Counselling and Mental Health

Counselling and mental health work sit at the heart of some of the most important conversations that happen between people. Counselling is the professional practice of supporting individuals to understand their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, to process difficult experiences, and to find their own resources for positive change. Mental health as a field encompasses the prevention, understanding, and support of conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to more complex psychological difficulties, and the people who work within it must combine scientific knowledge with genuine relational skill and ethical awareness.

At York St John University, this three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, providing a supported entry into the degree that is well suited to students who are committed to this area of work but who may not have the traditional entry qualifications. You will study psychological theory, human development, the principles and practice of counselling, mental health and wellbeing frameworks, and the ethical and safeguarding responsibilities that come with working in a helping profession. Supervised placement hours are typically an important part of counselling training, allowing you to develop your practical skills in real settings with real clients under guidance.

The degree develops your self-awareness, your empathy, and your capacity to hold difficult material calmly, which are personal as well as professional developments. Working in this field requires a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of others and the capacity to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Graduates move into support roles in mental health services, voluntary and charitable organisations, schools and educational settings, community health teams, employee assistance programmes, and social care. Further training is typically needed to become a fully qualified counselling psychologist or counsellor in independent practice, and this degree provides a strong foundation for those postgraduate routes. Some graduates move into related roles in social work, youth work, and community support.