MSc Counselling

Counseling Skills in Action (Core)

This module focuses on developing students' skills and understanding of therapeutic engagement and practice, to prepare them for roles as practicing counsellors.

Measurement and Evaluation of Effectiveness and Change (1) (Core)

This module aims to develop students' understanding of the Reflective Scientist-Practitioner Model and will expose them to the skills required to embed their counseling practice within the evidence base. The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the research process, different types of research designs common for clinical settings, their engagement with the scientific literature, and how to communicate research findings to different types of audiences.

Measurement and Evaluation of Effectiveness and Change (2) (Core)

This module is designed to provide insight into common types of outcome measures used within counseling practice, their evaluation, and how to integrate them into students' own practice.

MSc Thesis (Counselling) (Core)

The thesis is designed to allow students to explore their interests in a specific area of research in more detail. It provides the opportunity to design, implement, analyze, and write up a substantial piece of empirical work.

Person-centered Approaches to Growth (Core)

This module introduces students to the theory of person-centered approaches to growth as the main theoretical foundation of our course.

Professional Practice Hours (Core)

The purpose of the placements is to provide students with the opportunity to translate their counseling knowledge and acquired skills into supervised counseling practice, to engage in supervised client contact, and observe and learn from the clinical supervisor.

Reflective Practice (Core)

This module focuses on enabling students to develop reflective skills, enabling them to become reflective practitioners. The module will include engagement in a reflective group where a range of relevant topics will be discussed in a group format.

Theory-Practice Links: Integrating Theoretical Systems of Psychotherapy (Core)

The module will cover the relevant evidence for working with different psychological interventions. It aims to develop an understanding of traditional paradigms of treatment and therapy as well as examine some more recent innovations, to allow comparison and integration with the person-centered treatment approach.

Working Professionally as a Counsellor (Core)

This module aims to develop the skills, understanding, and self-awareness that enable students to work safely and ethically as professional counselors.

How You Study

The program is designed to develop students' theoretical knowledge, therapeutic competency, and formation as professional counsellors. In the first term, students will have teaching for four days a week that will focus on the development of core counseling skills and the acquisition of theory. In the second term, teaching will reduce to two days a week and students will also be expected to develop their skills as a professional counselor through engaging in a placement.

Teaching and learning will be developed through a range of methods, including:

• Lectures
• Problem-based learning
• Workshop-type-based interactive learning
• Experiential learning activities
• Professional Practice hours

Due to the nature of this program weekly contact hours may vary. Postgraduate-level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study. For more detailed information specific to this course please contact the Programme Leader.

Placements

As a part of the program, you are required to undertake a placement where you need to acquire 100 hours of face-to-face therapeutic work. The purpose of the placement is to enable you to develop experience in delivering therapy and competence in counseling skills. You will be required to engage in a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per month from the start of the placement. Supervision is compulsory and an integral part of the program.

Students are responsible for acquiring and sourcing their own placements and are advised to consider future career objectives and interests when considering placements.

The University has developed partnerships with both NHS and non-NHS services (third-sector organizations, schools, and community organizations) who are able to provide placements, however, these organizations may have their own internal application process. Students will be provided support in finding an appropriate placement.

To ensure placements are appropriate and meet the necessary learning outcomes, all placements should be approved by the program prior to students starting therapeutic work.

How You Are Assessed

Students are assessed through a range of assessment types and formats. These include essays, case studies, presentations, counseling role plays, research reports, research proposals, and a portfolio.

Assessment Feedback

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure a prompt return of in-course assessments- usually within 15 working days after the submission date.

Portfolio and Interview

Candidates who meet the entry requirements will be invited to the University of Lincoln for an interview with two members of the program team. This will include a panel interview and a counseling practice activity.

• The interview will typically cover:
• Interest in training to become a counselor
• Skills, strengths, and competence that are relevant to counseling
• Current knowledge and understanding of counseling theory
• Students' own research interests and subjects within psychology that interest them

The counseling practice activity will include a short counseling session (lasting approximately 5 minutes) where the applicant will take the role of counselor. Following this, applicants will be asked to reflect upon the session and consider the quality of the interaction with the client, what went well, and what could be improved. The skills being evaluated in this activity include:

• Ability to cultivate an appropriate therapeutic environment
• Demonstrable warmth and empathy
• Basic understanding of open questions
• Focus on 'the other'

Facilities

The Sarah Swift Building is the home of the Schools of Health and Social Care and Psychology. The building houses specialist teaching and research spaces for both Schools, as well as general teaching and learning facilities for the wider University.

At the heart of student life is the Great Central Warehouse Library which provides access to more than 260,000 journals and 700,000 print and electronic books, as well as databases and specialist collections.

How You Study

The programe is designed to develop students' theoretical knowledge, therapeutic competency, and formation as a professional counsellor. In the first term, students will have teaching for four days a week that will focus on development of core counselling skills and acquisition of theory. In the second term, teaching will reduce to two days a week and students will also be expected to develop their skills as a professional counsellor through engaging in a placement.

Teaching and learning will be developed through a range of methods, including:

• Lectures
• Problem- based learning
• Workshop-type based interactive learning
• Experiential learning activities
• Professional Practice hours

Due to the nature of this programe weekly contact hours may vary. Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study. For more detailed information specific to this course please contact the programe Leader.

Placements

As a part of the programe you are required undertake a placement where you need to acquire 100 hours of face-to-face therapeutic work. The purpose of the placement is to enable you to develop experience in delivering therapy and competence in counselling skills. You will be required to engage in a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per month from the start of the placement. Supervision is compulsory and an integral part of the programe.

Students are responsible for acquiring and sourcing their own placements and are advised to consider future career objectives and interests when considering placements.

The University has developed partnerships with both NHS and non-NHS services (third sector organisations, schools, and community organisations) who are able to provide placements, however, these organisations may have their own internal application process. Students will be provided support in finding an appropriate placement.

To ensure placements are appropriate and meet the necessary learning outcomes, all placements should be approved by the programe prior to students starting therapeutic work.

Following successful completion of the PG Diploma at the end of the first year, students can apply for individual registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) pending completion of professional practice hours.

Students completing the full MSc may choose to pursue a career in research and academia.

Duration

PG Diploma: 1 year; MSc: 2 years