Psychotherapy and Counselling

Psychotherapy and counselling are therapeutic practices that help individuals understand and work through psychological difficulties, emotional distress, and the challenges of living. Where clinical psychology emphasises diagnosis and evidence-based intervention, psychotherapy and counselling focus on the therapeutic relationship and the processes of self-understanding and change that it enables. Practitioners need both rigorous theoretical training and the personal qualities, self-awareness, and clinical skills that make them safe and effective in the consulting room.

This four-year integrated master's degree at the University of St Mark and St John is designed for undergraduate entry and combines academic theory, research training, and professional clinical preparation.

You will study the major theoretical traditions that underpin counselling and psychotherapy, from psychodynamic and person-centred approaches to cognitive-behavioural, systemic, and other models, developing a critical understanding of the evidence base and the ethical frameworks that guide professional practice. Alongside academic study, the programme provides a 100-hour clinical placement in which you work with real clients under supervision, developing the practical skills and reflective capacity that safe and competent therapeutic practice requires. The integrated master's format means that by graduation you will have achieved a higher level of professional and scholarly formation than a standard three-year programme provides.

An entry tariff of 88 UCAS points reflects an inclusive admissions approach. Graduates from psychotherapy and counselling programmes are eligible to pursue registration as qualified practitioners, working in NHS mental health services, employee assistance programmes, private practice, schools and educational settings, charitable organisations, and a wide range of other contexts where therapeutic support is needed. Many continue to further specialist training or postgraduate research in counselling psychology or psychotherapy.