Psychodynamic Counselling with Children & Adolescents

MSc Psychodynamic Counselling with Children & Adolescents

Part-Time Programme

Introduction

The MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling with Children & Adolescents is located in the Department of Psychosocial Studies. The Department runs a number of graduate programmes, including an MSc in the Psychodynamics of Human Development (with the British Association of Psychotherapists), an MSc in Group Analysis (with the Institute of Group Analysis), a Certficate and an MSc in Family Therapy and a Doctorate in Psychotherapy (with the Institute of Family Therapy).

Psychodynamic Counselling means applying the therapeutic insights and techniques developed in psychoanalysis and child psychotherapy to different kinds of counselling situations. Students are taught by being introduced to psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic theories and techniques, discussing their professional practice in work discussion groups, observing an infant over an extended period, having individual supervision of their counselling work and studying their experience of learning on the course by using psychoanalytic methods. A unique feature of the course is an emphasis on understanding how organisations function to enable student to manage themselves in their professional settings and relationships, and to understand the impact of institutions on their clients.

Requirements

• In order to be eligible to apply for the MSc, students must have a second class honours degree in any subject or a professional or other qualification obtained by written examinations. Candidates who have neither of these but have substantial work experience and academic achievement in counselling or a related field with children and adolescents will also be considered.
• Applicants who do not have a first degree will only be admitted onto the Diploma, and need successfully to complete the first two years of the course in order to be admitted on to the MSc. All non-degree applicants will be required to submit a piece of written work as evidence of their academic ability.
• Students must be working with children and adolescents in a setting which provides them with material to bring for discussion and which enables them to apply what they are learning on the course.
• It is desirable that applicants will also have successfully completed a basic counselling course at certificate or diploma level. Applicants who have no prior counselling qualification or equivalent may be advised to apply for the Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling run in the Faculty of Lifelong Learning, which serves as a preliminary course to the MSc.
• As the course involves students being placed in counselling agencies, applicants would need to demonstrate their emotional maturity and suitability to take on counselling work.