MSc in Psychotherapy Studies (Taught)

The MSc in Psychotherapy Studies is a distinctive online programme offering comprehensive theoretical insight into the practice of psychotherapy. Rooted in an existential approach, this course draws primarily from philosophical traditions, focusing on what it means to be human and alive in the world. Rather than prescribing fixed answers, existential psychotherapy embraces a spirit of openness, encouraging inquiry into questions of meaning, truth, and personal experience.

While grounded in the existential approach, this programme also takes a broad and in-depth view of psychotherapy and counselling. It draws on contemporary research from a range of related disciplines - including psychology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and medical science - offering a truly rich and interdisciplinary learning experience.

Entirely online, the course requires no travel and is delivered via our user-friendly virtual learning environment, using the latest version of Moodle, the world-leading education platform. You can expect to commit approximately 12–15 hours per week, which includes engaging with reading and video materials, participating in online forums at times that suit you, and attending a weekly live seminar (one hour), scheduled in collaboration with your small group and led by a tutor.

The programme aims to:

• Develop expertise in existential philosophy and psychotherapy.

• Familiarise students with the range of interdisciplinary ideas and theories that are common among psychotherapy modalities and enable students to critically evaluate the ideas encountered.

• Develop an advanced ability to communicate theoretical understanding from a variety of perspectives and critically apply this understanding to themselves and their work with others, particularly the therapeutic relationship.

• Deepen knowledge and the ability to apply accurate and appropriate interpersonal, ethical, and cultural sensitivity and empathic understanding.

• Develop research skills relevant to psychotherapy theory and practice.

Existential & Human Issues

This module will provide students with an overview of the existential approach and the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of human values, meaning and creative responses to anxiety.

Wellbeing and Health

This module will provide students with an understanding of the role of positive psychology and other theoretical approaches to well-being within an overall strategy of improvement of quality of living.

Development Through the Lifespan

To provide an overview of developmental theories, demonstrating how physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development interact and how theories of development, and developmental stages, can be applied to counselling psychology. Development stage theories will be evaluated in the context of the existential reflections on the purpose of development and an unfolding project.

Overview of Research Methods

This module will provide an understanding of the contribution of research to the growth of knowledge and the effectiveness of practice. It will give the student a grounding in research approaches, with particular attention to the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Conflict and Reconciliation

This module will provide students with a typology of conflict and conflict resolution. Students will consider methods of conflict resolution or termination through mediation, reconciliation, therapy, arbitration, legal force, and murder or genocide.

Social, Cultural and Ethical Issues

This module will enable students to be able to make appropriate decisions about consent, confidentiality, discrimination, exploitation, fairness, duty of care, and other ethical and moral quandaries in professional practice.

Theories of Personal Change

This module will enable students to develop a common theory of personal change, with special relevance to psychotherapy, counselling, coaching, and self-development. Studies will also identify the aims and methods of some of the main Western approaches to symptomatic, short-term, motivational, and longer-term psychotherapies. Finally students will critically evaluate the modern concept of personality as an explanation for many Western theories of personal change.

Research Supervision and Final Project (15,000 words)

NSPC will provide supervision of the student’s independent research towards their final project. Students will research an aspect of Psychotherapy Studies that is of personal and professional interest to them and to produce a well written final project of 15.000 words to Masters’ standards, which makes a contribution to the psychotherapy literature.