Psychotherapy and Counselling (Integrated Masters)

Plymouth Marjon University

This Master's programme in Psychotherapy and Counselling is a four-year training route for applicants who wish to become a practising psychotherapist or counsellor. We educate in the theory, research, and practice of psychotherapy and counselling, complementing professional training in psychotherapy and counselling with the academic rigour of a degree. The degree is an integrated master's degree, which means that a three year undergraduate degree is combined with a final master's year, leading to a master's level qualification. There are a variety of approaches to psychotherapy and counselling that are based on different theoretical perspectives of behaviour change. The degree covers a variety of these theoretical perspectives - person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, existential, strengths-based - focusing on one perspective in depth in the final year. In terms of research, psychotherapy and counselling is an evidence-based profession. Teaching is evidence-based, and students learn how to interpret, critique, and apply research. They also learn how to conduct research in the context of psychotherapy and counselling. In terms of practice, students learn, practice, and develop the skills they need to become competent, ethical, reflective, self-aware, and effective as psychotherapists and counsellors. They learn about the roles of psychotherapists and counsellors in a variety of professional settings, and develop the underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills required for these roles.