StudyQA — Master: Counselling Masters — University of Nottingham

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The School of Education´s Counselling programmes have been running since 1993 and attract students either working as counsellors, in a paid or voluntary capacity, or in other helping professions (eg teaching, nursing, social work, the prison service) and who do counselling as part of their role.

The humanistic approach assumes that given the right conditions, people will become more aware and in touch with their inner wisdom. They will learn, for example, to discriminate between what is healthy and what is damaging for them. With enhanced awareness and acceptance they become more fluid and flexible in their responses to others and are able to make decisions based on self-knowledge and consideration of choices rather than on habit or people pleasing.

Our course tutors strive to create a safe and secure teaching and learning environment in which members feel able to be themselves and to learn through and from their participation in experiential activities designed to develop awareness of self and understanding of self in relationship with others. The theory is taught in context, with issues arising in the `here and now´ within the group.

Key facts
There are two pathways available: Practice and Applied.

All students are required to engage in personal therapy with a qualified, experienced and supervised counsellor.

MA and PG Diploma students need 40 hours of personal therapy, and PG Certificate students 20 hours. Previous experience of therapy will not be counted towards this.

All modules in each route are compulsory and entry onto each module is dependent on the completion of the two modules in the previous semester for full-time students and the one module in the previous semester for part-time students. The dissertation and Theory and Research in Counselling module complete the research elements of the Masters programme.

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2-4 years part-time

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Course Content

Modules All modules in each route are compulsory and entry onto each module is dependent on the completion of the two modules in the previous semester for full-time students and the one module in the previous semester for part-time students. The dissertation and Theory and Research in Counselling module complete the research elements of the Masters programme.
Route A (Practice) All stages of the course are at Level M.

Module Name Credits Potential Award Personal and Interpersonal Development 30 Individual and Group Counselling 30 60 PG Certificate Supervised Counselling Placement 30 Therapeutic Models 30 120PG DiplomaTheory and Research in Counselling 30Dissertation 30 180Masters (MA)Where it is deemed that the placement element has not been satisfactorily completed this will be recorded on the examinations schedule and the award of the qualification withheld. The student will be permitted one opportunity to repeat and satisfactorily complete the placement element.
Route B (Applied) The first two modules are at undergraduate (honours level) Module Name Credits Potential Award Orientation to Counselling: Theory and Practice 15 Orientation to Counselling: Personal Development Group 15 Personal and Interpersonal Development 30 60 PG Certificate Individual and Group Counselling 30 Therapeutic Models 30 120PG Diploma Theory and Research in Counselling 30 Dissertation 30 180Masters (MA)Module outlinesOrientation to Counselling: Theory and Practice (15 credits, applied route only)
The module offers an opportunity for students to manage the transition to postgraduate study in humanistic counselling in a structured way and lays the foundation for subsequent personal development, academic learning and peer support. Topics to be explored:
o transition into the course and the implications for the formation of a personal/professional identity;
o principles and values underpinning humanistic psychology and humanistic counselling practice;
o counselling skills practice;
o study skills required by the module assessment.
Orientation to Counselling: The Personal Development Group (15 credits, applied route only)
This module employs experiential learning to examine personal intra and interpersonal process within a group setting as a vehicle for initiating the process of personal awareness and reflection which are central tasks in being an effective counsellor. Key aspects of experience within this module include:
o self reflection and review of behaviour;
o working with self disclosure;
o verbal and non verbal communication;
o personal effectiveness;
o awareness of group dynamics.
Supervised professional placement module (30 credits, practice route only)
This module focuses on the developing sound professional practice in the counselling placement through 100 hours placement experience and 25 hours supervised practice. There will be an exploration of personal and professional development with particular reference to issues raised in the clinical supervisor´s report on the student placement. A key focus will be the supervisory relationship and its importance as a source of support, education and challenge for the counselling practitioner.
Areas covered will include:
o risk assessment;
o the impact of context on the counselling process;
o managing obstacles in counselling;
o evaluating effectiveness.
Personal and Interpersonal Development (30 credits, both routes)
Central to the role of the counsellor is a highly developed self-awareness and emotional and intellectual maturity. The continuous process of self reflection and critical self-analysis by the counsellor in training or practice is fundamental to developing authentic and effective therapeutic relationships. This module sets out to create a working environment in which participants are able to work with others to develop their self-awareness and self-knowledge. This process is facilitated through an in-depth exploration of the nature and effect of difference on self, other and relationship. Particular attention will be paid to the social and cultural components of self-concept formation and the application of advanced interpersonal skills to support the intrapersonal and interpersonal development of self and others. The relationship between self-concept and here-and-now interactions will be critically examined. The notion of personal growth and development is considered and its relationship to 'effectiveness' in counselling is critically examined. The Interpersonal Process Recall model of self-supervision will be introduced as a practice tool and explored in small study groups using VTR. The skills of journal and assignment writing will be explored. Personal work will be undertaken through group process, working in sub-groups with a staff facilitator.
Individual and Group Counselling (30 credits, both routes)
This module will develop the skills of counselling to an advanced level, exploring issues that frequently present in helping situations such as bereavement, self-harm, eating disorders, addictions and suicide. Small study groups will continue to use Interpersonal Process Recall as a tool for self-evaluation. In this way the counsellor will explore their own capacity to work effectively with a range of presenting issues and understand where referral may be ethically preferable. The themes of counselling will be further developed in group process format in which subgroups work with a staff facilitator to enable in-depth exploration of the effects of self and others on group functioning.
Theory and Research in Counselling (30 credits, both routes)
This module explores the relationship between research and its contribution to counselling practice. Although both main research paradigms are examined, the emphasis in the module is on qualitative research methods as a medium for revealing the detail in human interactions. Examples of process and outcome research will be critically examined, as will issues in counselling research such as researcher positioning, how to write critical literature reviews and effective case studies, how to construct research designs and how to analyse, present and interpret data. Ethical issues also receive consideration together with the question of how to assess the usefulness of research in terms of validity and/or trustworthiness. Participants will be given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with less conventional methods of presenting data such as narrative and visual formats. Group process will also be continued, this time with an introduction to working in a large group setting with the support of staff facilitators.
Therapeutic Models (30 credits, both routes)
In this module students will examine and evaluate a range of models and techniques for therapeutic change. In critically examining these, students will reflect on how they position themselves as counsellors. The module provides a structured opportunity for the production of an assessed video, which will enable students to evaluate the relationship between their theoretical stance and their clinical practice. Interpersonal Process Recall will be used as a tool for self-supervision. Students will also be encouraged to engage in a study and thorough on-going critical discussion of the ethical, moral and professional considerations necessary to undertake the study and practice of counselling. The effective counsellor is not only skilled but fully conversant with professional ethics and codes of practice. The module will address issues of ending with clients and supervisors and encourage a longer term view of the counsellor´s professional development needs.
Other elements Throughout the courses the students participate in different group formats in order to work on the integration of personal and professional practice issues. These include:
o large group process
o personal development groups
o video practice groups
All assessed written work is negotiated with the course tutors to meet the individual needs and interests of the participants - there are no set essay titles.
Note on Assessment A requirement for the written assignment for the Individual and Group Counselling module is the inclusion of an unreferenced report on your learning from the group process element of the module as well as the essay that forms the main element of the assessment. For the Therapeutic Models module, the assessment is composed of a personal philosophy of counselling element and a 30-minute edited video tape of your counselling with a peer, accompanied by a critical analysis. Please note that this may form some of the source material for subsequent application to BACP for individual accreditation.
Course Structure
This course is for one year full-time or two to four years part-time study starting in September. Modules are taught on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for full-time students. First year part-time students will attend from 2-6pm on Tuesdays in the 2010-2011 academic year. There are also two Saturday workshops each semester.

Students following the MA in Counselling will need to successfully complete all modules and associated assignments to the value of 120 credits, together with a case study or research based dissertation in a subject approved by your tutor (total 180 credits).

For the Postgraduate Diploma you will need to successfully complete all modules and associated assignments to the value of 120 credits. There is no dissertation requirement.

For the Postgraduate Certificate you will need to successfully complete modules and associated assignments to the value of 60 credits.

Unless otherwise stated, each 30 credit module is assessed by a written assignment of 5,000-6,000 words on a theme of your choice related to the module aims. Each assignment is graded numerically. For a student to complete the Masters programme successfully, a pass of 50 must be achieved on each assignment. For a student to complete the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma programmes, a pass of 40 must be achieved in each assignment.

The dissertation is an original piece of work and should be of 8,000-9,000 words (or their equivalent) in one of the selected modules on an approved topic.

Dependent on their previous experience, applicants will asked to select one of the two pathways through the course. The practice route is for applicants who already have substantial experience of counselling practice (private or agency-based). The applied route is for applicants who meet the basic entry requirements for the course but who have not yet gained much (or any) experience of client work and who may work in other contexts such as education, social services, overseas organisations and agencies.
On-course requirements

All students are required to engage in personal therapy with a qualified, experienced and supervised counsellor. MA and Postgraduate Diploma students need 40 hours personal therapy and Postgraduate Certificate students need 20 hours. Previous experience of therapy will not be counted towards this.

Group size

We aim for 24 students in each course group to maximise the opportunities for working in relationship with others in combinations of 2´s, 3´s, 4´s, 6´s, 8´s and 12´s.

Entry requirements:Applicants would normally hold a good first degree with at least second class honours.Other requirements: 2 years relevent experience including initial counselling qualificationIELTS: 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each elementTOEFL paper based: 573 with 4.5 TWETOEFL computer based: 230 with 4.5 TWETOEFL IBT:88 (no less than 19 in any element) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 573 TOEFL iBT® test: 88 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.