This degree offers a unique approach, blending knowledge and practice from counselling and coaching psychology. You study classic and contemporary theories of counselling and psychotherapy including psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive behavioural approaches to gain a thorough understanding of the core areas. You then have the opportunity to use and develop your skills in real-life, peer-coaching practice and in voluntary roles within relevant organisations.**Professional Practice Year**\Take your course over four years and include a Professional Practice Year after your second year of studies. It is an opportunity to apply your learning in the workplace while enhancing your knowledge and skills through fee-free paid practice. It also builds your CV and industry contacts with many students progressing to employment within their practice-year organisation or institution.**Course accreditation**This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Graduating from a BPS-accredited degree with a 2nd-class Honours or above makes you eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society. It also enables you to enrol for Stage 1 postgraduate training.**Facilities and specialist equipment**\You have access to specialist, industry-standard psychology laboratories and computing environments including:* Counselling/coaching practice pods to develop counselling and coaching skills* Two-way mirror observation rooms to assist with counselling/coaching skills development* Virtual reality software and headsets to support counselling skills development* Cognitive neuropsychology lab* Research cubicles* Eyetrackers* Physiological data-acquisition system* EEG* Podcasting equipment* Data-analysis software* Experiment and survey-building software**Career-powered links**Specialist units for this course have been developed working with a panel of industry professionals from the NHS, mental health support and other relevant organisations to ensure they align with employer needs.**Your student experience**Benefit from **friendly, approachable staff, small class sizes** and easy access to **academic support**.Your **year-long placement** allows you to apply your knowledge and skills while gaining valuable workplace experience. Students have previously had **placements at a variety of organisations** including a low-security in-patient unit in North London and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team at Bedford Hospital.Take up **membership of our Student Research Institute**, providing opportunities to engage in research work with staff as an assistant and attend specialist research conferences.Learn from a **highly experienced academic team** who are active in industry and whose research addresses real-world issues.Our **academics’ research** includes reading development cognitive function in long COVID and prevention of gender-based violence.Take part in **roleplay and peer-coaching practice** up to pre-practitioner level to help develop your skills as an effective counsellor or therapist.Bring your learning to life through **authentic assessments** in areas such as counselling and coaching case conceptualisation and coaching or clinical supervision.Gain insight into **psychological practice in the NHS** as well as awareness of the career paths offered within the NHS.Hear from **a variety of guest speakers** who share their experience and expertise at **special events and masterclasses** run by the School of Psychology.
