Psychodynamic Practice (Including Placement Year)

What is BA Psychodynamic Practice?
This degree explores human behaviour, emotional development, and therapeutic practice through psychodynamic thinking, combining academic study with practical placement experience.

You’ll develop an understanding of child, adolescent, and adult development, alongside the emotional and psychological factors that influence behaviour and wellbeing in education, health, and social care settings.

Why this course
If you are fascinated by relationships, personality development, and the reasons behind human behaviour, this course will give you a strong grounding in psychodynamic theory and therapeutic practice.

You’ll explore emotional and psychological difficulties, therapeutic interventions, and organisational dynamics while developing the knowledge and practical skills needed for careers in caring professions.

Hands-on learning is central to the degree, with placements and observational experiences included throughout your studies, allowing you to connect theory with real-world practice.

With no exams and a strong emphasis on reflective learning and professional development, you’ll graduate prepared to make a meaningful difference across education, health, and social care environments.

Who should apply

• Students interested in psychology, emotional wellbeing, and therapeutic practice

• Future professionals aiming to work in education, health, social care, or counselling settings

• Learners who want to combine academic theory with practical placement experience

• Those passionate about supporting children, adults, and vulnerable individuals

What you’ll learn

• Human development: Study child, adolescent, and adult emotional and psychological development

• Attachment and relationships: Explore attachment theory and the impact of relationships on wellbeing

• Mental health and wellbeing: Examine anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, trauma, and violence

• Therapeutic practice: Learn about psychodynamic counselling and interventions in clinical and non-clinical settings

• Groups and organisations: Understand organisational dynamics, systems theory, and therapeutic communities

Your learning experience

• Placements every year: Gain practical experience in education, health, or social care settings throughout your degree

• Observational learning: Develop professional insight through structured observation and reflective practice

• No exams: Learn through coursework, reflection, and applied practice rather than traditional examinations

• Professional preparation: Build confidence and readiness for careers supporting children, adults, and vulnerable groups

• Real-world application: Connect theory and practice through hands-on experiences within your chosen sector

Careers and outcomes
This degree prepares you for careers across education, health, and social care where emotional understanding and therapeutic skills are highly valued:

• Education and schools: Supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties

• Health and social care: Working within mental health, community care, and therapeutic services

• Children and family services: Supporting looked after children and vulnerable young people

• Therapeutic and support settings: Assisting in counselling, wellbeing, and intervention-based environments

• Further professional training: Building foundations for postgraduate study in psychotherapy, counselling, or related professions

• You’ll graduate with a valuable combination of theoretical understanding and practical experience

Employers of graduates from this course
Graduates from this course progress into roles across education, health, and social care settings, including:

• Schools and specialist education providers

• Mental health and wellbeing services

• Children’s homes and family support organisations

• Social care and community support services

• Therapeutic and counselling environments

Many of our courses offer a choice of optional modules to tailor your learning experience. More information about these can be found on the University of Essex website.