Theology and Counselling

London School of Theology is privileged to be the only institution in the United Kingdom offering this unique course called ‘Theology and Counselling’, an integrative degree programme combining studies in Theology and training in Counselling.

This programme is for people interested in training to practice as clinicians in different settings such as the NHS, schools, pastoral ministry or missions, with a strong individual focus. We welcome people interested in becoming professional counsellors and needing a well-laid foundation in the Bible and Theology. The pathways after training are many, based on your ambitions and dreams.

The REMA Approach
Developed at London School of Theology, at the heart of our programme you will learn an approach to therapy that is relational, holistic, attuned in terms of social realities and integrative. We teach an integrative approach to therapy with a psychodynamic core. This means that the primary orientation is psychodynamic in the sense that we look to deep-seated reasons and root causes. We integrate aspects of other counselling modalities to help us to be attuned to the particular situations of individual clients rather than be equipped to move solely in a particular theory of the inner world.

The REMA Approach to therapy is also integrative in that we are attuned to the centuries of reflection in the faith-based traditions of Christian theology and pastoral psychology which have most definitely not out-lived their usefulness. REMA represents the four lenses (Relational, Embodied, Meaning Making and Agency) which support our integration of theology and counselling.

Every approach to therapy is rooted in pre-suppositions about psychological functioning and a way of being human. The value of human beings underpins the ethical framework but is also a psycho-social dynamic driver. We are hard wired to pursue this in our lives: high value is a powerful motivation. Where this is not forthcoming in our social or inter-personal world, something happens inside that dents our sense of self. Our primary pursuit is to be a worthwhile person living a worthwhile life that matters because we matter. The urge to count, to be endorsed is the primary drive for a Christian understanding of people’s fundamental needs. This emerges in patterns of Relating, Embodiment, Meaning and Agency in which inner disturbance shows up.

Accreditation
The Theology & Counselling programme is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the main professional body for counselling in the UK.

This is the only Counselling programme with a Christian worldview to meet the standards of their full professional scrutiny – and to that we add theological studies with teachers of world renown, in an institution with a long track record of providing the church in the UK and around the world with its future leaders.

Personal Counselling
The Theology & Counselling programme requires all students to undergo their own personal therapy sessions in order to develop the self awareness they need to best relate to potential clients.

Personal therapy is important because you can only take a client as far as you're willing to go yourself. Although it can be tough, it can help to put you in the place of your future client so you can better relate to them.

Students are required to do 30 hours of therapy for each year with an experienced therapist. All personal therapists must be approved by LST faculty.

Costs vary widely. Some therapists can offer student counsellors a place for as little as £20 a session, while others may charge upwards of £70-£80 a session. Please note that the cost of personal counselling is not included in tuition fees.

Personal counselling is different to pastoral care and consequently students cannot use their pastor as their counsellor – counsellors must be cleared by the tutor.