UWE Bristol - MA Counselling and Psychotherapy

UWE Bristol

MA Counselling and Psychotherapy

Our course provides professional counselling training enabling you to register with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), so when you study with us, you can rest assured you'll get all you need to become the best psychotherapeutic counsellor you can be.

Why study Counselling and Psychotherapy?

Counselling and psychotherapy is a challenging but very rewarding career area. A career where you get to make a difference, to help people, and to change lives, including your own. As a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor, you will provide support to people experiencing emotional difficulties by helping them to identify their issues and develop strategies to address them.

Working in hospitals, health centres and in private practice, psychotherapeutic counsellors support clients with a wide range of concerns including mental health issues, challenging physical conditions and life events, as well as managing difficult emotions.

Why UWE Bristol?

Building on the solid reputation of the diploma course, UWE Bristol's Master's in Counselling and Psychotherapy degree is a professional practice course that equips you for practice by qualifying as a competent, reflective practitioner, able to think critically and integrate theory with practice. The course has been created to support your development as a counsellor while at the same time integrating your professional practice with master's level academic study. The course includes taught modules, your own personal therapy throughout the training, clinical work and supervision, as well as a small research project.

You'll learn from an enthusiastic, supportive teaching team with a real passion for their subject and a wealth of experience across all aspects of counselling and psychotherapy. The team includes active researchers and authors, so your learning will be enriched by the latest in best practice.

Where can it take me?

The master's degree will equip you with all the knowledge and experience you'll need to fast track your career progression. Having experience of a period of extended work-based learning will allow you to deepen your clinical skills, become robust and resilient so you can cope with the complexity of the mental health issues you'll be presented with.

The demand for counsellors and psychotherapists is growing in the UK so you can expect your skills to be sought after. You'll have many exciting career opportunities open to you in a wide range of roles. You could work in the NHS, for private or voluntary sector employers, in church or faith-based organisations or college or university counselling settings, for example.

Entry Requirements

  • A Certificate in Counselling Skills (level 3 or above) which includes a minimum of 80 hours classroom-based teaching and training. Your qualification will need to have had a strong grounding in theory, experiential and personal development.  Your Certificate must have been gained within the last 5 years.
  • An honours degree of 2:2 or above in any subject OR qualified practitioner status in a relevant profession. For example: teaching, nursing, social work etc

Career Prospects

Qualified counsellors are increasingly in demand across the UK and our graduates enter careers in a wide range of roles for the NHS, private and voluntary sector employers. Our master's course enhances your ability to practise at an advanced level. Counsellors may choose to specialise in diverse settings and specialisms, such as addiction, bereavement or relationships, or may work with clients on a range of issues. The qualification opens up a fascinating world of CPD possibilities, which will help you build on the training you've had.

Joining a professional body helps you to develop your professional credibility and career, provides access to resources and networks, and keeps you in touch with developments in the profession.

As you become more experienced, you may wish to develop further by training as a counselling supervisor. This is an important role where you help supervisees reflect on their work, develop their skills and maintain best practice standards.

Our course will bring you closer to the practice hours you need to gain individual professional accreditation.

Course Details

Year 1

Professional Practice. Professional Skills and Clinical Supervision - You'll learn about the practical application of relational counselling and psychotherapy skills, be introduced to counselling and psychotherapy supervision, and take part in counselling practice at a placement.
Theory and Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy - You'll learn the principles which form the foundation for professional counselling practice, including examining key relational theoretical approaches within counselling and psychotherapy to understanding how psychological problems and distress develops.
Professional Practice - Personal Development - You'll learn key concepts in personal development and we'll focus on how internal and external worlds affect the therapeutic relationship including an advanced awareness of how unconscious processes affect therapy.

Year 2

Research Project - This module introduces a methodological pluralism that acknowledges a multifaceted and contextualised approach to research inquiry in counselling and psychotherapy.
Evidencing Work-based Learning in Counselling and Psychotherapy - You'll be introduced to systemic approaches taking account of the impact and interactions between organisational structures, group dynamics and counselling practice, enabling you to apply this on your counselling placement.

Year 3

Professional Practice. Professional Skills and Clinical Supervision - You'll be supported to apply theoretical understanding and reflective process to professional practice, encouraging you to see supervision as an interpersonal process where understanding is facilitated and co-created through relationships.
Theory and Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy 2 - You'll examine more complex issues in counselling theory and practice. You'll develop a deeper understanding of client concerns, and learn how to assess the most appropriate counselling interventions.
Professional Practice - Personal Development - This module supports critical and empathic reflection, reflective practice, and personal and professional development. The emphasis is on deepening your awareness of the process of your Personal Development group.

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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