Teaching and assessment
Study methods
The course includes three main components: theoretical, experiential and practical.
Theoretical
Lectures and presentations introduce the basic theories of psychotherapy and counselling, with an emphasis on the existential-phenomenological, psychodynamic, and humanistic/integrative orientations.
You will explore professional issues in counselling and engage in discussion and experiential work relating to various topics.
Experiential
Experiential exercises relate to the theoretical material presented and the development of listening skills, self-awareness, and giving and receiving feedback.
Skills practice
These sessions introduce the essential skills and techniques of psychotherapy and counselling.
You will participate in group exercises - usually in triads of ‘counsellor’, ‘client’ and ‘observer’ - using material from your own experience.
This is an opportunity to practise psychotherapy and counselling skills and to receive feedback.
Self-development group work
You will work in a small group, with a facilitator. This will be an opportunity to explore your personal and interactive processes within the group, and advance your professional and personal development.
Academic Calendar
Contact hours and expected workload
Each of the intakes will have around 120 hours of contact time. This will be split roughly as follows:
- 30% lectures and seminars, including experiential exercises
- 70% practical exercised in groups
You will also be expected to undertake independent study.
You do not need to be in personal therapy during the programme, nor is there a requirement for you to complete clinical practice hour but you may wish to do so voluntarily alongside your studies.
Teaching staff
All of our teaching staff are qualified, practicing psychotherapists, whose modalities include, humanistic, psychodynamic, integrative and existential approaches. The Module Leaders currently working on the various intakes are Dr Lea Getu, Amelia Jeans, Allegra Vaselli and Alex Morriss. The Course Leader is Dr Lea Getu.
The staff to student ratio on the programmes is typically 1:8, although this can vary according to enrolment.
Methods of assessment
Evaluation is based on assessment of your participation throughout the course and on the successful completion of two pieces of coursework:
- An essay about your personal and professional development
- A theoretical paper discussing any approach you've learned
Disability Support
We welcome and support students with a wide range of disabilities and health concerns. This includes learning difficulties, visual and hearing impairments, mental health difficulties, autism spectrum conditions, mobility difficulties, and temporary or chronic health conditions.
Our dedicated Disability Officer is here to support you. We ask that you speak with Student Registry and our Disability Officer as early as you can to enable us to support you. Find out more about our disability support and contact us.