreditation of prior learning and all students, whether or not they have achieved a professional qualification in Counselling, need to complete the full two years of training.
Interview Process
Will I be interviewed in a group or individually?
If your application is successful and you are invited to interview, the interview process will consist of a group interview and an individual interview with two members of the course team.
What are you looking for in applicants?
When assessing applicants, we are looking for the following attributes and potential:
· ability to demonstrate self-awareness, self-reflexivity, and psychological maturity.
· ability to be able to make use of and reflect upon life experiences.
· ability to cope with the academic and emotional demands of the therapeutic training.
· ability and willingness to be able to form helping relationships with others.
· ability to demonstrate knowledge of difference and diversity and work in a non-discriminatory way.
· ability to work in a large and small group setting.
· ability to receive feedback non-defensively.
· ability to recognise the importance of self-care and the need for personal and professional support.
Course Accreditation and Counsellor Registration and Accreditation
Is the course BACP accredited?
The MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy course is not currently BACP accredited but we are in the process of applying for BACP accreditation. However, applicants need to be aware that they are enrolling onto a non-accredited counsellor training route.
Upon successful completion of the programme and a supervised placement of 100 client contact hours, students will have met the eligibility criteria for BACP individual membership and will be able to apply for BACP registered membership (MBACP), subject to passing the BACP Certificate of Proficiency for which preparation is embedded in the programme.
What is the Certificate of Proficiency?
After graduating from the MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy you are eligible to take the BACP Certificate in Proficiency examination. This must be passed in order to gain access to the BACP register and practice as a counsellor in the UK.
Information about the Certificate of Proficiency can be found via link below: https://www.bacp.co.uk/membership/registered-membership/certificate-of-proficiency/
What is the difference between course accreditation and individual accreditation?
BACP accredited courses do not offer students personal accreditation. If you complete an accredited course, you are automatically put on the BACP register without taking the Certificate of Proficiency examination. Currently, all trainees whether they have graduated from an accredited or non-accredited course need to apply for personal accreditation once they have completed 450 hours of supervised clinical practice via BACP’s practitioner accreditation route. Personal accreditation usually takes from two to three years post-graduation.
Course Content
What is the course’s therapeutic training model?
The aims of this course are to equip you to work as an Integrative Counselling practitioner in a safe and ethical manner. The course will train you in three different modalities (Person-centred, CBT and Psychodynamic counselling) and support you in developing a coherent relational integrative framework to work with clients presenting with a range of psychological concerns.
What will I be taught on the programme?
The MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy course consists of seven 20 credit modules and one 40 credit research dissertation module. Information about the content of each module and the assessments can be found on the course webpage.
How many hours of study does the training involve?
You need to attend the course one day a week from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Additionally, you need to allocate one day a week for your placement work and clinical supervision from the second semester of MSc Year One.
Please note that each 20-credit module stipulates 200 hours of study which includes 48 hours of face-to-face lectures. These hours outside of lectures are for reading and assessment preparation.
How big are the training groups?
The training groups vary in size with smaller groups for skills and experiential work (this includes groups of 10 to 20) to larger groups for lectures and research training.
Placement information
How many placement hours do I need to do?
Students are required to complete a supervised placement of at least 100 client contact hours throughout the duration of the course.
Does the course provide me with a placement?
You need to find your own placement. However, we do have a placement officer who assists and supports students looking for placements. We also have a placement database for students to access once they have joined the course.
Do I need to do my placement in London?
You can undertake your placement in a location near to where you live. You do not need to do your placement in London.
Do I need to find my own clinical supervisor?
Some placements include free in-house clinical supervision. However, some placements require you to pay for your own external supervision. You are required to be in regular supervision in line with BACP requirements. BACP require trainees to undertake a minimum of 1.5 hours supervision per calendar month with a ratio of 8 hours counselling to 1 hour supervision. Supervision must be undertaken every two weeks.
Can I exit the course earlier than two years with a qualification?
You can exit the course at the end of year one with a PG Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy. This is not a professional qualification in Counselling and would not provide you with enough training or clinical hours to take the Certificate in Proficiency exam and gain access to the BACP register.
Extra Costs and Course Requirements
Do I need to undertake personal therapy?
There is no requirement to undertake personal therapy, but we highly encourage you to do so.
Do I need to become a student member of BACP?
If you are offered a place on the course, you will be required to join BACP as a trainee member when you commence the training. You cannot apply to be a student member of BACP until you start the training programme.
Are there any other additional costs to the programme beyond the course fees?
Students are required to pay for their own personal therapy if they choose to undertake personal therapy, their professional insurance, student membership of BACP and maybe their clinical supervision (see above question and answer relating to supervision arrangements).
Employment
Where do students work post-graduation?
Students completing counselling training programmes in the UK enter a variety of work contexts from the NHS, the voluntary sector, education, and private practice. Post graduation many students continue in placement to build up their clinical hours prior to securing permanent employment.
For further information about the course and course fees please see the course webpage.
Read more about payment options.
Tuition fees are included on the course information page.