Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy

As one of the very few undergraduate Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy joint honours degrees in the UK that offers the opportunity to qualify as a professional counsellor, this course prepares you to help people in distress explore their difficulties, express their feelings and work towards a deeper self-awareness.

On this British Psychological Society accredited course, you will explore human experience across a range of contexts and lifespans, from understanding the biological basis of behaviour to questioning the impact of social media on child development. Our expert lecturing team are active in research and practices and will ensure you feel supported throughout your degree.

You will have the opportunity to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities, including sessions led by experts in the fields of psychology and counselling.

Beyond the classroom, you will complete 100 hours of work experience in the community as a practising counsellor, which is a qualificatory part of the course. Our excellent links with regional and national charities, not-for-profit organisations and penal institutions will open doors to practical experiences that refine your skills and elevate your job prospects.

There will also be opportunities for you to focus on particular areas of interest, to tailor your learning to your own interests and career goals.

Course Overview

This course will see you develop the academic knowledge and practical skills you need to help make a difference in the lives of others. You’ll learn from industry-expert tutors through lectures, seminars and other learning opportunities.

Our standout Psychology with Counselling and Psychotherapy course adheres to the training requirements of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is one of the only Psychology with Counselling joint honours degrees that qualifies you as a professional counsellor without the need for further professional or postgraduate training.

Upon graduation, you will also be eligible to gain Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) and apply to be an individual member of the BACP.

In addition to 100 hours of work in the community, you’ll have the opportunity to develop key research skills and undertake specific counselling-focused research projects. You will also gain high-level soft skills such as empathy, conflict resolution and active thinking, which are in high demand in the workplace and will enhance your employability across various professions. Throughout your studies, you’ll be part of a small, close-knit and supportive learning community, ensuring you receive the guidance and encouragement you need to succeed.

What’s more, our psychology courses are ranked 1st in the North West and 11th in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results).

On this course you will...

• Have the opportunity to explore and apply psychological literature to current issues, contexts and experiences.

• Develop key knowledge, skills and abilities to help you prepare to become a counsellor or psychotherapist, or develop a career in related psychotherapeutic professions.

• Be able to choose topics and areas that you want to learn more about to tailor your learning experience on your psychology degree.

• Be taught and given high-quality support and guidance by our expert lecturing team, who are active in research and practices.

• Have the opportunity to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities including sessions by experts in the field of psychology and counselling.

• Benefit from our excellent links with regional and national charities, not-for-profit and penal institutions to gain work experience and enhance your job prospects.

Year one
You will build knowledge in the foundations of psychology, counselling and psychotherapy as disciplines and develop key skills through lectures, workshops and problem-based learning. You will build knowledge of the history of psychology, research methods and analytical techniques as well as start to develop key counselling, academic and professional skills.

• Psychology in Action
  An introduction to a range of theories and models from developmental, cognitive and biological psychology.
• Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
  An introduction to the nature of psychological enquiry and research skills.
• Introduction to Data Analysis
  An introduction to the processes involved in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Academic and Professional Skills
  Begin working with others in a professional setting including covering issues of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Foundational Counselling and Coaching Skills
  Develop basic counselling and coaching skills.
• Counselling Skills: Preparation for Practice
  Develop a range of basic counselling skills.

Year two
You will start to develop a more in-depth understanding of research, theory and practice and develop important research and practical skills. You will build on the foundation of the skills developed in year one and begin to understand wider issues around therapeutic diversity and start to gain work experience within a therapeutic setting.

• Research Methods and Statistics
  Become familiar with statistical techniques that deal with more than one independent variable at two or more levels, including within, between and mixed participant designs.
• Development, Brain and Cognition
  Explore the potential impact on human development and behaviour of a range of factors.
• Social and Community Psychology
  Apply theories of social psychology to understanding the experiences and behaviours of people within their community.
• Work Experience
  An opportunity start your supervised counselling practice.
• Intermediate Counselling Skills
  Develop a practical and professional understanding of ethical practice and decision making with attention to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework and relevant legislation.
• Understanding Therapeutic Diversity
  Develop a complex understanding of several therapeutic approaches (including the person-centred approach) and critically compare them.

Year three
You will undertake an independent research project that will allow you to explore a topic of interest and pursue your own research question. You will also be able to further advance your knowledge and skills through further work experience and advanced counselling skills.

• Dissertation
  Pursue an investigation on a topic of your own interest.
• Individual Differences: Abilities, Personalities and measuring differences
  An introduction to the nature of individual differences in human behaviour across a wide spectrum of human development.
• Critical Psychology
  Engage in a critical debate about the ideological basis of psychological knowledge, methods and applications.
• Advanced Counselling Skills
  Develop a critical theoretical awareness and professional understanding of the theories and experiences of psychological and emotional distress.
• Work Experience 2
  Another opportunity to start your supervised counselling practice.

The assessment throughout the programme will include a blend of assessment activities such as written assignments, unseen in-class tests, presentations and reports, alongside innovative and employability focused tasks such as case study analysis, problem-based activities and reflective logs.

These methods are chosen to encourage knowledge development, practitioner skill development, and a range of transferable and professional capabilities such as communication skills, presentation skills, problem-solving, teamwork, numeracy and IT skills.