Masters Degrees (Psychodynamic)

Based on the idea that mental illness is to some extent the result of repressed negative experience, psychodynamic counselling aims to expose the contents of a client's unconscious to make him or her aware of any underlying psychological conflicts.
It prioritises the therapeutic relationship and draws from the work of psychoanalysts such as Freud, Klein, Winnicott and Bion, as well as more contemporary thinkers such as Lacan, Bowlby, Kohut, Mitchell and Benjamin.

The postgraduate diploma teaches models of both long-and short-term counselling, the second of which is particularly relevant to NHS work and employee counselling schemes. It stresses the importance of developing counselling awareness through practice in workshops and provides a sound theoretical foundation to the psychodynamic approach.

The course is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and therefore recognised as preparing students for work as a professional counsellor. The university itself is an organisational member of the BACP as well as the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UCPA).

Course structure

The courses are taught on a semester system with two semesters each year.

In addition to academic study, you will need to complete 100 hours of supervised counselling practice in an approved clinical practice agency, for example at the Rock Clinic or Sussex University counselling service.

You also need to undertake a course of personal therapy that lasts for the duration of the course, from October of year 1 to June of year 2, and we recommend that you factor in the cost of this therapy before your application.

Assessment consists of four essays and three case studies. You will also keep a professional log of your clinical work and maintain a personal journal.

Areas of study

The course contains four major elements: academic and professional studies, practical training, training supervision, and personal growth and development. A strong theoretical knowledge is of great importance and considerable weight is given to canonical writers. The seminars provide a broad overview of the reading material and invite you to reflect further on it.

Psychodynamic counsellors rely on their own feelings to help make sense of the moment-by-moment changes in client sessions. This process underlies the need for a certain level of self-awareness and maturity, hence why personal growth and development is the fourth key strand on the course. This is partly met through personal development groups and partly through your own counselling or therapy.

Syllabus

Year 1 modules:

Introduction to Psychodynamic Counselling Theory: Human Growth and Development
Themes in Professional Practice
Psychodynamic Counselling Workshops
Personal Development Groups

Year 2 modules:

Psychodynamic Counselling Practice 1
Psychodynamic Counselling Practice 2
Critical Perspectives in Psychodynamic Counselling
Research Methods for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Personal Development Groups

Completion of the Postgraduate Diploma allows continuation (after successful application) on to our Psychotherapy MSc

Careers and employability

The postgraduate diploma has an excellent reputation in the locality and our students have gone on to hold counselling posts across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Others have progressed to further training or used their counselling skills in their existing professions.

If you enjoy the course and are interested in further study, you may want to consider our Psychotherapy MSc, to which all successful graduates of the PGDip are eligible to apply.

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Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, this part-time, day-time course teaches you the essential knowledge and skills of psychodynamic counselling, with particular emphasis on its application to children and adolescents. It establishes an understanding of psychoanalytic-based theory and covers the technical processes of counselling children and adolescents, while developing the personal and professional awareness required for effective practice as defined by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Years 1 and 2 are classroom-based and incorporate individual work experience. A supervised placement in a counselling agency starts in Year 2 and continues in Year 3 with more intensive supervision.

On successful completion of this course, you will possess a comprehensive understanding of the basic theoretical and practical principles of psychodynamic counselling and understand the institutional dynamics which affect the provision and practice of psychodynamic counselling. You will have developed your ability to work as a psychodynamic counsellor at an appropriate professional standard with children and adolescents. You will also understand, and know how to use, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic principles to increase knowledge of both theory and practice, of personality development, of the inner and outer worlds of the child and adolescent, and of the institutional and group influences on personal development. You will possess high-level skills for thinking psychodynamically about counselling issues, and making professional communications about counselling work, and display a capacity for self-reflection, especially knowledge of your inner world and how it impacts on counselling work, and your role in groups and institutions.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

Emphasis on how organisations and groups function, which will enable you to understand and manage professional settings and relationships.
In-depth psychodynamic study of childhood and adolescence developmental issues.
Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Attracts people from a range of backgrounds, including educational, medical, field and residential social work, youth work and voluntary agencies.
You will have access to both the Birkbeck Library and Senate House Library. All postgraduates at Birkbeck benefit from a wide range of advantages related to the central location of the College, its varied and rich postgraduate life and the diversity of overlapping Master’s programmes. If required, you have access to courses on study skills offered by the College.

Our research

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.

Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed Birkbeck 30th in the UK for research, with 73% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

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The British Psychotherapy Foundation, in partnership with the University of Exeter, is now offering a three year programme of qualifying training as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, uniquely designed to accommodate trainees from across the UK.

The programme offers an excellent standard of academic and clinical teaching delivered by experienced psychoanalytic psychotherapy practitioners, academics and researchers. The first two years of the programme consists of academic and clinical work leading to the award of a Masters in Psychological Therapies. Successful completion of a minimum of a third year of clinical training leads to qualification as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist competent to work independently, membership of the British Psychotherapy Foundation and registration as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist with the British Psychoanalytic Council.

The MSc may also be taken as a free standing programme. Successful completion of the MSc also makes participants eligible to apply for the Doctor of Clinical Practice programme and in this way continue their academic studying in a way that is complementary to their clinical work. Apply Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced people seeking either to deepen their understanding of the application of psychoanalytically informed ideas and clinical practice within their own Mental health professional Discipline or to continue training to become a Qualified Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. Applicants who are unsure as to whether their existing qualifications and experience make them eligible to apply, or who would like advice on how to gain the necessary prerequisites should contact the programme lead to discuss.

The programme is particularly orientated to people who have an existing mental health qualification, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses. However, applications will also be considered from other suitably qualified and experienced people. To take part on this course applicants must have an Undergraduate Degree (or equivalent) and must also have suitable clinical experience.

Find out more about the MSc Psychological Therapies Practice and Research (Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy) programme http://cedar.exeter.ac.uk/programmes/mscptprpsychodynamic/.

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Do you want to pursue further training as a psychodynamic counsellor? Are you looking to broaden and deepen your practice?

This course offers a professional qualification to work therapeutically with children and adolescents. You gain thorough theoretical and practical training, including a supervised placement, enabling you to qualify as a counsellor.

There are three training routes to the final qualification of MA Psychodynamic Counselling. The first year is provided by the Graduate Diploma, where you are learn about psychodynamic theory and its applications. If you're a psychology graduate, this is the ideal next step if you wish to progress in the field of psychodynamic counselling. It also provides a route to a counselling and psychotherapy qualification for professionals, such as teachers, social workers, nurses and care workers.

Those who have a suitable diploma from elsewhere or who have completed our FdA/BA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations (TCTO) can potentially omit the Graduate Diploma year and be accepted into the second year.

In the second year, you work towards our MA Psychodynamic Counselling. You receive clinical training to work with children and adolescents and the clinical experience through placements in agencies such as schools, voluntary organisations or other support services.

A requirement of this course is that you are in personal therapy or counselling on a weekly basis.

A variant offering training in work with adults is potentially available but is not currently expected to run in 2016/17.

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Are you interested in how people develop and how they relate to each other, both personally and in organisations? Do you want to make a start on pursuing a training to work therapeutically with children and adolescents/adults?

Taught at our Colchester Campus, this course offers a grounding in psychodynamic theory and its applications. It can be pursued in its own right if you're interested in the psychodynamic approach but also constitutes the first year of our Grad Dip/MA training in Psychodynamic Counselling (if you have taken our FdA/BA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations (TCTO) course you can enter the MA direct).

If you're a psychology graduate, this course is the ideal next step if you wish to progress in the field of psychodynamic counselling. It also provides a route to a counselling and psychotherapy qualification for professionals, such as teachers, social workers, nurses and care workers.

It is not possible to study via distance learning on this course.

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There are many different types of counselling, each based on their own concepts and orientations.

Psychodynamic counselling has been taught at Birkbeck now for over 40 years. Those who laid the foundations for this course had a strong commitment to promoting the value of psychodynamic counselling, which offers a model for understanding the human personality and how it develops; our network of relationships and how we interact with others; how psychological problems may originate and the repetitive patterns that maintain them; and how personal change takes place.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

Emphasis on how organisations and groups function, which will enable you to understand and manage professional settings and relationships.
Accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Counselling courses have been running at Birkbeck for over 40 years and have built up a reputation among employers for their high quality.
Offers an in-depth training in psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy.
You have access to Birkbeck Library and courses on study skills.
You also have access to a range of lectures, seminars and workshops, feature world-renowned speakers and academics, organised by the Department of Psychosocial Studies and other events in the College.

Our research

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.

Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed Birkbeck 30th in the UK for research, with 73% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

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Do you want to pursue further training as a psychodynamic counsellor? Are you looking to broaden and deepen your practice?

Taught at our Colchester Campus, this course offers a professional qualification to work therapeutically with children and adolescents. You will gain a thorough theoretical and practical training, including a supervised placement, enabling you to qualify as a counsellor.

You will need to have completed our FdA/BA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations (TCTO), our Graduate Diploma Psychodynamic Counselling, or an equivalent qualification from another institution. A requirement of the course is that you are in personal therapy or counselling on a weekly basis.

This course provides clinical training for those working with children and adolescents and gives you the clinical experience through placements in agencies such as schools or the NHS (National Health Service).

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This programme provides you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of dance movement therapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work, and enables you to practise as a dance movement therapist- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-dance-movement-psychotherapy/

Your learning will be underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy within the social, political and multicultural context of mental health care and educational settings. Study is informed by contemporary dance practice, Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and somatic bodywork.

Through theoretical studies, movement observation studies, dance practice workshops, clinical work and experiential learning, you integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and other.

The nature of the therapeutic relationship is explored in depth through movement and dance and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through at least 90 days of supervised placements. This gives you the opportunity to relate your practical experience to your theoretical studies.

You'll be encouraged to develop your own dance/movement practice and to situate your work in relation to your development as a therapist, to contemporary dance and movement practice. You're required to be in personal therapy throughout the programme.

On graduation you are eligible to become a registered professional member of the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy (ADMP UK).

Follow us on Facebook for more about the MA, including photos of our graduate show.

Dance Movement Psychotherapy Taster Evenings, 6pm–9pm

Come along to one of our taster evenings to find out more about the programme. They are taking place on:

Monday 7 December 2015
Tuesday 16 February 2016
Monday 9 May 2016

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Caroline Frizell.

Modules & Structure

The MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy programme is made up of 240 credits and provides you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of Dance Movement Psychotherapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work as a Dance Movement Psychotherapist.

It aims to enhance your self-knowledge and interpersonal relationships and to promote your psychodynamic understanding of individuals, groups and society; working with questions of difference, equality and diversity.

Your learning is underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy within the social, political and multicultural context of mental health care and educational settings, and informed by contemporary dance practice and Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). On successful completion of the MA you will be able to apply to the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapists UK for registration.

Theory and Practice of Dance Movement Psychotherapy 1- 45 credits
Experiential Learning 1- 30 credits
Clinical Placement 1- 45 credits
Theory and Practice of Dance Movement Psychotherapy 2- 60 credits
Experiential Learning 2- 15 credits
Clinical Placement 2- 45 credits

Assessment

Coursework; mid-course case study; final clinical report; placement portfolios.

Skills

The programme enables you to develop:

research skills
understanding of research methodologies
critical evaluation skills in visual, oral and written forms

Careers

Our graduates go on to complete post-doctoral studies, take part in funded projects, progress in their careers, and undergo career changes.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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Psychoanalytic Studies offers MPhil study on both a full- and part-time basis. Your research may be clinically and/or theoretically focused in the fields of psychoanalysis, analytical psychology and psychodynamic counselling- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/mphil-phd-psychoanalytic-studies/

Psychoanalytic studies and psychodynamic counselling have been research topics and taught programmes in the department since 1995.

We welcome applications for research from all suitably qualified students from many backgrounds.

This might mean that your previous educational and research background may be in fields such as the arts, film and theatre, literature, history or clinical psychotherapeutic or medical practice.

Current and past research topics involve:

the relationship between psychotherapy and time
the use of mindfulness in combination with psychodynamic techniques with obsessional patients
the 'bride in white'
the contemporary status of Freud’s classical theories.

Students may be supervised jointly by a departmental academic and one from a further discipline if the subject requires.

Please contact Christopher Hauke for an informal and exploratory interview. For more on Christopher's research please visit http://www.christopherhauke.com.

The MPhil programme offers the opportunity for you to continue your research to a PhD.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Christopher Hauke.

Department

The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies has human relationships at its heart

You’ll benefit from the wealth of experience of our staff and their commitment to ensuring that you’ll leave us as a reflective, research-minded professional.

We offer programmes in Community Studies, Social Work, and Therapeutic Studies.

Our degrees are informed by our commitment to social justice and applied practices – whether you want to:

understand and challenge the ways that vulnerable individuals and groups are disadvantaged and marginalised
become a social worker, community and youth worker, therapist or counsellor
change people’s lives through dance, drama and music

You’ll benefit from the wealth of experience of our staff and their commitment to ensuring that you’ll leave us as a reflective, research-minded professional.

How to apply

Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to get in touch with the programme contact, listed above. It may also be possible to arrange an advisory meeting.

Before you start at Goldsmiths, the actual topic of your research has to be agreed with your proposed supervisor, who will be a member of staff active in your general field of research. The choice of topic may be influenced by the current research in the department or the requirements of an external funding body.

If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Research proposals

Along with your application and academic reference, you should also upload a research proposal at the point of application.

This should be in the form of a statement of the proposed area of research and should include:

delineation of the research topic
why it has been chosen
an initial hypothesis (if applicable)
a brief list of major secondary sources

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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This programme will provide you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of art psychotherapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-art-psychotherapy/

The Masters enables you to practice as an art therapist in the NHS, Social Services, and educational establishments, and to become a practitioner registered with the British Association of Art Therapists and eligible to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Your learning is underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy practised within the context of mental health care, and informed by contemporary art practice.

Via theoretical studies, clinical work and experiential learning you will integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and other. The nature of the therapeutic relationship between client, their art work, and the art therapist is explored, and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through two 60-day placements which are supervised and supported in-depth.

You are encouraged to develop your own art practice and to situate your work in relationship to your development as a therapist, to contemporary art practice and to psychoanalytic theories. You must be in personal therapy throughout the programme.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Sally Skaife.

Modes of study

The MA in Art Psychotherapy is a course that leads to successful applicants becoming eligible to apply for registration as an Arts Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the body which regulates and monitors standards of practice in the public sector. The programme can be studied in two modes - full-time for 2 years or part-time for 3 years. A clear indication of the mode chosen should be stated on application forms.

Full-time study

Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. Clinical placement days are usually Thursday and Friday. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.

Years 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days and these are negotiated with your placement. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups (Mondays and Tuesdays). One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.

Part-time study

Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.

Year 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.

Year 3: Half a day in college on Tuesdays with some full-time Tuesdays (the yearly timetable will have details of which Tuesdays are half day or full day), plus, two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.

Personal therapy

It's a mandatory aspect of the course that all students must be in personal therapy for the duration of their training. Therapy may be on a group or individual basis and can be art therapy or verbal psychotherapy.

Skills

The MA will develop skills including:

the ability to work with a range of client populations
an understanding of psychodynamic concepts
development of your own art practice
Careers
Completion of the programme provides eligibility for the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as an art psychotherapist.

Our graduates are invariably seen as offering a valuable and unique service to their clients and to the multidisciplinary teams in which they work – graduates have gone on to practice as art psychotherapists in the NHS, social services and in the education sector.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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Why study at Roehampton

• The PsychD programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• You will be taught by a team of experienced practitioners and trainers, including leading international figures in the field.
• The programme offers a variety of opportunities to undertake clinical placements and research projects including at Roehampton’s bespoke therapeutic clinic. 
• The programme provides high levels of support for trainees’ clinical and research development and an emphasis on employability. 
• In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, the leading national assessment of quality, 100% of the research we submitted was rated “world leading” or “internationally excellent” for its impact.

Course summary

This programme provides professional training that leads to eligibility for registration as a counselling psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and chartered status with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

This programme has recently been updated and re-validated to incorporate new BPS standards. It is at the leading edge of international developments in counselling psychology practice, research and theory; and brings together contemporary understandings from person-centred psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioural models of therapy. There is a strong emphasis on your identity and employability as a practitioner psychologist, including skills in assessment and formulation, leadership, service evaluation, psychological testing, qualitative and quantitative research methods.

The course is based on a relational pluralistic philosophy that values diversity, and promotes individual empowerment and social change. This means that we respect and value a wide range of approaches to psychological intervention and research, view relationships as central to wellbeing, and seek to enable trainees to make a positive difference both at an individual and social level through their clinical and research work.

You will join a vibrant community of practitioners and researchers, who will help you achieve your goals, and enable you to make a valuable contribution to the field of counselling psychology. 

Content

In years one and two as a trainee, you will focus on gaining clinical experience working in person-centred and psychodynamic models of therapy respectively. In year three, you will have the option of gaining experience working in a cognitive-behavioural, integrative or pluralistic model. By the end of the programme, you will have completed a minimum requirement of 450 supervised client hours in a range of placement settings.

Starting in your second year, you will work towards the production of a doctoral portfolio to showcase and integrate your learning as a counselling psychologist, across both professional practice and research domains. The portfolio contains elements, such as research papers, that you will be encouraged to submit for publication, thus further enhancing your professional contribution and employability.

During your training, you will develop key transferable skills as a practitioner psychologist, in research, psychological testing, service evaluation, team working and leadership. Your development will be closely supported and monitored throughout the programme, using formative and summative assessment, involving clinical tutors and research supervisors.

The programme is affiliated to the Centre for Research in Social and Psychological Transformation (CREST). CREST carries out world-leading research into psychological therapies. You have the option of choosing an area of doctoral inquiry that is aligned with CREST research activities. CREST also has a dedicated therapy and research clinic located at the university. This provides unique opportunities for you to engage in cutting-edge research. You can also undertake practice placements within the clinic.

Modules

Here are examples of some the modules we currently offer:

• Professional Practice and Development
• Person-centred and Experiential Theory and Practice
• Inclusion Ethics and social Justice
• Assessment Formulation and Clinical Presentations
• Research in Counselling Psychology
• Advanced Practice and Resarch

Career options

As an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist you will be qualified to work in a range of settings, including the NHS, the voluntary sector and private practice. As well as providing psychotherapeutic interventions, your work may include providing clinical supervision, service management, teaching, research and consultancy. Click here to find out more about the scope of counselling psychology and about careers on the BPS website.

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This course is now closed for 2017 entry

Why study at Roehampton

• The course is accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
• Our approach incorporates aspects of theory and practice from three main therapeutic traditions; person-centred, cognitive and psychodynamic.
• You will be equipped the necessary skills to work with a wide range of people with a range of psychological issues in a variety of settings.
• In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, the leading national assessment of quality, 100% of the research we submitted was rated “world leading” or “internationally excellent” for its impact. 

Course summary

This programme provides the training in counselling and psychotherapy necessary to become eligible for BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) individual practitioner accreditation.

The course, accredited by the BACP, is based on an integrative relational approach to counselling and psychotherapy, which has been developed over many years by our cutting-edge teaching team. Our integrative approach, at the forefront of counselling and psychotherapy theory, practice and research, incorporates aspects from three main therapeutic traditions; person-centred, cognitive and psychodynamic. You will be encouraged to explore psychological processes and experiences from these different perspectives, and recognise the theoretical, personal and cultural assumptions which influence your work.

As well as cognitive and reflective skills, you will also learn practical ways of working with your clients in a therapeutic relationship to address conscious and unconscious needs and produce a change in emotional and cognitive processes and behaviour. This involves integrating complex and advanced skills, and responding creatively to complex, novel and unpredictable situations.

Our teaching includes life-span developmental theories, therapeutic skills practice in small groups, supervision of client work in small groups, critical analysis of approaches and research into counselling and psychotherapy. You will develop a critical understanding of the role of research in the development of the counselling and psychotherapeutic disciplines, and be able to incorporate research knowledge into clinical practice. You are required to be in personal therapy throughout the course, which will help you to develop a high level of awareness of self and the therapeutic process, to be able to use this constructively in therapeutic encounters. You will be equipped with the necessary skills to work with a wide range of people with a range of psychological issues in a variety of settings. 

Content

The Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy programme is taught by means of interactive lectures and seminars, experiential skills workshops, small clinical supervision groups, and personal development work. Much of your learning will be by a process of reflection on the experience of skills practiced and the use of demonstration, observation, self, peer and tutor feedback as well as a more traditional academic study.

The course emphasises the central importance of the therapeutic relationship, and builds your understanding of a variety of theories and practices, to make informed choices about therapeutic interventions suitable for the problems which clients present. Central to developing your therapeutic skills is a sustained effort of attunement to the client as well as openness to and awareness of their and your internal processes. As well as having a theoretical understanding of these processes, from the first year you will have modules allowing you the opportunity to practice your counselling skills.

Later modules in the course will familiarise you with a variety of forms of psychological assessment, so that you are able to critically evaluate the appropriateness and limitations of the procedures and underlying concepts. As many students will go on to work in a multidisciplinary team, in particular within the NHS, they need to have an understanding and working knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and classification systems, while being aware of their acknowledge limits and critiques.

You will have the opportunity to work with a placements co-ordinator to find a suitable counselling/psychotherapy placement in which to gain the depth and range of experience necessary to become a competent practitioner. Information on over 500 different counselling placements is available.

Modules

Here are examples of the modules:

 Year 1:

• Introduction to Counselling Practice
• Integrative Theory and Skills
• Foundations of Professional Practice
• Personal Development 1

Year 2:

• Integrative Theory and Practice
• Supervised Counselling Practice 1
• Assessment of Clients for Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Personal Development 2

Year 3:

• Advanced Integrative Theory and Practice
• Supervised Counselling Practice 2
• The Role of Research in Counselling
• Personal Development 3

Career options

Graduates can work in health and social services, voluntary organisations and the education in counselling field.

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-The MA Art Therapy is approved by The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is situated in the postgraduate area of The School of Creative Arts. The programme places a strong emphasis on developing the student’s artistic identity in tandem with their understanding of the skills and knowledge required for safe therapeutic practice
-Contemporary visual art practices that link to psychodynamic processes are taught across the curriculum. Students learn how research is a cross-discipline mode of enquiry while developing knowledge of how theory underpins and informs art therapy practice with a range of vulnerable people
-Students attend placements throughout the course and develop themselves professionally through supervision, reflection and by articulating their practice in writing, research and presentations
-The programme guides students toward achieving employment in health care, education and/or voluntary organisations. Focusing on the public sector these range from adult and child mental health, palliative care, learning disability, prisons, main stream and special schools etc.

Why choose this course?

MA Art Therapy places particular emphasis on the relationship art therapy has with other art forms such as fine art, ceramics, design, film and digital image making, on a theoretical and practical level. Experiential learning is regarded as a key experience with time and space given to the continuing development of the student's artistic identity.

The aim of the MA Art Therapy course is to train art therapists for employment in the public sector. This includes theoretical and practical knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to a range of client groups and settings. You are offered a broad theoretical foundation in the key principles of psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapy in relation to current art therapy theory and research. The programme area also offers a range of pre and post qualification opportunities such an Arts Therapy Foundation programme, Introductory and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) short courses and research opportunities up to PhD.

The MA Art Therapy course has links with the Faculty for Health and Human Sciences and European universities and organisations e.g ECArTE. The University is within easy reach of London by rail, road and air.

The core staff team have an excellent reputation in terms of teaching quality and research in their fields. The programme also employs other professionals such as psychotherapists and arts therapies who continue to conduct clinical practice with a range of client groups.

You have access to a state of the art Learning Resources Centre which contains a wealth of material on related disciplines, maintained by specialist staff who provide support and advice when need. Personal Therapy for the duration of the training is a requirement of all students.

Careers

The qualification leads to an award that is recognised for professional registration purposes by the Health Professions Council (HPC) and The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT).

Career opportunities vary from work in the NHS, social services, the voluntary sector and increasingly in main stream education. Art Therapists frequently work on a sessional basis or part time in a range of settings. Students receive workshops on how to market themselves post-qualification.

Structure

Year 1
Core Modules
-Art Therapy Practice 1
-Creative Economies
-Experiential Training 1
-Experiential Training 2
-Research and Enquiry

Optional
-Creative Economies (Online)
-Research and Enquiry (Online)

Year 2
Core Modules
-Art Therapy Practice Part 2
-Discourse and Reflection: Art Therapy
-Experiential Training 3

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Gain the specialist training to boost your health-related skills and professional development. You will further your understanding and practice of contemporary theories in psychological therapies along with analysing key issues and debates in counselling and psychotherapy. You will explore cognitive behavioural therapy approaches to therapeutic practice, as well as social psychological theory and research of group therapy.

As well as improving your professional growth, your course will allow you to specialise in your chosen area of interest. Some of the diverse modules may have an experiential component, others may require purely academic study, and some may be useful for psychologists undertaking an independent route to the British Psychological Society's Counselling Psychology Chartership.

Whatever your motivation, your course will enhance your progression in psychological therapies as you work towards an MA at your own pace.

- Research Excellence Framework 2014: 40% of our research in the Psychology unit was judged to be world leading or internationally excellent.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/psychologicaltherapies_ma

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

Further training and development in this area is increasingly valued by employers. Our course can count towards on-going professional development in related fields such as nursing, social work or life coaching. As a counsellor or psychotherapist you can fulfil the professional development requirements of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy in order to maintain accreditation.

- Psychologist
- Mental Health Worker
- Counsellor

Careers advice: The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

The modular design of our course allows you to build on previous learning and experience. Plus, you'll have the unique opportunity to investigate areas outside of your normal area of work, and study the topics that most people are unable to follow at diploma level.

Our dissertation module allows you to undertake an in-depth study of an area of particular interest whilst contributing to the wider profession.

Core Modules

Practical Foundations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Gain a critical understanding of the foundations of cognitive and cognitive behavioural approaches, as well as a reflexive understanding of a range of the theories and skills in practice.

Foundations of the Theory and Practice of Coaching
You will be introduced to coaching as an approach to working with people, and will develop a critical understanding of coaching theory and how coaching tools and techniques can be used in your area.

Existential, Humanistic and Psychodynamic Theories of Therapy
Explore the philosophical, cultural, and historical development of existential, humanistic, transpersonal, and psychodynamic theories of therapy.

Issues and Debates in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Increase your knowledge of and critically evaluate a range of contemporary issues from a therapeutic context.

Understanding and Evaluating the Evidence, or
Your opportunity to explore different types of information about health and social care and critically evaluate research material from a range of study designs.

Understanding Social Research and Evaluation
Gain a theoretical, methodological and practical foundation for social research, allowing you to act as a social researcher to resolve practice-based problems.

Research in Practice
Produce a substantial research project on a self-selected topic of interest to demonstrate your developmental learning in breadth and depth.

Option Modules

Work-based study
Develop specialist knowledge on a topic negotiated with your tutor which is directly relevant to service needs within your area of practice.

Spirituality and Religion in Psychological Therapies
Explore the psychological nature of religion and spirituality, psychological research, cults and sects, and the psychological foundations of religion, with particular reference to Freud, Jung and the Transpersonal theorists.

Supervision in Practice
A chance to underpin reflective and informed practice of psychological therapies and allied professions, and support best practice in a way that is beneficial to practitioners and service users/ patients.

Group Therapies and Group Work
Critically evaluate theoretical approaches to group work, and increase your self awareness and beliefs about group experience with an opportunity to lead a group session.

Spiritual Care
Drawing upon the major religions, you'll look at understandings of care and responsibility and the use of such concepts in professional practice, and explore the relationship of spirituality to a number of issues you may encounter.

Working With Depression and Anxiety in Practice
You will be introduced to to current research, theory and guidance for working with people with depression and anxiety.

Facilities

- Library
Our libraries are two of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, the libraries have got you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- Clinical Skills Suite
The £1 million suite has been designed to meet the learning needs of a range of health professionals, with specialist equipment in purpose-built rooms enabling a variety of sessions to be carried out in a suitable and safe environment.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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Examine the impact of being abusive or being abused. You will look at theoretical perspectives considering abusiveness and its impact in different international, cultural and social contexts- http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-understanding-domestic-violence-and-sexual-abuse/

This MA in Understanding Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse is unique and represents the first psychologically informed programme of its kind.

It is particularly suitable for people wanting to increase their grasp of the interplay between mental distress, domestic violence and sexual abuse. The programme will offer a blended learning approach with a mixture of online and face to face contact. The online components will be largely focused on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge through computer mediated activities via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

The classroom-based content of the programme will have an emphasis on experiential and reflective learning which will help you understand the process of identifying, assessing and managing both perpetrators and victims. This aspect of the programme will be delivered in blocks preferably over weekends to make the study more accessible to working adults.

Individual modules on the programme are likely to be valued as part of a continuing professional development plan for psychological therapists and other workers in the field.

You may take individual modules separately or exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.

You can keep up to date with everything that's happening on the programme by following us on Twitter.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Suzanne Martin.

Modules & Structure

Your learning will be underpinned by a unique synthesising of psychodynamic, systemic, cognitive behavioural and social theories to examine the impact of being abusive or of being abused. The programme focuses on looking at practice and research from these theoretical perspectives and will consider abusiveness and its impact in different cultural and social contexts from childhood to older age.

The learning will be provided by a cross-disciplinary team that covers approaches from the social work, community and youth work, cross-sectoral arts, and therapeutic approaches including art and dance psychotherapy, psychodynamic, counselling and cognitive behavioural approaches.

You'll be assessed through a mix of coursework, presentations, and a final dissertation.

Skills

The MA will develop skills including:

a knowledge various theoretical perspectives
an understanding of cross-disciplinary work within the field
an understanding of the different international, cultural and social contexts from childhood to older age within the field

Careers

It is expected that a number of professionals will use either the course credit or the degree to supplement their CPD portfolios, which are a requirement for the majority of these professionals.

For workers with extensive experience this programme (or its constituent courses) will provide a sound basis in theoretical knowledge and current research which will help them develop their current work and increase their potential for further advancement in the field.

The UK has developed recognised forms of intervention in this field that have an international application and relevance. Issues regarding domestic violence and sexual abuse have an international public health and human rights dimension, which makes the programme internationally relevant.

Funding

Please visit http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/ for details.

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