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Professional Doctorate in Existential Phenomenological Counselling Psychology (DPsych)

Course Structure

Structure

• 3 years full-time
• 2 days per week (Mondays and Tuesdays), 10:00am-5:00pm
• Trainees are also expected to be in clinical placements for a minimum of one extra day per week

Course Components

The DPsych combines rigorous academic, clinical, research, and personal and professional development training, which is firmly grounded in Existential Phenomenological Philosophy and Counselling Psychology Identity. Teaching across aspects of the programme includes existential phenomenological theory and practice, psychoanalysis and existential analysis, cognitive behaviour theories and their application to therapeutic practice, ethics, research training in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and in-depth clinical skills training.

Throughout your training you will be expected to keep a reflective journal that demonstrates your personal and professional development and a log-book of your clinical practice at your placements. At the end of Year 3 you will be expected to submit a Portfolio consisting of three parts:

i) Introduction

ii) Clinical Identity Development

iii) Doctorate Thesis of 40,000 - 50,000 words

You will also be required to undertake clinical placements for a minimum of one day per week, where you will be practising as a Trainee Counselling Psychologist. Our trainees work in a variety of settings including NHS psychological services, primary and secondary care settings, community mental health teams (CMHT), drug and alcohol, eating disorders, and student counselling services, as well as organisational settings.

Criteria for the Award of Professional Doctorate in Existential Phenomenological Counselling Psychology (Dpsych)

Trainees must pass all components of the course (i.e., academic, clinical, research, and personal and professional development). You will also need to complete a minimum of 450 hours of clinical/supervised practice, and 120 hours of Personal Therapy with an Existential Therapist registered with the UKCP or a Counselling Psychologist registered with the BPS and HPC.

This programme is approved by the HPC, accredited by the BPS and validated by The Open University.