Programme summary for MSc Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy

About the programme

You will receive your training from the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships: a nationally and internationally recognised clinical, training and research organisation which specialises in the adult couple relationship.
The Programme is approved by the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (CORST)
At the end of the programme, you will be eligible to work psychosexual therapists in clinics and in private practice where you can work towards individual accredited status with the COSRT and registration with UKCP
You will be given an integrated psychodynamic/cognitive behavioural model of psychosexual therapy
The programme is manageable in conjunction with employment or private practice
Your clinical competency will be confirmed by means of a written examination
The MSc dissertation will be based on a case study of your own work
You’ll be supported by committed teaching and tutoring staff

Programme structure

The MSc module runs for an academic year. The teaching year begins in January and there are three terms of ten weeks each. Seminars will run for an hour and a half weekly followed by a one and a half hour supervision group. A minimum of two individual supervision sessions of one hour each are also given every term. There will be seven Saturday workshops (10 – 4). The examination will be held at the end of the third term and the dissertation must be handed in by the February of the second year. Clinical practice continues throughout the year and may continue into the second year. Students are required to complete 120 hours.

Career opportunities

As a graduate you may chose to remain with TCCR for a period of time, in order to consolidate your clinical practice under supervision, and so become eligible for individual COSRT and UKCP registration. Encouragement is given to the pursuit of Continuing Professional Development, and you will be kept informed of training events.

As a graduate you can set up in private practice as a psychosexual therapist, confident in the knowledge that you hold a reputable recognised qualification. Psychosexual therapists also work in a variety of settings such as counselling centres, clinics and hospitals.

Support

You will be assigned a personal tutor, with whom you will meet regularly. You will also join a supervision group which meets for one and a half hours weekly during term. A minimum of two individual sessions of one hour each are also given every term. Programme staff are experienced clinicians and visiting lecturers are acknowledged experts in their field. Other staff, such as the head of Training and Organising Tutor are also available for consultation. . There is a small library onsite and you will also be eligible to use UEL’s library and to elect to join up to three other academic libraries.

Admission

First degree in any subject or equivalent professional qualifications/experience
TCCR Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Couple Counselling (since 2003) or equivalent – for example you may hold a postgraduate diploma in psychodynamic couple counselling from another organisation. Alternatively, you might be eligible for BACP accreditation as a psychodynamic couple counsellor or a psychodynamic counsellor with a significant amount of training and clinical practice in working with couples. Where equivalent training does not include sufficient psychosexual content you will need to complete the TCCR Certificate in Psychosexual Studies prior to embarking on the MSc module.
Relevant work experience

Appropriate personal qualities:

i. Self-awareness, maturity and stability

ii. Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience

iii. Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the course

iv. Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirement

v. Ability to form a helping relationship

vi. Ability to be self critical and use both positive and negative feedback

vii. Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression

viii. Awareness of issues of difference and equality

ix. Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support

x. Competence in, or the aptitude to develop generic professional skills, including: literacy, numeracy, information technology, administrative skills, selfmanagement

skills, communication and interpersonal skillsCommitment to self-development
Appropriate level of self-awareness in relation to motivation for learning about working with the sexual relationship
You will be willing to adhere to the TCCR Code Of Ethics (www.tccr.org.uk) and the COSRT Code Of Ethics And Principles Of Good Practice. (www.cosrt.org.uk )

Admission with Advanced Standing

If your first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
If you apply to enter stages of the programme you may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Where this is the case you must be able to demonstrate and evidence that you have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which you are seeking exemption