MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy

University of South Wales

The three-year MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), emphasises the integration of theory, research, practice, and a commitment to self-awareness to help you develop into a competent, creative and ethically-sound counsellor.

The programme has a long tradition of preparing students to be versatile and adaptable in their therapeutic practice to meet the individual needs of different client groups and work settings.

The MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy course facilitates students in developing a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of integrative counselling practice, with a view to them developing their own coherent, ethical and effective approach to counselling practice, which can be adapted for use in a wide range of settings for short and long term work. On completion, you will be ready to work as a trained integrative therapist.

The MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy is made up of two years training which covers both the practical and theoretical aspects of learning to be an integrative qualified counsellor/psychotherapist, plus a 3rd year completing the research requirements.

Assessment

A range of assessments are used to test your knowledge, skills, self-awareness and practice ability.

Year One: Two essays, two skills assessments, a professional practice portfolio, and a personal development review.

Year Two: Essay, skills assessment, a research portfolio, a case study with live client audio, a group project and a professional practice portfolio, a personal development review and a supervisor’s report.

Year Three: depending on whether you have chosen to follow an academic research dissertation or an applied professional project route, you will either submit a 17,000-word Dissertation or a 17,000-word Project Portfolio for summative assessment.

There will be a number of formative assessment opportunities set throughout the year that support your progression towards your final Dissertation or Project submission.

Careers

While more practice experience will be required to build the hours to achieve personal BACP accreditation, having successfully completed the formal training hours and assignments, graduates of the MA Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy will be ready to look for work in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.

Former students from the course have enhanced their career profile within their current employment or found new positions in the voluntary sector, in health settings, in Higher or Further Education, in Employment Assistance Programmes (EAPs), in business and in private practice.