Counselling
BA (Hons) Person-centred Counselling and the Psychotherapeutic Relationship
Please note that applications for 2018 entry are now closed.
This is an exciting BACP accredited programme which we have designed to strengthen our successful and popular Foundation degree in Person-centred Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Demands on practitioners have become more intense over recent years. The presentation of more complex mental health needs, increased professional demands and the expectation that Counselling and Psychotherapy can ‘evidence’ its effectiveness presents fresh challenges as well as opportunities.
This 4 year part-time BA Hons degree course is designed to help you grow your therapeutic capacity to work with a range of client needs. It will give you time to embed your personal and professional development and prepare you thoroughly for a demanding, yet very rewarding counselling career.
Our graduates have found roles in education, the NHS, Further and Higher Education, Agencies in the voluntary sector and as independent practitioners.
| Starts |
Applications are now open. Closing date for applications: 1 March 2018. |
| Day and time | The programme will be taught from 10am–5pm, one day per week. This will be on Tuesdays for Year 1 students with teaching days for Years 2, 3 and 4 to be advised. |
| Fee |
For general advice about funding a part-time degree, please see our student funding page. View potential additional fees. |
| Venue |
Westwood campus, University of Warwick |
| Entry requirements |
Flexible entry requirements. The application form invites you to provide a reflective statement, if invited to interview you will be assessed in a group discussion, on a written task and on how you respond to a situation. If you have not studied for some time we may require further evidence of your study skills in order to demonstrate your readiness for this B.A. programme. |
| Length |
4 years part-time |
| Contact |
Please use our contact page if you have an enquiry |
We are planning to review this programme for 2019. Please join our mailing list if you would like to be kept up to date.
In this video Dr Phil Goss gives an overview of the BA (Hons) degree.
This video was filmed in January 2017.
Areas of study
Your personal and academic learning will be well supported by peers, tutors and specialists in academic study skills. The programme aims to balance theory, professional practice and personal development. You will develop:
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An in-depth understanding of the underlying philosophy and theories of the person centred approach to counselling and psychotherapy;
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An understanding of how to apply theory to counselling and psychotherapy practice;
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A clearer understanding and awareness of your own attitudes and behaviour with other people;
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Supervised client work in placements throughout the region and in different settings;
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Insight into counselling and psychotherapy professional developments, as well as the work of other mental health professionals;
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Confidence in how to use research and current evidence-based knowledge about mental health and human development.
| Year 1: Introduction to Person-Centred Counselling |
| Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy (45 credits) |
| Professional and Personal Development - Introduction (45 credits) |
| Year 2: Development of a Person-Centred Way of Being |
| Counselling and Psychotherapy: Theory Practice, Personal & Professional Development 1 (30 credits) |
| Integrating Theory, Practice, Personal Development and Psychotherapy (30 credits) |
| Placement Practice 1 (15 credits) |
| Research module (15 credits) |
| Year 3: Consolidation of Practice and Professional Development |
| Counselling and Psychotherapy: Theory Practice, Personal and Professional Development 2 (30 credits) |
| Informing the Person-Centred Approach 1: Post-Rogerian (15 credits) |
| Cultural and Social Awareness (30 credits) |
| Placement Practice 2 (15 credits) |
| Year 4: Growing my Therapeutic Approach |
| Therapeutic interventions for Mental Health (30 credits) |
| Research Project (15 credits) |
| Informing the Person-Centred Approach 2: Creative and Symbolic Approaches (15 credits) |
| Informing the Person-Centred Approach 3: Complementary Psychotherapeutic Approaches (15 credits) |
| Placement Practice 3 (15 credits) |
Throughout this course, you will develop your ability to work in counselling and psychotherapy. We offer you the opportunity to practise and study at the same time, and to develop your counselling placements with people in all kinds of well supported settings, including the NHS, schools, colleges, universities and community agencies. The programme is taught by a team of experienced person centred therapists. The core model is the Person-centred approach developed by Carl Rogers, compared and contrasted with other approaches to the psychotherapeutic relationship. There are also specific modules on mental health, culture and diversity, research, and creative therapeutic approaches.
Work-based Learning and Professional Practice
| Year one |
30 hours work-based learning |
| Year two |
100 hours + professional supervised practice (requirement by BACP) but many students stay in practice until they qualify |
| Year three | 20 hours + supervision |
| Year four | 20 hours + personal therapy |
If you are offered a place on this degree, it will start with a mandatory residential weekend which offers the chance to get a better understanding of the personal and professional demands of the course and reflect if it is the right course for you. It is also an opportunity for you and the tutors to see if you’re personally and professionally ready for the course. It is rare, but they may recommend further study, perhaps on one of our introductory courses, or more work- based experience before commencing the degree.
Additional Fees specific to this programme