Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course modules

The first year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip focuses on building essential skills for future practitioners. The Self, Skills, and Theory module helps you balance theoretical knowledge with practical application, enabling you to develop core competencies. You'll also begin to understand the importance of clinical experience for a deeper understanding. Expect to engage in personal development activities and continuous self-reflection. The Self, Skills, and Theory 2 module deepens your understanding of the integration framework. You'll explore multicultural and social context issues in clinical practice and learn to apply ethical guidelines to complex situations. This module also strengthens your understanding of clinical supervision as a vital tool for ongoing professional growth and self-evaluation.

The second year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip delves into the advanced integration and practical application of various counselling approaches. The Term 1: Integration and Application 1 module teaches you to use the core therapeutic model as a foundation for incorporating concepts from diverse approaches. You'll develop skills to work with a wide range of clients across the mental health spectrum. We'll emphasise building your self-knowledge, maintaining an effective client base, and using supervision for reflective practice. Building on the first term, the Integration and Application 2 module guides you in articulating your unique therapeutic approach. You'll gain experience with diverse client presentations, learn to effectively evaluate client progress, and discover how to incorporate research into your practice. Throughout, you'll continue to grow as a reflective practitioner through ongoing clinical supervision.

The third year of the Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip establishes a strong foundation for research in applied psychology. The Research Methods 1 module develops your understanding of research methodologies and sharpens your critical analysis skills. You'll learn to both critically evaluate existing research literature and design original research projects. We'll cover various research approaches and help you develop practical data analysis skills for both quantitative and qualitative methods. Building on the foundation from the first term, the Research Methods 2 module guides you through making a real research contribution to applied psychology. It helps you navigate real-world research challenges and supports you in completing and writing your dissertation on different subjects. These areas could include positive psychology, coaching psychology, career coaching, or international psychosocial consultation.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Postgraduate Diploma:

What makes this course different

Accredited by the BACP

Accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) since 1990, the longest-running BACP-accredited programme in the UK.

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Focused on therapy

This programme is founded on a secure evidence base for what works in therapy, rather than any particular modality or theoretical school

A different approach

We have a strong emphasis on skills and the development of a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where the client is actively involved in developing the goals of their therapy, the ways their issues are conceptualised, and the approaches used.

Accreditation

BACP accredited course

Accredited by the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)

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Course options

Start date

Postgraduate Diploma

Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip, home applicant, part time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Part time
  • Pound 2460 per 30 credit module

Counselling and Psychotherapy PGDip, international applicant, part time

  • International Applicant ,
  • Part time
  • Pound 2760 per 30 credit module

What we're researching

At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.

Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.

Please visit our Research section to find out more.

Your future career

In recent years, around half to two-thirds of students leave after completing their counselling and psychology Diploma (which is the professional qualification), with the remainder staying on for a final year of MA study.

In either case, you will be able to work towards the next level of professional standing by seeking individual accreditation within the BACP, which requires 450 hours of supervised working. Past students have attained this level two or three years after graduating.

Career options

Even if you do not go on to work as a counsellor or psychotherapist, this course is a strong supplement and support for work you may already be doing in health, social care or education.

Completing the course often leads to career progression. Many past students have returned to previous jobs while establishing and developing their own counselling practice as a second strand to their careers. In several cases, this has proved successful enough to become their main source of employment.

"Many of our counselling graduates become portfolio workers," says Elizabeth Wilson. "They leave the course and carry on doing whatever they have been doing, but they also start doing some sessions as counsellors.

"Two, three, four years down the line they are spending more time on their practice than their other employment."

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

  • Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top

  • Enterprise and entrepreneurship support
  • Ranked 2nd for graduate start-ups (2023/24)
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations
  • Support in starting a new business, freelancing and self-employment
  • London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

Please note: teaching takes place over two academic years on a part-time basis, one day a week, which remains the same for the two years you are with us (plus three Saturday workshops each academic year). The cohort has previously met at the Stratford Campus on either Wednesdays or Thursdays. 

There is no facility to complete this course full-time.  Because we are BACP accredited, the course must be completed in full and we do not accept any prior qualifications gained in counselling and psychotherapy.  However, that experience may well strengthen your application.

Further study

If you decide to stay on for the third-year MA top-up, it is over one calendar year, part-time. You will have your own academic supervisor.

Placement

Once you have passed assessments in the first term you will be eligible to secure a placement and start recording hours of supervised client work.

If you have not reached 100 hours before the end of your second year, you have another year to make up the total in order to qualify for your diploma.

Class sizes

A maximum group total of 25 students in years one and two and 20 in year three will ensure you will benefit from an excellent student/tutor ratio.

Teaching

Our teaching team have extensive clinical experience and have written and published widely. Several have or still do contribute to the work of BACP committees.

You will develop your practical skills in our suite of six on campus interview rooms with video recording and playback equipment. There is an emphasis on working in groups and the programme contains regular interactive structured exercises.

Other modes of learning include workshops, lectures, clinical supervision groups, personal therapy, individual tutorials, self-directed private study and assessed written assignments.

"Current research shows that the theoretical approach is by no means the most important thing in counselling and psychotherapy," says Course Leader Elizabeth Wilson. "It's about responding to the individual needs of the client sitting in front of you."

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed in a variety of ways, including essays, presentations and process reports. You will be assessed on your practical skills, on your personal journal and on your professional log, which is an ongoing record of your client work, supervision, personal development and training.

Campus and facilities

What our staff and students say

Fabiola Toso
I have learnt so much about myself and how to safely practice with clients. One of the highlights was having support in my studies from my cohort and the lecturers."

Fabiola Toso

PGDip Counselling and Psychotherapy