Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills

UCAS code: PS74

Here's what University Campus Oldham says about its Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills course.

This course offers the opportunity to develop wide-ranging skills in counselling, which will support students in working towards meeting the requirements of professional registration post-qualification. The Foundation Degree also provides an opportunity to advance to Level 6, furthering education and skills by progressing onto the BSc (Hons) top-up at University Campus Oldham. The course is structured around modules that deliver professional training components. This allows students to broaden and deepen their understanding of counselling-related issues.

Students will develop their competence in working with both the person-centred and integrative counselling approaches. This course will aid students in developing and enhancing their professional skills, including communication; reflective practice; self-awareness; research skills; and understanding of other therapeutic models, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Students will undertake a counselling placement in a real-world organisation. Students will seek an appropriately qualified and experienced external supervisor, who will support them with their client work. This individual supervision will further assist students in developing their understanding and skills in personal and professional reflection and development.

All of the modules on the FdSc Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills are compulsory. The Foundation Degree does not include any elective modules, therefore for students to successfully complete the course, completion of all modules is required.

Level 4: • Academic Development and Personal Reflection • Introduction to Person-Centred Counselling • Introduction to Mental Health and other Therapeutic Approaches and Interventions • Professional Practice and Ethics • Practical Demonstrations of Core Conditions and Personal Development (Placement Preparation)

Level 5: • Advanced Counselling Skills • Introduction to Ethical Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy • Mental Health Conditions – Managing Risk and Implications • Supervision and Reflective Practice • Practical Counselling and Psychotherapy and Reflective Practice (Placement module)

The modules have been developed collectively by the experienced staff in both counselling, psychotherapy and education, to ensure that there is close integration between the modules and a sense of a progression, in terms of the accumulation of knowledge and skills development. Ensuring that students are well equipped for the world of work, our aim is to provide a high quality and comprehensive learning environment for all of our students so that they can each achieve their full potential. We use a wide range of learning methods, for example, lectures, seminars, workshops, practical classes, small group and individual tutorials and reflective activities incorporated into a blended learning approach, to ensure that all students can contribute significantly to and benefit from the learning community. Attendance at classes is very important and all students are expected to maintain a minimum of 80% attendance.

Assessments may take various forms and could include essays, presentations, reflections on learning, practical demonstrations, practicing skills with other students and portfolios.