Course structure
The courses are taught on a semester system with two semesters each year. Semester dates can be found here on the website.
In addition to academic study, you will need to complete 100 hours of supervised counselling practice in an approved clinical practice agency.
You also need to undertake a course of personal therapy that lasts for the duration of the course, from October of year 1 to June of year 2, and we recommend that you factor in the cost of this therapy before your application.
Assessment consists of four essays and three case studies. You will also keep a professional log of your clinical work and maintain a personal journal.
Areas of study
The course contains four major elements: academic and professional studies, practical training, training supervision and personal growth and development. A strong theoretical knowledge is of great importance and considerable weight is given to canonical writers. The seminars provide a broad overview of the reading material and invite you to reflect further on it.
Psychodynamic counsellors rely on their own feelings to help make sense of the moment-by-moment changes in client sessions. This process underlies the need for a certain level of self-awareness and maturity, hence why personal growth and development is the fourth key strand on the course. This is partly met through personal development groups and partly through your own counselling or therapy.
Syllabus
Modules
- Psychodynamic Counselling Theory; Human Growth and Development
The content of this module includes the philosophical underpinnings of psychodynamic counselling; models of the unconscious mind and its dynamics, including Freud and Klein; feminist critiques of Freudian and post-Freudian psychoanalytic theory; an introduction to models of short-term psychodynamic counselling; and a review of research concerned with psychological development and change across the life span.
- Themes in Professional Practice
This module encourages you to examine the complex professional issues involved in the practice of therapeutic counselling. Areas covered include a critical examination of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s (BACP) Framework for Good Practice; an exploration of the four ethical principles (autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and confidentiality) and their relevance to counselling practice; power in the counselling relationship; and the purpose of counselling supervision and how to make best use of it.
- Psychodynamic Counselling Workshops and Personal Development
This module provides the opportunity for you to develop your skills as a practitioner as well as gaining insights into how you relate to other students by taking part in a personal development group. This block of time over a weekend/week enables further intensive learning and will allow you to undertake practice, receive feedback and utilise that feedback to reinforce your learning.
- Non-credit rated module; Portfolio of Evidence Psychodynamic Counselling
In this non-credit-rated module which continues over both years, you will produce a portfolio of evidence to record your personal and professional development in counselling practice and supervision. Throughout the course you need to accrue at least 100 hours of counselling practice in an approved counselling setting and 17 hours of counselling supervision with an approved supervisor; keep a detailed log evidencing this work; engage in weekly personal psychotherapy; keep a personal journal; and engage in a peer feedback exercise including self-evaluation.
- Reflexivity and Research Methods in Counselling and Psychotherapy
In this module, you will learn about research methods, the role of self-reflection in qualitative research and the links between research interests, personal development and the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. You will develop a critical understanding of your own research interests and situate these and your investigation in the context of various qualitative research methods and your own ontological and epistemological position.
- Psychodynamic Counselling Practice 1
Taught in a small group workshop format, this module will enable you to synthesise aspects of psychodynamic theory and practice and deepen and expand your competence as a psychodynamic counsellor. Your practice will be located within the context of relevant theory. By taking part in personal development groups, you will develop a deep level of self-awareness.
- Psychodynamic Counselling Practice 2
This module is taught in a small group workshop format, enabling you to synthesise aspects of psychodynamic theory and practice, while further deepening and expanding your competence as a psychodynamic counsellor. Your practice will be located within the context of relevant psychodynamic theory. Through participation in personal development groups, you will develop a profound level of self-awareness.
- Critical Perspectives in Psychodynamic Counselling
During this module you will explore the underlying philosophies of therapeutic counselling in general and psychodynamic counselling in particular. Through the study of the nature and characteristics of psychodynamic psychopathology you will deepen your understanding of work relating to counselling in areas other than those with which you have a specific involvement.
Completion of the postgraduate diploma allows continuation (after successful application) on to our Psychotherapy MSc.
Lab facilities
Mithras House has a series of lab rooms which can be used for teaching on your course or in your independent research work.
Life lab
A skills-based lab for practice-based teaching, social work, psychotherapy and counselling, and employability. The Life lab is fitted with lounge furniture to provide a comfortable space for conducting qualitative research with larger groups. The lab can be used to conduct research activities with children of all ages and can be used for meetings and events. The room also contains a dedicated space to conduct assessed role play or interviews with children.
City lab
This is a qualitative research methods and creative methods resource for all students, staff and researchers, as well as research participants, including children, community groups and the general public. It can also be used for meetings and events. The City lab contains a kitchen, a teaching/meeting room with enhanced acoustic isolation and two meeting spaces that can be separated with a screen or combined to accommodate larger groups.
Design lab
Housing our extensive collection of historic dress and textiles, which are used in some teaching on our History of Art and Design courses, this has the space and equipment for you to work on textile projects. Displays created by students on these programmes are on view in the social spaces of the building.
Community lab
The Community Lab is a flexible teaching space designed for collaborative student learning and for working on qualitative research projects with a range of participants.
Stats lab
The Stats Lab is a specialist workspace for carrying out statistical analysis, and video and audio editing projects. The Stats Lab is also used for workshops, demonstrations and seminars and can be used by students as a study space.
Applied cognition lab
A dedicated research space for psychological research involving measures such as electrodermal activity (EDA) and electroencephalography (EEG). The space is designed to allow the participant and researcher to sit at separate desks whilst psychophysiological data is being collected.
VR and eye tracking lab
The VR and Eye-Tracking Lab is used for psychological research using equipment, such as eye-trackers and virtual reality headsets. The space has adjustable lighting and a blackout blind for maintaining consistent lighting conditions during eye-tracking research, as well as sensors set up in the room to allow individuals to move freely around the room during virtual reality research.
Take a video tour of the labs with technicians Andrea and Grace
Preliminary reading
Students wishing to gain some understanding of the psychodynamic approach may wish to read some of the following texts:
- Casement, P. (1985) Learning from the Patient
- Freud, S. (1991) Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis
- Bott, D. and Howard, P. (2012) The Therapeutic Encounter: A Cross-Modality Approach
- Howard, S. (2006) Psychodynamic Counselling in a Nutshell
- Jacobs, M. (2004) Psychodynamic Counselling in Action
- McLeod, J. (2003) An Introduction to Counselling
- Spurling, L. (2009) An Introduction to Psychodynamic Counselling
Being entirely honest with oneself is good exercise.
Sigmund Freud, letter to Wilhelm Fliess (1897)
FAQs
Should I apply for the Humanistic or Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counselling Postgraduate Diploma?
We can provide a few pointers for you, but ultimately you must make the decision. To help you differentiate between the two courses, you could attend an open day or do some reading around the relevant subject areas.
I haven’t studied psychology before. Does this matter?
No, it doesn’t. While counselling training draws on psychology theory, we don’t expect you to have studied it formally before the course begins. We do, however, require you to have spent a minimum of 30 hours on an accredited counselling skills course.
Does it matter that I’ve been out of education for a number of years?
No. Provided you meet all the requirements, you should be offered an interview for the course. Many of our students are returning to study after a few years away. In fact, the average age for the postgraduate diplomas is around 40.
I use counselling skills in my job as a nurse/social worker/teacher. Do I still have to take an introductory counselling course?
Yes, unless as a formal part of your training you took an assessed module in counselling skills. If so, you would need to provide full details of the module you took in the further information section on the application form.
Will my previous counselling or therapy count in lieu of the requirement to be in therapy during the course?
No. You will need to start therapy again with an approved therapist.
I know a counselling placement is part of the course, but does the course guarantee to find me one?
No. We do have a list of clinical practice agencies which previous students have gone to and we have good relationships with many local counselling agencies but the final responsibility lies with you. During the first semester we invite a number of practice managers/directors to come and talk about what they offer, but you must make your own applications to agencies.