Counselling

UCAS code: COU1

Here's what Sunderland College says about its Counselling course.

Our Foundation Degree in Counselling aims to create a transformative journey designed to empower students to pursue life-changing careers in counselling.

The course is taught at Bede Campus, where students have access to a range of facilities to support them on their academic journey.

Due to the wide variety of programmes that are delivered at the college, counselling students are in a unique position to engage in cross-faculty projects that are aimed at elevating the educational experience and creating an inclusive community dynamic across the college.

The programme adopts a robust theoretical foundation and places equal priority on skills practice and industry expertise development. Industry standards and expectations are at the forefront of our teaching approach, with recognition that counselling is explorative and growth orientated in nature.

We adopt a person-centred approach in our teaching style. Student voice and individuality is encouraged and promoted. We aim to facilitate a safe learning environment, where learners can build the confidence, skills and determination to not just exceed in the counselling industry, but to elevate it.

On successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded a Foundation Degree in Counselling, validated by the University of Hull.

Year one:

• Unravelling Theoretical Threads (20 credits) - This module is an in depth exploration of person-centred therapy as a core model. The person-centred model will be the primary underpinning modality for students on this programme. The overview and exploration of the model includes the historical perspective of person-centred therapy and goes on to explore the model's contemporary relevance, both theoretically and practically. There will be an emphasis placed on understanding the theory, assumptions and evidence base, while acknowledging the recommendtion of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for a strong grounding in a core counselling model.

• Exploring Diverse Horizons (20 credits) - This module is aimed at cultivating ethical and competent counselling practitioners. Students will explore various aspects of ethical practice. The module addresses and reviews key topics, such as the relevance of the BACP's ethical framework for the counselling profession, boundary issues and confidentiality, as well as the recognition of limits within one's competence, and fitness to practice. Legal considerations, including the Data Protection Act, health and safety regulations, the Equality Act, Children's Act, Mental Health Act, and drugs legislation, will also be explored.

• Navigating Comparative Counselling Approaches (20 credits) - The module begins the exploration of counselling models in addition to the core model. This is completed with an in depth explorations of diverse counselling models, to include cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic, existential, rationale emotive behavioural therapy, transactional analysis, Gestalt, acceptance and commitment therapy, and integrative approaches. Through exploration of the historical and contemporary relevance, the aim is to give students insight into the multi-faceted nature of these models and their application in counselling practice, with the additional aim of cultivating critical thinking by assessing, comparing and analysing each model. This supports the emphasis on the importance of current research in shaping theoretical and practical counselling philosophy.

• Inside Out Growth - Who Am I? (30 credits) - This module draws from various theoretical frameworks, including Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Mahler and Stern, and explores group processes and personal development issues within a group context. The module consists of tutor facilitated group and independent self-awareness activities, such as Johari's Window, and evaluation of group dynamics in a process group to develop and nurture an in depth understanding of the self. Topics of self-awareness in relation to others, transference and countertransference, and adherence to the BACP code of ethics will be explored.

• Counselling Skills in Action (30 credits) - This module is designed to introduce and develop counselling skills in students, with an exploration into the skills required in the core model of counselling. There will be a substantial portion of the module that is dedicated to the development of counselling skills. The skills will range from non-verbal and para-verbal communication, to the use of questions, affective enquiries, summarising, paraphrasing and immediacy, practiced in peer triad groups. Diversity and inclusion are considered throughout the module, recognising the growing global diversity within the context of counselling and education to ensure that students gain and develop cultural competence and sensitivity. The aim of the module is to equip students with a skill set that will aid in the development of trust and to establishes therapeutic contact and relationships.

We want to unleash your learning potential while nurturing and developing your own growing philosophy. To elevate your experience, teaching will be immersive, with a dynamic blend of face-to-face and online lessons that create moments of creativity that are gateways to new knowledge.

Our engaging curriculum features guest speakers, collaborative sessions and creative expression projects to make learning an exciting, productive and rewarding journey. You will enjoy independent study time, group projects, guided studies and creative collaborations that shape your skills organically.

Our explorative and collaborative teaching approach does not stop at learning. Students will participate in a spectrum of assessments that go beyond the ordinary and challenge the status quo. From thought-provoking essays to thrilling group projects, insightful reports, powerful presentations and self-reflective creative tasks – every assessment is a chance for you to showcase your unique brilliance and individuality.