Curious about studying MA Integrative Counselling at Leeds Beckett University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MA - Master of Arts
City Campus
Part Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Gain a comprehensive knowledge of the acquisition and subsequent use of interpersonal and counselling skills for therapeutic benefit. Gain a deep understanding of relational theory and practice and learn how to apply your therapeutic counselling and psychotherapy skills with clients. Accredited by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), this course will enable you to develop the skills you’ll need as a professional counsellor or psychotherapist. It will provide you with the training required to become registered with the BACP and be professionally recognised as a counsellor. As part of this course, you’ll: Identify your strengths and areas for development through clinical practice, ensuring you become a capable and self-reflective practitioner Be trained to deliver therapy using online platforms, including video conferencing, and over the phone Experience a variety of learning approaches from full class lectures, to small group skills development where you can record your practice in our communications suite Study appropriate methods of research to form a research proposal and complete a dissertation in a subject area or specialism of your choice Hands-on experience We'll help you find a suitable work placement where you’ll have client contact on a regular basis totalling 100 hours. You’ll also undertake 20 hours of personal counselling from a network of professional counsellors approved by our university. Teaching and learning In addition to on-campus teaching sessions, you’ll need access to a private space to attend occasional online training sessions. This will require the use of a personal computer or equivalent device, and access to the internet.
This module focuses on your personal and professional development. We'll equip you to work effectively as a reflective practitioner, using a relational approach to counselling. Throughout your studies, you'll evaluate and plan your developmental needs while critically reflecting on your own professional knowledge, skills acquisition and expertise. Upon completion, you'll be able to assess and integrate a range of different theories into a clear plan for improving your practice.
Build a sound theoretical base, enabling you to begin safe and effective clinical practice under appropriate supervision. This module provides opportunities for you to learn about counselling practice through lectures and seminars. These sessions will address counselling theory and empirical evidence linked to professional frameworks. You'll also explore the therapy process and the suitability and effectiveness of counselling approaches for common mental health conditions.
Understand what it takes to establish and maintain effective, collaborative and therapeutic relationships appropriate for professional practice. Through regular peer practice sessions, observation, feedback, and supervisory support, you'll develop the skills necessary for therapeutic encounters with clients. Throughout the module, you'll also be encouraged to engage in personal development and theory to promote a strong understanding and observable progress in your skills development.
Gain a grounding in the theoretical, methodological and practical approaches to social research, enabling you to act as a social researcher and resolve practice-based problems. This module enables you to select, devise, analyse and synthesise research and evidence-based practice findings. You'll investigate sources and the nature of evidence, ethical considerations and research theories and approaches as you formulate a research proposal and working hypothesis. We'll consider things like design options, methodologies, project planning, fieldwork preparation, validity and reliability and data analysis. We'll also cover a range of research methodologies, linking these with problem appraisal and appropriate design choices.
This module builds on your learning from Personal & Professional Development 1. You'll gain greater awareness and proficiency in both personal and professional competencies. You'll develop a reflexive understanding and the ability to critically appraise and integrate a range of theoretical approaches into a coherent model for advancing your own practice. This will enable you to work effectively as a reflective practitioner and employ a relational approach to counselling.
Develop your critical understanding of counselling and theoretical skills. This module builds on the supervision and framework for practice covered in year one. You'll extend your knowledge of integrative practice, focusing on complex client issues and therapeutic concepts. We'll learn about the significance of working with other professionals to meet clients' needs more effectively. Overall, you'll maintain a critical, analytical and reflective perspective towards the available theories and evidence.
Gain an appreciation of the value of supervision in your work with clients. In this module, you'll participate in regular group sessions with your tutors and fellow students. These meetings provide opportunities for feedback and will help you make further links between counselling theory and practice. We'll encourage you to reflect on how your learning applies to working therapeutically with a range of issues. By the end of the module, you'll be able to identify ways to further enhance your practice skills.
Plan, implement and report on an independent piece of original advanced research in an area of your choice. With guidance from a supervisor, you'll demonstrate your initiative and responsibility in this process, as well as your capacity to reflect on evidence and connect research theory with practice. This project will boost your individual knowledge and develop key intellectual skills appropriate for master's level study, while also fostering personal and professional development.
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