Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents (MSc)

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.

Second-class honours degree in any subject or an equivalent professional qualification; non-graduates with academic and professional experience may be considered. Work with children/adolescents. Prior completion of a basic counselling course at certificate level is desirable. If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.