17 Modules:
1 Counselling Psychology: Theory and Practice – This module focuses on developing students’ core skills in counselling psychology practice. The module takes a critical thinking approach to the primary philosophical paradigms underpinning counselling psychology and develops an evidence-informed approach to evaluation of therapy. Students undertake formal academic training in assessment, formulation, counselling skills, developing the therapeutic alliance and explore the complex factors informing the therapeutic
relationship.
2 Professional Practice in Counselling Psychology – This Semester 1, Year 1 module will emphasise professional development as a psychologist at the very beginning of the programme to help prepare students for their placements. Ethical awareness and professional competencies will be developed. Topics include the practice of psychology in diverse settings with diverse clients, inter-and intra-professional relationships, risk assessment, case formulation and professional practice issues.
3 Psychological Assessment Theories and Practice – This module provides students with the skills to complete comprehensive psychological assessments within adult and child professional contexts. Students will acquire skills for the selection, administration, scoring and interpretation, and integration of assessment findings for some of the most commonly used psychological assessment measures with adults and children/adolescents and will develop skills to write integrated psychological reports. This includes demonstrating competencies with psychometric assessment.
4 Psychological Interventions over the Lifespan: (Theory, Practice and Placement) – This module provides theoretical knowledge in counselling psychology and psychotherapy. It integrates knowledge of developmental psychology across the lifespan with key theoretical perspectives. The module develops knowledge and skills in planning interventions for a number of specific developmental issues that are addressed as exemplars of each stage of the lifespan. This allows students to demonstrate the application of taught module content and the expansion of their prior clinical practice skills. This module contains an estimated 100 hours of supervised clinical experience, with an expected minimum of 25 client-facing contact hours. Students will have the opportunity to practise core clinical skills such as assessment, case conceptualisation and treatment of individuals, groups and families under the supervision of a registered Practitioner Psychologist. They will be supported to demonstrate all standards of proficiency outlined by the HCPC. Students will engage ethically with clients and other professionals in a dynamic professional setting. Students complete a Clinical Folio reflecting their work undertaken throughout the placement.
5 Research Methods in Counselling Psychology – This module focuses on models of science that underpin research in counselling psychology, specifically, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods design. Students will explore data collection, analysis and methodological approaches in the behavioural sciences. Students will examine the common flaws in quantitative research approach and develop appropriate solutions.
6 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Theory and Practice – This Semester 2, Year 1 module will follow on from PSY8107M. This module focuses on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with presentation specific practical interventions (behavioural, cognitive,
physical) for anxiety, depression, phobias and panic disorder, OCD, formulation, NICE clinical guidelines, cultural and client-specific adaptations for CBT, third-wave modalities, and psychopharmacology. Students will develop and practise key CBT skills in preparation for placement.
7 Placement 1 – This module is the first of four structured practicum modules students undertake in years 2 and 3 of the doctorate. Together, these modules will provide placement opportunities across a range of contexts including the NHS. Each module has similar requirements, but they are applied to different treatment groups and scenarios to which the student is exposed. This module contains a total of 150 hours of supervised clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to practise core clinical skills such as assessment, case conceptualisation and treatment of individuals, and groups under the supervision of a registered psychologist. Students will engage ethically with clients and other professionals in a dynamic professional setting. Students complete a Clinical Folio and competency assessments reflecting their work undertaken throughout the semester.
8 Counselling Psychology in Context and Systems – This module builds on student knowledge and skills in individual therapy and interventions across the lifespan, and extends these to wider contexts and systemic practice. These include working in various settings such as schools, the NHS and third sector organisations. The module will focus on applying skills to various client groups including couples, families, refugees and asylum seekers and looked after children. Key frames for examining interactional patterns and strategies for bringing about change are considered. It focuses particularly on systemic approaches to working with clients in various settings, including developmental and attachment-based approaches. History and distress on couple and family relationships with a focus on formulation are included. The module develops knowledge and skills in a wide variety of client groups including assessment and interventions with diverse client groups in various contexts.
9 Group Psychotherapy – This module builds on student knowledge and skills for working with individuals and extends these to working with common-theme groups. Key models for understanding group processes are examined and practical skills in group leadership and facilitation are developed. Students are encouraged to participate in group experiences and are involved in the planning of a common theme group in the community.
10 Doctoral Thesis 1 – This module commences an individual programme of original research designed to advance students’ knowledge of Counselling Psychology and runs through the second year of the Doctor of Counselling Psychology programme. The doctoral thesis continues in the third year of the programme through PSY8308M Doctoral Thesis 2 and PSY8311M Doctoral Thesis 3, culminating in a thesis of 35,000-45,000 words. PSY8208M Doctoral Thesis 1 is designed to support students in meeting key milestones through the first year of their doctoral research. Following approval by the relevant ethics committee, students embark on a two-part or two-phase investigation (or a series of smaller studies) under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Students will demonstrate their ability to undertake a coherent line of research which would merit publication. Under the direction of their supervisor, students will implement the methodology of, and collect data for, the first study or part of their doctoral research. Students will submit a series of formative research milestones, culminating in summative written pieces of 12,000-20,000 words towards their final thesis. Students also take part in a thesis progression meeting, in which their progress is evaluated and recommendations for the next phase of the research process are made.
11 Placement 2 – This is the second practicum module and builds on the skills developed in Placement 1. This module contains a total of 150 hours of supervised clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to practise core clinical skills such as assessment, case conceptualisation, and treatment of individuals, groups and families under the supervision of a registered psychologist. Students will engage ethically with clients and other professionals in a dynamic professional setting. Students complete a Clinical Folio and competency assessments reflecting their work undertaken throughout the semester.
12 Psychotherapy and Relational Psychotherapy Practice – This module is underpinned by relational approaches to psychopathological presentations and aims to give trainees a ‘bilingual’ competence in formulating client distress diagnostically as well as through relational-humanistic terminology. The module will cover the main diagnostic systems (ICD and DSM) alongside humanistic and psychodynamic formulations of psychopathology and distress. The module introduces a medical model of distress, before looking at a critical approach to this. There will be an advanced grounding in humanistic and relational formulations of distress as alternatives to a medical perspective. The module then moves through a selection of client presenting issues and diagnoses, such as psychosis, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and trauma. These sessions will introduce the area of specialist practice while paying attention to 1. medical and relational formulation, 2. assessment 3. psychotherapy processes with a relational focus and 4. integration of research evidence to inform practice. The module closes by examining psychopathology in context; integrating interdisciplinary perspectives on psychopathology including socio-cultural and ecological factors. There will be opportunities to practice advanced relational skills and to reflect on practitioner self-care when working with complex client presentations with multiple social meanings.
13 Doctoral Thesis 2 – This module continues an individual programme of original research designed to advance students’ knowledge of Counselling Psychology and runs through Semesters 1 and 2 of the third year of the Doctor of Counselling Psychology programme. The module follows on from PSY8208M Doctoral Thesis 1 and is succeeded by PSY8311M Doctoral Thesis 3. This module is designed to support students to meet key milestones through the second year of their doctoral research, culminating in the submission of a thesis of 35,000 to 45,000 words (in PSY8311M). Students will demonstrate their ability to undertake a coherent line of research which would merit publication. Under the direction of their supervisor, students will implement the methodology of, and collect data for, the second study or part of their doctoral research. Students will submit and receive feedback on a series of formative written drafts in preparation for the final thesis submission. Summative assessment for this module consists of a submission of a substantial piece of written work (comprising the majority of sections of the final thesis) and a thesis progression meeting
14 Placement 3 – Building on the skills developed in Placement modules 1 and 2, and demonstrating the application of taught module content, this module contains an estimated total of 150 hours of supervised clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to practise core clinical skills such as assessment, case conceptualisation and treatment of individuals, groups and families under the supervision of a registered Practitioner Psychologist. They will be supported to demonstrate all standards of proficiency outlined by the HCPC. Students will engage ethically with clients and other professionals in a dynamic professional setting. Students complete a Clinical Folio and competency assessments reflecting their work undertaken throughout the placement.
15 Professional Counselling Psychology – This module brings together the skills of clinical work and ethical and interpersonal competencies. The module covers legislative requirements relating to the practice of counselling psychology and the requirements for registration and maintaining registration as a Counselling Psychologist. The module extends into integration, leadership, supervision, mentorship, inter-professional work and clinical accountability. It engages students in the evidence-base around these advanced practice concepts, equipping them with tools and ways of engaging with the knowledge base as well as with healthcare settings and structures, in order to practice effectively.
16 Doctoral Thesis 3 – In this module, students will complete the write-up and final preparation of the thesis. This is a culmination of their research activity, knowledge and skills from throughout their programme incorporating publication quality original research. Students will showcase their research through a final “viva voce presentation”.
17 Placement 4 – Building on the skills developed in Placement modules 1, 2 and 3, and demonstrating the application of taught module content, this module contains an estimated total of 150 hours of supervised clinical experience. Students will have the opportunity to practise core clinical skills such as assessment, case conceptualisation and treatment of individuals, groups and families under the supervision of a registered Practitioner Psychologist. They will be supported to demonstrate all standards of proficiency outlined by the HCPC. Students will engage ethically with clients and other professionals in a dynamic professional setting. Students complete a Clinical Folio and competency assessments reflecting their work undertaken throughout the placement.