Psychotherapy and Counselling (Integrated Masters)

The Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling (MPsy) is a four-year comprehensive training route for degree-entry applicants who wish to become a practising psychotherapist or counsellor. We educate in the theory, research, and practice of psychotherapy and counselling, complementing professional training in psychotherapy and counselling with the academic rigour of a degree. The degree is an integrated master's degree, which means that an undergraduate degree is combined with a final master's year, leading to a master's level qualification.

With consideration to theory, there are a variety of approaches to psychotherapy and counselling that are based on different theoretical perspectives of behaviour change. The degree covers a variety of these theoretical perspectives (person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, existential, strengths-based), focusing on one perspective in depth in the final year. With consideration to research, psychotherapy and counselling is an evidence-based profession. Teaching is evidence-based, and students learn how to interpret, critique, and apply research. They also learn how to conduct research in the context of psychotherapy and counselling. With consideration to practice, students learn, practice, and develop the skills they need to become competent, ethical, reflective, self-aware, and effective as psychotherapists and counsellors. They learn about the roles of psychotherapists and counsellors in a variety of professional settings, and develop the underpinning knowledge, understanding, and skills required for these roles. Subject to passing a ‘Readiness to Practice’ assessment, they also complete a 100-hour, integrated placement that involves providing supervised counselling to clients.

Why study at Marjon?

• Small, person-focused university
• No.2 university in England for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
• No.4 university in the UK for Career Prospects (WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2023)
• No.4 uni in England for Education (Student Experience) (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)

Year 1
• Immersing in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Introduction to Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Skills in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Skills in Psychotherapy and Counselling 2
• Introduction to Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Psychology and Counselling

Year 2
• Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Research in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Working Ethically in a Mental Health Context
• Engaging with Employability: Psychotherapy and Counselling Contexts

Year 3
• Positive Psychology and Strengths-Based Approaches
• Counselling Skills in Professional Roles and Settings
• Working in Psychotherapy and Counselling (with Clinical Placement)
• Psychotherapy and Counselling with Children and Young People
• Personal and Professional Development in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Working with Difference and Diversity
• Professional Project

Year 4

• Clinical Placement in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Philosophy and Practice in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Relational Depth in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Empirical Project in Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Advanced Psychology and Counselling

Academic skills portfolio
• Applied project
• Artefact
• Case study
• Case study and reflection portfolio
• Clinical portfolio
• Conference poster
• Counselling skills portfolio
• Critical review
• Directed research report
• Essay
• Ethical approval application
• Log of supervision and 100 hours clinical practice
• Observed practice and written reflection portfolio
• Online quiz
• Portfolio of critical reflections
• Poster
• Practical portfolio
• Presentation
• Professional Competence Evaluation
• Professional project
• Readiness to practice
• Reflective essay and log of hours (portfolio)
• Research proposal
• Scientific report
• Written reflection