Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling
University of Westminster
Key Information
Select location
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 5,500 / per year *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* international tuition fee: £5,500 | UK tuition fee: £4,250
Introduction
In the first two years of training, the diploma will prepare you to be a reflective, knowledgeable practitioner, with self-awareness and competency to work ethically, safely and effectively with a wide range of clients, including Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity (GSRD). To achieve this, the course curriculum integrates skills practice, theory, a focus on personal wellbeing and development, research, and professional development. After completion of the Postgraduate Diploma, you can choose to take the Master's component of the course, involving a year-long Research Methods and Project in Counselling module.
This course focuses on two highly influential modalities: psychodynamic therapies and humanistic therapies, which are used in a wide variety of therapeutic settings. In addition to the weekly modules, you’ll attend eight weekend workshops, exploring themes including cognitive behaviour therapy, sex therapy, working in the context of religion and spirituality, mirror work, creative ways of working, and online therapy. Thus, this training will allow you to graduate with in-depth knowledge and skills, and foster the ability to integrate different modalities in your therapeutic work.
There is an additional focus on inclusive training that welcomes differing perspectives, thus promoting empathy for different cultures and ways of living. You’ll directly engage with a variety of different identities such as sexuality, gender, ability, culture and ethnicity, bringing to life the lived experience of a diverse range of clients and allowing you to consider the impact different levels of (dis)advantage and privilege have on your clients. This is important if the field is to better meet the challenges of supporting diverse clients, and will allow you to graduate with the confidence to challenge oppressive structures as a practitioner.
Top reasons to study with us
- Vocational training leads to professionally trained and qualified therapists who are ready to enter the therapeutic professions or related fields
- Students successfully completing this course will be eligible for accreditation as a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, a further stamp of their professional standing
- Undertake a clinical work placement where you’ll carry out counselling with clients in an appropriate organisation. The course team provide support in helping students find appropriate placements and provide additional supervision
- Explore cutting-edge and influential forms of therapy, including psychodynamic and humanistic therapies as well as sex therapy
- Study in an inclusive environment dedicated to decolonising the curriculum and producing therapists who are equipped to serve diverse clients
- We are seeking validation from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and Gender, Sexual and Relationships Diversity (GSRD)
Professional recognition
After graduation, students can register with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a registered counsellor working towards accreditation.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Postgraduate Diploma consists of two years of training. Students may choose to undertake the additional Master's component of the course on completion of their Postgraduate Diploma. To achieve the MSc (Top Up) in Counselling award, students must complete the additional year-long Research Methods and Project in Counselling module.
Core modules
- Counselling Skills and Practice
- Therapeutic Approaches 1
- Therapeutic Approaches 2
- Advanced Skills and Practice
- Specialist Topics in Counselling
- Therapeutic Approaches 3
- Counselling Placement
Optional MSc Top Up
- Research Methods and Project in Counselling
Take the first step in your career
Graduates will be eligible for accreditation as a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Gain practical experience
Undertake a clinical placement and gain valuable experience of counselling clients.
Serve a diverse range of clients
Our focus on inclusive training will prepare you to support the needs of clients from all walks of life.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Successful completion of this course will prepare you to be a reflective, knowledgeable practitioner, with self-awareness and competency to work ethically, safely and effectively with clients.
During your training you will also liaise with external counselling agencies to do your practice. This will allow you to understand the organisational aspects of counselling and develop your skills in working in a counselling agency.
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping you to explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links
Our course team have over 20 years of experience both professionally and academically, with experience ranging from the NHS to working in charities and agencies as supervisors and clinical managers. The team also have relationships with the European Association of Counsellors and are seeking to gain accreditation from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and Gender, Sexual and Relationships Diversity (GSRD).
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course will be equipped to work in a wide variety of settings. These include working within the NHS, university counselling services, school-based counselling, charity organisations, private practice, academic departments, and research. The course will also have equipped students, through transferable skills, to work in a wide variety of other fields such as personal and executive coaching, business fields, among many other settings.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles in a variety of areas, including:
- Advice worker
- Career advisor
- Counsellor
- Family Support Worker (with a top up training)
- High Intensity Therapist (NHS)
- Mental health practitioner
- Mental health worker
- Personal or executive coach
- Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
- Psychotherapist
- School therapist
- SENCO
- Social Worker
English Language Requirements
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