Level 6 BA (Hons) in Person Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy – top-up

Course Overview

Course Type:

Higher Education

Available at:

Southampton

Course Area:

Health & Science incl Sport

Course Duration:

1 Year

Available at:

Southampton

The Course in Detail

This final year of the 3-year full-time degree course provides you with high quality professional counsellor training and is delivered by an experienced, practising team. It is ideal if you are looking to become an advanced clinical practitioner in Person Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy. The course will provide you with a multi-disciplinary professional focus within a broad ‘psy’ industry such as psychopathology, developmental psychology, psychiatry and diagnostics. You will cover personality development, psychopathology, skills practise, ethics, theory, and personal and professional development. Modules include:

Research methodologies and ethics
Psychopathology, psychology, DSM V and PCA
Advanced clinical practise/supervision
Dissertation and Viva

The course includes a clinical placement that lasts for the duration of the course and you will need to achieve 50 client hours during your placement. You will be expected to source this placement yourself, although we have a list of providers to help you with your search.

You will be required to attend Southampton College one day per week and an annual 3 day encounter group. External commitments include: A clinical placement (50 hours per year), supervision (in line with BACP guidelines), peer discussion (40 hours per year on e-forum), and independent reading and peer study time.

Although this one-year top-up degree course carries part-time college attendance, it holds full-time Higher Education status because of the added external commitments.

Students who complete this BA and who have also completed our DipHE in Person Centred Counselling will be recognised as having completed a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited training course.

Awarding Body This qualification is quality assured and awarded by Middlesex University. Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT. Telephone 020 8411 5000 Read Middlesex University Regulations (new window)

Financial Assistance Did you know you can take out a Higher Education Loan to pay for this course? The Student Loans Company provides loans and grants to students at college studying Higher Education and you don’t start repaying until you earn over a certain amount. Policies For our HE Fees, Admissions and Student Protection Policies, please visit our Policies page.

Entry Requirements & Progression

What You'll Need

For this top-up degree, you must have:

Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling
A BACP registered membership
Secured a position in a clinical placement which will offer you a minimum of 50 client hours during your course
Willingness to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) police check by your placement

You will be required to attend a college interview prior to enrolling. Before your interview you will need to submit 4 small essays as follows:

700 words on – Your understanding of Person-Centred Counselling/Psychotherapy. Give an overview followed by an example of your practice relating theory to practice
700 words on – Your understanding of Effective Supervision. Give an example from your practice of when supervision has been specifically important to your clinical work
700 words on – Your understanding of Ethical Practice. Outline an ethical dilemma from your experience, the various ways forward and why and how you chose, not chose, a way forward
500 words on – Your idea for a Small Scale Research Project. Outline your topic and how this fits with both your personal and clinical experience and PCA (you will not necessarily have to stick to this idea if you are accepted on to the course)
You will need to provide two references (one from a past counselling tutor and the other from a counselling supervisor, if possible, one who has known you for two or more years).

Although our library is expansively stocked, as with all university-level courses you will need a book budget of around £100-150.

This Could Lead to

Upon successful completion of this Level 6 BA (Hons) you will be qualified and able to work full-time as an Advanced Counsellor or Psychotherapist.

You may also continue your studies and progress to a Masters Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Want to Find Out more?

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Availability & Enrolment

*Please Note: Start dates given for our HE courses are indicative only. Courses will be begin in the week indicated below but the specific days of the week that a course will be delivered are dependent on resource and staff availability and therefore cannot be guaranteed until final timetables are completed.

College Life & Student Support Services

College is not just about your course – it’s an opportunity to have fun, meet new people and explore your interests! You can socialise with friends in the café and comfy seating areas, join a club or sports team or attend exciting events around the college. Many of our enrichment opportunities are also great on your CV or UCAS application to demonstrate your commitment and enthusiasm outside of your studies.

Your time at college can also be affected by life or health difficulties, and it’s okay to need support. Our specialist teams are here every day to listen and give advice, whether it’s about career planning, financial support, mental health, or something else. And if you have a long-term support need or medical condition, we’ll work with you on personalised learning support to help you achieve your full potential.