BA (Hons) Contemporary Relational Counselling

Year one

The first year will concentrate on teaching students’ common factors in counselling (including the therapeutic relationship), exploring the principles of the therapeutic relationship and introducing a variety of theoretical models. Ethics and safeguarding will be taught, and students will be encouraged to develop self-awareness and reflexivity. Role play and practice skills will be a feature to prepare students to work with clients from the second year onwards.

– Module 1 Common Factors
– Module 2 The Therapeutic Relationship
– Module 3 Theoretical Principles
– Module 4 Attachment and Loss
– Module 5 Ethical Practice
– Module 6 The Self of the Counsellor

Year two

The second year will build on the knowledge gained in year 1, target more specific client presentations and incorporate a supervised clinical practice element in a recognised placement (50 hours). Students will have the opportunity to approach counselling and therapeutic theories from different perspectives and link concepts to practice in a reflexive, free flowing manner. Specific modules will be dedicated to research, clinical supervision and difference and diversity. Module 12 will be dedicated to supervised clinical practice in the placement centre.

– Module 7 CBT Principles
– Module 8 Research Principles
– Module 9 Supervision and Practice Principles
– Module 10 Further Theoretical Principles
– Module 11 Diversity and Difference
– Module 12 Clinical Practice

Final year

Year three will offer a series of modules, such as working with specific client bases and problems. It will provide theoretical support and assistance in accurate decision making and treatment planning. The approach is concentrated on utilising the clients’ own resources and capabilities to solve issues and promote self-awareness, self-worth and self-confidence.
Module 17 will run through the year and feature a reflexive dissertation based on clinical practice, enabling students to showcase their integration of theories into clinical practice. Students who successfully complete year 3 will be awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Contemporary Relational Counselling.

– Module 13 Working with Complex Presentations
– Module 14 Relational Research
– Module 15 Challenges in Relational Counselling
– Module 16 Further Challenges in Relational Counselling
– Module 17 Reflexive Clinical Practice

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time

Assessment methods include:

– Peer assessed role plays
– Case Studies
– Case presentations
– Theory based written assignments
– Production of documentation for clients (flyers, website information)
– Research projects
– Portfolio (informed by learning journal kept throughout the course)
– Reflexive critical response to learning and practice

Entry requirements for this course are one of the following:
– 80 UCAS tariff points
– Access to HE Diploma in a related course with at least 45 credits at Level 3
– Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

Additionally, students are required to have
– GCSE English language
– Basic counselling skills at Level 2 or equivalent
– Competence in the use of IT and regular access to the Internet

As part of this programme of study you will be required to have a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You will be required to pay the cost of this. A DBS must be in place before you start your placement. You may be able to supply an existing DBS but this must be within 3 years of issue.

Successful completion enables progression to higher study, for example a Masters in Contemporary Relationship Studies and an MSc in Contemporary Psychosexual Therapy.