Psychology with Counselling Skills BSc Honours

Course content

What will you study on the BSc Psychology with Counselling Skills?

The course develops the essential knowledge and skills required for counselling psychology alongside the soft skills necessary to build collaborative and effective relationships with patients. You will study compulsory modules in the first and second year which will introduce the broad range of theoretical and methodological approaches to psychology and counselling. In your third year you will choose options from areas as diverse as mental health and well-being, psychoanalysis and psychology coaching.

What will you gain?

You will gain a wealth of additional skills to support you in your future career or further studies including: research and analytical skills; and detailed communications skills including a thorough understanding of human communication methods.

Modules

This module introduces the five core areas of psychology (cognitive, social, biological, developmental, individual differences).

This module introduces a range of counselling concepts and skills.

This module aims to introduce you to quantitative statistical analysis as they are employed in psychological research.

The module aims to equip you with tools to be able to better engage in your learning it will teach you an array of independent and reflective skills from writing to dealing with exam anxiety.

This module introduces the principles and practice of quantitative and qualitative psychological research.

The module enables you to understand, evaluate and conduct applied psychological research to understand how research design relates to research questions. It provides you with skills in a variety of analytical methods and enables you to conduct ethical psychological research utilising quantitative qualitative methods. It provides the foundation for interpretation critical discussion of published psychological research.

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Awaiting for module description.

Awaiting for module description.

Awaiting for module description.

This module aims to encourage a deeper understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, whilst allowing you to develop, review, reflect on and improve employment skills within the context of your own discipline. It will also further develop independent learning and communication skills. Finally, the module aims to prepare you to apply for postgraduate study and/or graduate employment after graduation

This module encourages you to pursue independent study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. You will be expected to carry out an original investigation using a recognised psychology or cognitive science research method, and produce a dissertation based on that research. The title and methodology of this dissertation must be agreed with the supervisor in advance. Undertaking this module will enable you to develop your methodological and statistical knowledge acquired through previous research methods training. You will develop your competence in the production of coherent written reports which are clearly presented and which have an analytic and critical orientation. You will have the opportunity to become a competent and self-sufficient researcher.

Within this module, you will pursue independent study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. You will be expected to carry out an original investigation using a recognised psychology or cognitive science research method, and produce a dissertation based on that research. The title and methodology of this dissertation must be agreed with the supervisor in advance. Undertaking this module will enable you to develop your methodological and statistical knowledge acquired through previous research methods training. It will develop your competence in the production of coherent written reports which are clearly presented and which have an analytic and critical orientation, and it will provide the opportunity for you to become competent and self-sufficient researcher.

PSY3034 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (15 credits)
PSY3041 Atypical Child Development (15 credits)
PSY3052 Neuropsychology: The healthy brain and what can go wrong with it (15 credits)
PSY3051 Applying health Psychology to behaviour change (15 credits)
PSY3054 Critical Forensic Psychology (15 credits)

PSY3037 Creative and Visual research methods (15 credits)
PSY3033 Infancy and childhood: psychoanalytic perspectives (15 credits)
PSY3047 New Directions in Cognitive Science (15 credits)
PSY3056 Social, Cultural & Community Mental Health (15 credits)

PSY3035 Creativity & Imagination (15 credits)
PSY3042 Psychology in Education (15 credits)
PSY3046 How to DO cognitive neuroscience (15 credits)
PSY3032 Contemporary Psychoanalytic Practice: Psychoanalysis for Therapists (15 credits)

PSY3038 Psychology of Music (15 credits)
PSY3057 Primatology (15 credits)
PSY3053 Neuropsychology of language & communication (15 credits)
PSY3030 Death, Separation and Loss (15 credits)
PSY3048 Key Issues and Controversies in the Psychology of Elite Sport Performance (15 credits)

PSY3043 Coaching Psychology (15 credits)
PSY3045 Lifespan Stages: Adult stages of development (15 credits)
PSY3036 Fundamentals of cognition: Human memory (15 credits)
PSY3031 The Science Of Intimate Relationships (15 credits)

PSY3039 Therapeutic Psychology (15 credits)
PSY3044 Lifespan Issues: Impact of Life Experience (15 credits)
PSY3055 Evolutionary Approaches to Behaviour (15 credits)
PSY3049 The Psychology of Stress, Motivation and Work-Life Balance (15 credits)

Modules

Applied Psychology Research Methods (30 credits - Compulsory)

The module enables students to understand, evaluate and conduct applied psychological research & to understand how research design relates to research questions. It provides students with skills in a variety of analytical methods and enables them to conduct ethical psychological research utilising quantitative & qualitative methods. It provides the foundation for interpretation & critical discussion of published psychological research.

Developmental Psychology (30 credits - Compulsory)

This module aims to develop the depth and breadth of students’ understanding of core theory and up-to-date research in developmental psychology. In this module you will study a wide range of theoretical areas, such as biological, social, emotion, and cognitive processes. This module will also introduce you to the classic and contemporary research that underpins these theories. A significant proportion of theories within this discipline focus upon development in the early part of the lifespan, during infancy and childhood, as these are the periods during an individual's lifespan when the most change occurs. You will be introduced to perspectives, theory and research in both typical and atypical child development. The interaction of emotional, cognitive, biological, behavioural and environmental factors in the development of atypical behaviour will be explored, whilst emphasising the importance of understanding typical child development.

Counselling & Psychological Therapies (30 credits - Compulsory)

The module provides an overview of the major psychological theories and findings underpinning the practice of counselling and psychological therapy. The implications of research and theory in biological and cognitive psychology for the practice of psychological therapies are explored and discussed. The module also extends basic counselling skills developed in PSY1015 and encourages students to develop a reflective stance on the development of these skills. The module additionally explores the diversity of counselling in action, professional issues and opportunities for further training.

Social Psychology & Individual Differences (30 credits - Compulsory)

This module aims to develop the depth and breadth of students’ understanding of theory and research in social psychology and personality psychology. In term 1, students are introduced to the social dimension of human psychology, through topic-focused lectures combined with small-group collaborative research projects. In term 2, students will cover mainstream concepts and theories of personality and the application of personality (dispositional) theory in assessment (including employability). There will be a strong emphasis on critical consideration of the strengths and limitations of comparative models along with the conceptual links. The application of psychometrics and underlying principles of factor analysis will be explained in context and students will analyse their own personality in a career context to facilitate understanding.

Psychology Dissertation (30 credits - Compulsory)

Students pursue independent or group based study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. The student will be expected to carry out an investigation using a recognised psychology or cognitive science research method, and produce an independent dissertation based on that research. The topic and methodology of this dissertation must be agreed with the supervisor in advance. Undertaking this module will enable participants to develop their methodological and statistical knowledge acquired through previous research methods training; it will develop their competence in the production of coherent written reports which are clearly presented and which have an analytic and critical orientation and it will provide the opportunity for final year students to become competent and self-sufficient researchers.

Lifespan Development (30 credits - Optional)

The module aims to explore the psychology of lifespan development using theoretical and research orientated approaches. It considers how psychological knowledge of ways in which development over the lifespan can be investigated and observed using research can be undertaken from a variety of perspective, s as well as how it can be understood using models of cognitive, biological, socio-ecological, psychodynamic and developmental psychology. The module aims (a) to develop students’ understanding of how theoretical, empirical and personal examples arising in the fields of academia, research and clinical practice contribute to understanding of each topic and (b) to encourage students to think reflectively about the relevance of these to their own life, experience and learning.

Health, Exercise and Sports Psychology (30 credits - Optional)

The module introduces students to the ways in which psychological theories and methods contribute to our understanding of physical health and illness, as well as exercise, and sport performance. It will enable students to understand the psychological, behavioural and social determinants of health and illness, as well as exercise and sporting performance, and the applications of health psychology to clinical practice and the applications of sport psychology to working with skilled performers will be illustrated.

Mental Health, Well Being and Consciousness (30 credits - Optional)

The module explores relationships between mind and body, conscious and unconscious mental life, the potential of psychology to help people to become more creative and fulfilled, and aims to develop students’ understanding of mental health issues and the clinical/therapeutic debates in this field.

Psychoanalysis in Context (30 credits - Optional)

The aim of this module is to provide final year undergraduate students with knowledge and understanding of the history of psychoanalysis and its status today, as well as an understanding of its application. It will equip students with knowledge about the history and development of psychoanalysis and the ways in which it has impacted on a range of disciplines and on contemporary society. The module will consider how the conceptual tools of psychoanalysis have been applied across the arts, feminism, postcolonial studies, psychology and critical theories. Students will be invited to pursue their own particular interests, evaluating how psychoanalytic theory might inform and resolve theoretical impasses and those of everyday life. The module provides an introduction to the major figures in the history of psychoanalysis, and its key theoretical and clinical concepts and an investigation into its contemporary applications by drawing on the expertise and research interests of members of the Centre for Psychoanalysis at Middlesex University. A variety of teaching methods and assessment are employed to present and encourage the understanding of human development from different perspectives. The module aims to inspire and challenge each student whilst promoting independent learning and critical thinking to conduct meaningful research. It will draw on theoretical, empirical and personal examples arising in the fields of academia, research and clinical practice to illustrate each topic.

Professional Practice (30 credits - Optional)

This module aims to encourage a deeper understanding of the relationship between theory and practice, whilst allowing you to develop, review, reflect on and improve employment skills within the context of your own discipline. It will also further develop independent learning and communication skills. Finally, the module aims to prepare students to apply for postgraduate study and/or graduate employment after graduation.

Affective Science and Positive Psychology (30 credits - Optional)

This module offers advanced level study of topics in affective science and positive psychology. It offers students a blend of academic study, practical knowledge, and personal development.

Coaching Psychology (30 credits - Optional)

This module offers advanced level study of topics in coaching psychology. It offers students a blend of academic study, practical experience, and personal development. The module is designed to measure a variety of learning outcomes and to facilitate students’ development of critical thinking, independent learning, reflective learning and specialised listening and communication skills. It provides an introduction to basic skills of Coaching based empirical psychological research. The module may encourage students to explore further training in Coaching and Coaching Psychology as part of their professional and career development.

Modules

Psychology Dissertation (30 credits - Compulsory)

Students pursue independent or group based study with a designated supervisor on a topic not offered in-depth among the normal range of modules. The student will be expected to carry out an investigation using a recognised psychology or cognitive science research method, and produce an independent dissertation based on that research. The topic and methodology of this dissertation must be agreed with the supervisor in advance