Counselling (top-up), BSc (Hons)

Overview

This course is research-focused and offers the opportunity to present findings to experienced counselling professionals. This approach also underpins its overall work-based philosophy, with graduates going on to work in private and public counselling practices and in other roles relating to mental health and wellbeing.

You will learn how to apply Cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills to your counselling practice, be prepared for a career in the sector having undertaken a significant project in an area of professional interest, and also be set up for Master’s or other postgraduate studies.

Course length:

Full-time: 1 year (1 day plus 1 evening each week)

Start date:

13th September 2021

Location:

Knightstone Campus

Course codes:

Institution: W47
Course: B941
Campus: -

Awarding institution:

Bath Spa University

Find out more

Course detail

You will also enhance your practice by gaining informed and critical perspectives on the application of psychological therapies. When you graduate, you will also be able to register as a counsellor with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

The course is delivered in our Knightstone Campus and you will also be able to study in our multimillion pound University Centre in the Winter Gardens. The new facility includes a higher education library, technology pods for individual and group projects, classrooms, IT suites and social spaces.

Please contact the course leader Claire Plews or UCW’s HEART student services team for more information about this course. Come along to our next Open Day so you can see for yourself how UCW can help you achieve your ambitions.

All of the modules on this course are compulsory and worth either 20 or 40 credits. Successful completion of all of the modules is worth 120 credits and will lead to the award of the Level 6 Honours Top-up degree.

Contemporary Debates in Psychological Therapy (20 credits)
Counselling Practice: Work-based Project (40 credits)
Foundations in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Theory, Principles and Methods (40 credits)
Planning and Research Methods (20 credits)

This course is taught via a combination of lectures, seminars and presentations. When not in scheduled lecturers and seminars, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.

The course has an average of 11 hours of scheduled teaching per week.

Assessment is via a combination of practical exams and coursework, with an assessment breakdown of 20% practical exams and 80% coursework. There are no written exams on this course.

Please click on the Course Handbook button to find out more.

Assessment

Written Exams

0%

Coursework

80%

Practical Exams

20%

Quick Stats

Develop your skills and competencies in contemporary psychological therapies while also undertaking study in the areas of professional practice you are particularly interested in.

Find out more

Quick Stats

Develop your skills and competencies in contemporary psychological therapies while also undertaking study in the areas of professional practice you are particularly interested in.

Find out more

Meet the Team

Matt Thacker

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Lecturer in Counselling

Matt works in private practice as a counsellor and supervisor and has a small private practice. He also works as the project lead and one of the supervisors at the Swan Project in Bristol, an agency which works with people experiencing addiction. Matt has a BA (Hons) in Cultural Studies, a Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy. He works integratively, and has a particular interest in working with trauma, and bereavement work. Matt is currently undertaking an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice at Bath Spa University where he is conducting research exploring white psychotherapists attitudes towards their own racial identity.
Meet the Team

Claire Plews

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HE Curriculum Co-ordinator - Counselling

Claire has been in private practice as a solution-focused psychotherapist and supervisor since 2002. She has a Master’s Degree in the Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol and a BSc(hons) in Sociology and Psychology from Plymouth University. Over the last 20 years Claire has also gained a large wealth of experience in teaching psychology and delivering training to counselling professionals, both for local organisations and universities and has taught on the FdSc and BSc(hons) programme since 2017. Claire’s particular interests lie in the area of anxiety disorders and early intervention within mental health and education. For over a decade Claire has taught extensively on a nationwide CPD programme focusing on OCD and CBT interventions and has fronted an initiative for local health professionals for early intervention in mental disorders. She has a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is in her fourth year of studying for a Doctorate in Education at the University of Bristol exploring the adolescent perceptions of mental health provision in schools.