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Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy

  • FdA
  • 2 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
Lancaster University
More about Blackburn College

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Our Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, qualifies you as a therapeutic counsellor working with individuals experiencing a range of mild to moderate mental health challenges.

The overall aim of the FdA is to produce safe, effective and critically aware counselling practitioners with the knowledge and skills relevant to the sector. To achieve this, FdA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy focuses on three distinctive strands: counselling skills, personal and professional development, and research informed practice.

Upon completion you will be able to work as a counsellor within an organisation or private practice. A popular progression route is via the BA (Hons) Integrative Counselling Psychotherapy (Top Up), which will enable you to develop a wider range of advanced counselling skills and access postgraduate study.

The experienced teaching team will complement your studies with their experience in the voluntary, private and statutory sectors - every one of them is a practising counsellor who will be able to add to your learning experience, develop your knowledge and skills and provide real insight into the role of a counsellor.

Modules

Key themes run throughout the course. In the first year of full-time study you will learn the theory and practice of person-centred counselling. In the second year of full-time study you will move onto study a different range of counselling models. Throughout the programme you will learn about professionalism and ethics (eg. setting boundaries), difference and diversity and ethical codes. A large amount of personal development forms part of the programme. You will be encouraged to explore your own histories and experiences to enable you to relate to your clients. The course also involves a large research element - you will learn to read and understand academic material and research your own area of choosing to enable you to pursue an academic career in counselling if you wish.

In addition to attending classroom lectures you will also complete 100 hours of supervised counselling practice. We have strong employer links to counselling organisations to help source your placement.

Modules include:

In year one you'll need to complete six mandatory units:

Introduction to Person Centred Skills
Proficiency in Person Centred Skills
Professional Standards and Ethics in Counselling
Psychological Foundations of Therapy
Transactional Analysis: A reflective Model
Personal Development within Groups
In year two you'll need to complete five mandatory units:

Mental Health & Client Groups
Understanding Integrative Counselling
Solution Focused Therapy & Time Limited Intervention
Social Research
Personal Development and Supervision
Then one of two optional units (Modules running subject to interest):

Counselling Children & Young People/or/ Trauma-Informed Practice

*The Research modules must be passed on the FdA in order to pass and/or progress onto the BA (Hons) (Top Up)

Assessment method

Throughout the course a full range of assessment techniques will be used. You'll be assessed by practical assessments, assignments, briefs, essays, presentations (including group presentations), reports and portfolio building.

Assessments will count towards your module mark and feedback is usually given within 3 weeks following the submission of your formal submission of work.

Additionally, some lecturers will provide informal feedback, for example, following an examination they may choose to work through the exam paper in a tutorial. It should be noted that feedback is part of the ongoing learning cycle which is not limited to written feedback. Other forms of feedback include one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor, dissertation and project supervision meetings, a lecturer responding to learner questions or responses during topic or situation discussions.

Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • FdA • Full-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
B990
Institution code:
B40
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Blackburn College has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
B990
Institution code:
B40
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 48 points

All applicants must show that they have a good level of spoken or written English, and if English is not your first language you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to study in English. Applicants without formal qualifications but with relevant and substantial work experience in an empowering, supporting or listening role will be considered for entry to the programme subject to the interview process and appropriate diagnostic tests. All applicants will be required to attend a formal interview, partake in a group exercise and submit a small piece of reflective writing. The design of this follows ‘best practice guidance’ and ensures that applicants will be able to demonstrate an ability to engage with the core competences of the programme. These are: 1. the ability to engage in productive and respectful discussion with others who may have differing opinions. 2. the ability to reflect on ones’ own performance. This can be undertaken orally if the candidate prefers and 3. the ability to represent oneself in a formal arena when exploring personal rationale and past experiences. This will form part of the interview process for every candidate and involve several members of the teaching team to ensure that the decision to offer a place does not rest with a sole member of staff. A minimum of two staff members will form the interview panel and similarly two (other) staff members will observe the group discussion. The reflective writing task is explained by a staff member who has observed the discussion. The applicant’s written work is then read and considered by all staff members who have met with the group of applicants in either capacity. Hence there will be a minimum of four staff members involved in the interview

Additional entry requirements

Interview
All applicants will be required to attend a formal interview, partake in a group exercise and submit a small piece of reflective writing. The design of this follows ‘best practice guidance’ and ensures that applicants will be able to demonstrate an ability to engage with the core competences of the programme. These are: 1. the ability to engage in productive and respectful discussion with others who may have differing opinions. 2. the ability to reflect on ones’ own performance. This can be undertaken orally if the candidate prefers and 3. the ability to represent oneself in a formal arena when exploring personal rationale and past experiences. This will form part of the interview process for every candidate and involve several members of the teaching team to ensure that the decision to offer a place does not rest with a sole member of staff. A minimum of two staff members will form the interview panel and similarly two (other) staff members will observe the group discussion. The reflective writing task is explained by a staff member who has observed the discussion. The applicant’s written work is then read and considered by all staff members who have met with the group of applicants in either capacity. Hence there will be a minimum of four staff members involved in the interview

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£8250Year 1
Northern Ireland£8250Year 1
Scotland£8250Year 1
Wales£8250Year 1
Channel Islands£8250Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

During the programme you will find that there are some additional costs. These include:
Student Membership of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BCAP) – a cost of around £82.00 (21-22) for the year
Professional Indemnity Insurance – this can cost between £45 and £150 depending on the insurance that you choose
Monthly clinical supervision costs – typically between £20-60 per month
You will also incur the costs of travel to/from counselling placements.

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