Psychosocial Studies with Principles of Psychodynamic Counselling - BA (Hons)

Birkbeck, University of London

This BA Psychosocial Studies with Principles of Psychodynamic Counselling is a unique course that brings together psychoanalytic theory, psychodynamic practice and psychosocial thinking around issues of equality and social justice.

- Taught by experienced practising therapists and organisational consultants, this course provides an opportunity for you to explore key ideas of psychodynamic therapy and the social determinants of distress.- It is ideal if you wish to train as a therapist or are interested in understanding the unconscious dynamics within helping relationships, group situations and organisational life.- It emphasises personal and social change with a focus on practical exercises to develop your therapeutic listening skills and opportunities to participate in experiential, work discussion and thinking space groups.

On this course you will investigate the complex interplay between the psychological and the social. You will learn about the principles that underpin psychodynamic counselling and investigate the exclusions, inequalities and ideologies that shape social environments.These psychoanalytic insights about unconscious process and psychosocial understanding of the operation of power will enable you to deepen your professional helping practice and will support you if you decide to progress to clinical therapeutic training.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has classes in the evening some of these may be lectures that are also offered online.You will also take part in seminars where you can discuss your ideas in one-to-one, small- and whole-class situations. You will be provided with a digitised reading list and audiovisual material to support you, but this course particularly values learning from the sharing of lived experience. The listening skills exercises and reflective practice approaches learned on this course will equip you for future work within the caring and helping professions.

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

- Birkbeck has 50 years' experience of teaching psychodynamic counselling and practice and an excellent reputation with employers.- We have a keen interest in the development of new and innovative psychosocial methods, as well as forging new theoretical trajectories across a range of critical fields of enquiry.- Our psychosocial studies team is genuinely interdisciplinary, with academics coming from backgrounds in anthropology, cultural and postcolonial studies, education studies, gender and sexuality studies, literary studies, critical psychology, psychoanalytic studies and sociology.