FdA Counselling

FdA Counselling

Course Summary
These courses offer students a strong theoretical and practical base from which to begin their professional counselling practice, whilst working towards individual accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The theoretical orientation is Humanistic, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with other approaches, such as Jungian and working with art materials. The courses include training in working with children and young adults. Students are encouraged to respect the frame and ethos of their core integrative training approach, but also to develop their own individual style and philosophy of counselling.

The Progression Route deepens the understanding of counselling theory and practice, and explores more specialist areas of counselling. Counsellors gain more understanding of client issues and how to work with them. They also benefit from interaction with counsellors from a variety of orientations and backgrounds, to mutual advantage.

Course Structure

First year modules include:
Theoretical Perspectives, Personal Development, Foundational Counselling Skills, and Effective Use of Supervision.

Second year modules include:
Advanced Counselling Skills, Child Development and Life Stages, and Working as a Practitioner.

BA (Hons) modules include:
Indicative Content, Advice and Guidance in Context, Theory and Practice of Supervision, Couples Counselling, Counselling Children and Adolescents, Attachment, and Loss and Bereavement.

The course contact hours may, at the discretion of the BACP, be counted towards meeting part of criterion four of the BACP Counsellor/Psychotherapist Accreditation Scheme. Candidates for accreditation must note that they will also have to meet all other criteria.

Work Placements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of one-to-one placement counselling for which they seek external supervision. They are also expected to undertake a minimum of 40 hours of personal therapy which should begin during their first semester.

Assessment
Students will be assessed through assignments, including case notes and case studies of their placement work with clients. Additionally there will be observation of skills and appraisal of taped sessions. Students will also be required to keep a learning journal of all aspects of the course.

After the Course
These courses prepare students for careers as professional counsellors, subject to individual accreditation of the BACP.

Key facts

UCAS code:
FdA: B941 FdA/Coun
BA (Hons): B944 BA/Coun3

Typical offer:
FdA:

2010 entry: 160 UCAS tariff points (or equivalent)

2011 entry: 200 UCAS tariff points (or equivalent)

BA (Hons): A Foundation degree (or equivalent)

Applicants will have completed the equivalent of a two year certificate course in counselling or counselling skills, and will normally be 21 or over at the start of the course.

Applications are welcome from all who can benefit from and successfully complete the course.

For mature students and those with non-traditional qualifications and work experience, please see the information for mature students|.

Duration of course:
FdA: Two years full-time or three years part-time

BA (Hons): One year full-time or three years part-time

Campus code:
Bury St Edmunds Centre (campus code B)

*Subject to validation