Triangle

Course overview

The humanistic approach to counselling suggests that each person has their own unique way of perceiving and understanding the world, which in turn influences their actions and the way they behave.

Focused on helping clients to achieve their highest potential, humanistic counsellors work to understand a person's subjective experience and, as such, the kinds of questions they ask about people differ from those asked by practitioners who take other approaches.

Delivered through a school with a 50-year history of humanistic psychology, this course has been developed through research in humanistic and experiential learning approaches, and is grounded in the belief that people grow through reflection on experience.

A key component of this type of counsellor education is the development of self-awareness, which will enhance your capacity to respond to clients with awareness, and ensure that your use of self is always in service of your clients' needs, rather than your own. You will therefore be required to take part in self-funded personal therapy alongside your studies in order to understand the experience from the client's perspective.

You'll be taught by qualified counsellors and psychotherapists, and will build your practical experience through micro-skills training, skills practice groups and a supervised counselling placement. You will complete more than the required number of training hours for individual BACP accreditation.

Please visit the school website for additional information.

Placements

Designed to help you develop the skills needed to practice as a professional counsellor, this course includes a supervised placement that you'll need to complete as part of your studies. We hold a placement fair in the spring so you can talk to directly to our placement partners. It is your responsibility to secure your placement with guidance from your personal tutor.

You may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before your placement starts. You will be required to sign a statement agreeing to undertake a DBS check if required as part of the admissions process.

The design of the course means that you'll have already achieved the minimum required for professional registration as counsellor by some of the professional bodies under the Professional Standards Authority Scheme. You will also have completed all the tuition requirements for individual BACP accreditation and some of the practice requirements by the time you graduate.

Key facts

  • Accredited by the National Counselling Society
  • Complete more than the required number of training hours for individual BACP accreditation
  • Experienced counsellors and psychotherapists who have experience in a wide range of areas including teenagers and young adults, addiction, and sexuality
  • Gain practical skills and enhance your employability by undertaking an assessed placement as part of your degree
  • 4th in the UK and 24th in the world for education according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.

UK entry requirements
A level BBB

Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
Required subjects Either Introduction to Counselling course or Basic Counselling Skills Certificate or equivalent experience or training
IB score 30

Mature Students

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

How you will be assessed

Study Abroad and the Year in Industry are subject to students meeting minimum academic requirements. Opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

Modules

Providing you with a solid theoretical and practical foundation, the first year of this course is designed to introduce you to humanistic counselling practice and prepare you for your second year placement. You will need to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of self-funded personal therapy or participate in an emotional development group in the University alongside your studies.

At the end of the year you need to pass a Readiness to Practice assessment before beginning a supervised counselling placement. We hold a placement fair in the spring so you can talk to directly to our placement partners. It is your responsibility to secure your placement with guidance from your personal tutor.

Core modules

Awareness and Communication 1

This module entails intensive work on self-awareness and communication skills. You will evaluate the development of your own self-awareness and communications skills within the framework of counselling professional development.

Emphasis will be placed on the need for continuous intrapersonal development and awareness of personal cultural conditioning for counsellor competence. This will be achieved through a comparative study of one or other counselling approach, skills practice and group work tasks and discussions.

Awareness and Communication 2

This module entails intensive work on self-awareness and communication skills. You will evaluate the development of your own self-awareness and communications skills within the framework of counselling professional development. Emphasis will be placed on the need for continuous intrapersonal development and awareness of personal culture conditioning for counsellor competence.

The Challenge of Individual Growth

This module will focus on the cross-cultural dimensions of verbal and non-verbal communication in counselling relationships. There will be an exploration of the sources and development of blocks and defences in self, counsellor and client and how these affect communication.

Experience in this module will help to develop the skills of advanced empathy, immediacy, self-disclosure, and challenging. There will be some exploration of individual and group dynamics.

Coping with Change

Work in this module will focus on the process of identity development as it relates to counselling theory and practice. Theory associated with life stages, transitions, identity development models, and the impact of loss and bereavement will be examined in relation to appropriate counselling practice. Study in this module will involve an exploration of how the major schools of counselling and psychotherapy theorise on loss and grief.

Counselling and Personal Growth

The module will introduce participants to the programme and form a community of learners. Topics to be covered include:

  • basic counselling skills
  • rationale for interventions in a counselling interview
  • importance of monitoring self-awareness
  • introduction to person-centred counselling
The Culture of Counselling

The module will focus on the culture of the client and the counsellor examining how cultural and individual similarities/differences have an impact on the counselling relationship. Topics to be explored include:

  • enculturation and equality opportunity
  • working with diversity and difference
  • advanced counselling skills
  • fundamentals of person-centred theory
Issues of Power and Oppression

This module will examine power within relationships and the impact of suppression and oppression on the individual. You will explore your personal experiences of power and oppression. Issues of race, culture, gender, poverty, disability, age, sexuality, class and education will be explored in terms of the counsellor's own cultural conditioning.

There will be analysis and reflection on how differences in power between the counsellor and the client affect the development of the relationship. The focus will be on the process of facilitating client empowerment.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Monday 19 August 2019.

Grounded in the person-centred approach, your second year will include 150 hours of face-to-face tuition in a single core module, which is one of the criteria for individual BACP accreditation. You will also be required to continue the self-funded personal therapy or development group you began in year one, as well as starting out on your supervised counselling placement.

Core modules

Ethical Foundation and Professional Practice

This module will examine the elements of good professional practice by focusing on professional practice issues and case study material. Topics to be covered include:

  • a range of cultural issues and client groups
  • an exploration of the role and impact of the counsellor in the community
  • major practice issues: communication links with other agencies, complaints procedures, confidentiality, conflicting roles, contracts and boundaries, codes of conduct, membership of professional bodies, continuing professional development, referrals, supervision, self care, issues of transference
Human Development Theory and Psychopathology

In this module, Rogers' work on personality theory and theory of development (19 propositions) will be studied in depth. Topics to be covered include:

  • theorists such as Winnicott, Bowlby, Adler, Miller and Stern exploration of child and adult development theories
  • human development theory and its impact on the work of a counselling practitioner
  • person-centred approach and psychpathology
  • recent work of person-centred theorists on diagnosis and psychiatric assessment will 
Person-Centred Theory and Practice

This module will focus on a review and critical analysis of the person-centred approach to counselling and therapy. Topics to be covered include:

  • Rogers' theory and therapeutic growth in individual work and in groups
  • Rogers' six conditions for therapeutic change, seven stages of process and self-concept theory
  • core conditions: empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard; and their impact on the counselling relationships and other professional relationships
  • current person-centred counselling practice issues
  • contemporary person-centred theorists and practitioners
  • potential for the person-centred approach to be used in a variety of working environments
Personal Therapy and Personal Development

This module will examine the elements of good professional practice as experienced by the student through attendance of 20 hours of personal therapy. There will be an exploration of the personal development experienced throughout the counselling process.

Supervised Counselling Practice and Case Study

During this module, you will study in depth elements of case study preparation and case analysis methods for professional use in counselling and psychotherapy. You will produce your own case study drawing from your placement experience. You will review published case study material and the work of those engaged in counselling research.

A major focus will be studying the supervisory relationship and its importance as a source of support, education and challenge for the counselling practitioner.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on

Your final year will enable you to complete your counselling placement hours, consolidate your professional learning and delve further into specialist areas through a selection of optional modules.

Core modules

Comparative Humanistic Counselling

This module will examine the theoretical foundations of humanistic counselling. Topics to be covered include:

  • Gestalt counselling
  • existential counselling
  • transactional analysis
  • transpersonal therapy
  • person-centred counselling in context
  • a critical examination of the work and methodology of counselling practitioners using approaches other than person-centred
Consolidation of Professional Development

During this module, you will study in depth elements of case study preparation and case analysis methods for professional use in counselling and psychotherapy. You will produce your own case study drawing from your placement experience. You will review published case study material and the work of those engaged in counselling research.

A major focus will be studying the supervisory relationship and its importance as a source of support, education and challenge for the counselling practitioner.

Integration of Personal Development

This module will examine the elements of good professional practice as experienced by the student through attendance of 20 hours of personal therapy. There will be an exploration of the personal development experienced throughout the counselling process and in the learning group.

Optional modules

Sex and Sexuality

This module will cover:

  • understanding how sex and sexuality issues can be brought into the counselling environment
  • theoretical perspectives on sexual identities and working with sexual problems
  • creative ways of working with sex and sexuality in counselling and helping roles including referral issues
Solution Focussed Brief Therapy

This module will examine the broad context of brief or time limited therapy. In particular a solution-focussed collaborative approach to therapy. Topics to be explored include:

  • an outline of the solution-focussed approach
  • theoretical underpinnings of interventions
  • solution-focussed interventions: miracle question, scaling, identifying exceptions, normalising and reframing
  • identifying and building on change
  • goal setting and maintenance
  • obstacles and setbacks
Understanding Trauma

This module will cover:

  • definitions of Trauma and PTSD
  • theoretical perspectives
  • creative ways of working with trauma and traumatic stress in counselling and helping roles
  • working with trauma and traumatic stress in counselling: vicarious traumatisation, self-care and working with clients
Working with Grief and Loss

This module will examine the broad context of grief and loss:

  • Models of grief and loss
  • Theoretical underpinnings of counselling interventions
  • The impact of cultural identity and of similarities and differences between counsellor and client on perception of grief and loss
  • Grief and loss in the therapeutic relationship itself

The 'self' of the counsellor will provide focus for examining and developing specific competences and skills.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on

Fees and funding

UK students

£9,250
Per year

International students

£17,550*
Per year

*For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

Scholarships and bursaries

The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.

Home students*

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £2,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

* A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.

International/EU students

Our International Baccalaureate Diploma Excellence Scholarship is available for select students paying overseas fees who achieve 38 points or above in the International Baccalaureate Diploma. We also offer a range of High Achiever Prizes for students from selected countries, schools and colleges to help with the cost of tuition fees. Find out more about scholarships, fees and finance for international students.

Home students*

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

* A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.

International students

We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

International scholarships

Careers

Graduates of this course can consider a range of pathways, including making an impact in the community by volunteering in a third sector counselling agency, progressing to postgraduate study in counselling or social work, working in schools, colleges, charities and rehabilitation centres, or eventually setting up a private practice.

This course meets both the training and personal development requirements for individual BACP accreditation, although graduates will need to continue to build their counselling experience to the required level after completing their studies. The application and assessment procedure is rigorous and accreditation is not guaranteed even if you meet all the stated requirements.

Counselling is an extremely rewarding profession, however, it is important to realise that paid, full-time counselling positions are rare and therefore competition for these roles is high. Private practice is difficult to establish, and is often an unreliable income source. Setting up private practice requires substantial experience of clinical work under supervision and personal therapy, and could be an option further in your career.

Professional associations

ncs-lo

Accredited by the National Counselling Society, giving students low cost membership of a professional body and a smooth transition to accredited registrant status on graduation.

All employers are now looking for counsellors who are on a professional register. To maximise choice the course also provides the tuition requirements for individual accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and 200 hours towards the practice requirements.

Average starting salary and career progression

95.8% of undergraduates from the School of Education secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology.

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

National Counselling Society

Accredited by the National Counselling Society, giving students low cost membership of a professional body and a smooth transition to accredited registrant status on graduation.

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" We rarely spend too long sat down simply listening. Instead, we often engage in small group discussions, thought-provoking personal reflections and creative activities, all of which are directly relevant to the learning. "
Phil Rudd

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Important information

This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.