MA/Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy &
Counselling
Award: Masters upon completion of a dissertation or
Post-Graduate Diploma
This degree is validated and awarded by the University of Wales,
UK. For further details regarding the University and its validation
services, please log on to www.wales.ac.uk/validation
or email validation@wales.ac.uk
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.
Page last updated 4/18/2012