Psychology and Counselling

Three years full-time or four to six years on a flexible part-time basis

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop understanding of the key theories and concepts in psychology and counselling. They will also learn basic counselling skills and gain an understanding of the professional context of counselling work. The applied nature of counselling psychology will be stressed throughout the programme. In addition to a focus on counselling concepts, issues and skills, the course will enable students to analyse and understand human behaviour, thought and emotions, from many different psychological perspectives.

The programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society as conferring eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership, provided the minimum standard of second class honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.

Full-time students take 120 credits per stage for three stages. Some modules are mandatory whilst others are selected from a range of options. In stage one important core ideas, evidence and methods are introduced. This includes the module Introduction to Counselling, which includes key concepts in counselling and an introduction to listening skills. The basic knowledge is built upon in stages two and three to foster both personal development and a cutting edge understanding of topics.

Stage one

In stage one, the core Counselling module is Introduction to Counselling. This includes key concepts in counselling and an introduction to listening skills. Students are given an excellent grounding in counselling and psychology that is built upon in the rest of the course.

Stage two

During stage two, students undertake modules in counselling, professional issues and skills, along with other modules. Students also have the option of either a module on the psychology of well-being or a work-based placement related to counselling psychology.

Stage three

In stage three, students will undertake modules in counselling psychology theory and counselling skills. They also undertake an empirical dissertation in counselling psychology, representing a third of the final stage of work, under the guidance of a lecturer.

• As part of the course, students will have the opportunity to undertake a work-based placement
• Students have access to excellent facilities and resources for research
• The University of Northampton has internationally and nationally recognised researchers in several topics including parapsychology and qualitative psychology

• Introduction to Counselling
• Counselling: Professional Issues and Skills
• The Developing Adult and Child
• Transpersonal Psychology
• Qualitative Psychology
• The Psychology of Mental Health
• The Psychology of Health

Full-time students take six modules per stage for three years. Some modules are mandatory, whilst others are selected from a range of options in psychology. At each level, students take a core module in Counselling combining three key elements: key concepts and ideas; the development of self-awareness; and the development of counselling skills. They also take a range of Psychology modules.

Stage one modules

Introduction to Counselling

Introduces students to some of the key concepts, skills and approaches used in counselling and counselling psychology, through a series of workshops.

Introduction to Psychology

Introduces the major approaches to understanding human behaviour, including biological psychology, social psychology, individual differences, cognitive psychology and developmental psychology.

Psychology in Practice

Looks at the many ways in which psychological knowledge is applied in real-world settings, including those of health, sport, counselling and the workplace.

Becoming a Psychologist

Actively involves you in a range of practical problem solving exercises, all of which will develop your knowledge of many ways in which psychologists carry out their research. The module is conducted in small workshop groups.

Investigating Psychology

Involves both the study of a range of original psychology research papers (both classic and modern) and the discussion of topical issues in psychology. 

Stage one students also take one optional module. This can be selected from a range of modules. We particularly recommend the module Volunteering, which enables students to develop personal and professional skills through undertaking voluntary work. Please note that all students taking the Volunteering module require CRB clearance.

Stage two modules

Counselling: from Theory to Practice

Aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in the theories that underpin counselling, and to explore how these theories relate to counselling practice. Students also build further upon their use of counselling skills.

To become eligible for Graduate Basis of Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society, you will also complete the following six ten credit modules and the 20 credit Research Methods and Data Analysis which build upon the foundations of stage one.

Social Psychology

Looks at the psychological processes influencing behaviour within groups and relationships.

Developmental Psychology

Increases students' appreciation of the interactions among the social, biological and psychological processes shaping human life-span development. 

Personality and Individual Differences

Provides a thorough grounding in the psychology of why each of us in certain respects is like all other people, like some other people and like no other person.

Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology

Considers key debates within psychology that continue to have a major impact today.

Biological Psychology

Looks at the many insights into human psychology that come from understanding fundamental processes taking place in our brains and bodies.

Cognitive Psychology

Examines the mechanisms by which individuals think, perceive, remember, use language and attend to the world. 

Research Methods and Data Analysis

A coursework-only module that builds upon the skills developed in stage one, looking at intermediate level statistics, more complex research designs and alternative methods of investigation to the experiment.

Level two students also take one optional 20 credit module. Particularly relevant modules are the Psychology of Wellbeing or The Psychology of Learning and Teaching in Educational Settings. The latter module provides another opportunity for students to undertake a work-based placement. Please note that students choosing to take this module require CRB clearance.

Stage three modules

Counselling Psychology dissertation

Enables students to undertake an empirical dissertation, under the guidance of a psychology lecturer with particular expertise in your chosen area. You will immerse yourself in a topic of your choosing, subject to staff and ethical approval, and exercise the research skills you have acquired through the course.

Counselling in Context

Introduces students to a range of issues which a client may bring to counselling. It focuses on the counselling process and upon the organisational, social and cultural contexts in which counselling takes place. Counselling skills are further developed, with the aim that students will be able to conduct a role-played counselling session by the end of the module.

Psychology of Mental Health

Explores psychological attempts to understand and treat problems known as 'mental health problems' and contrasts these approaches with the medical approach. The module also offers an opportunity to address questions relating to the known causes of 'disorders' and to encourage careful ethical and social debates regarding the ways people with forms of mental distress are treated by mental health professionals.

The Developing Adult

Draws on diverse areas of psychology such as social, clinical and health, in order to offer you a range of perspectives for understanding aspects of adult development. Emphasis is placed on the ecology of personal relationships, the lifespan approach to attachment, the meaning of life satisfaction in the later years and myths and stereotypes of ageing.

The Developing Child

Studies a range of contemporary issues concerning typical and atypical development in childhood and adolescence. The module focuses on, social, emotional and behavioural development within the school environment, and critical perspectives in developmental psychology and developmental psychopathology.

Psychology of Spirituality, Religion and Wellbeing

Explores transpersonal psychology and the psychology of religion. The aim is to enable students to explore and evaluate what Maslow described as the 'farther reaches of human nature', including peak and spiritual experiences. The psychology of religion seeks to understand some of the psychological processes within the sphere of the religious experience.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Extends students' understanding of aspects of development in childhood and young people. It explores the nature and range of mental health issues that can arise from the inter-relationship of the processes, mechanisms and context in which development occurs and examines the ways in which such problems can be addressed, including reviewing modes of assessment and interventions applied within the field of child and adolescent mental health.

NB The third year options are indicative and may change according to student interest and staff availability.

A variety of assessment strategies are used at each level to ascertain your level of competence in a range of academic and transferable skills. These strategies include essays, recorded role play exercises, reflective writing assignments, practical reports, multiple-choice tests, oral presentations, time-constrained essays, seen and unseen examinations, critical reviews and group project work.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, experiential / skills workshops, practical / laboratory workshops, computer assisted learning, independent and group work. Discussion and student participation is encouraged. Practical work will represent an important component of your psychology course in each of the three years of study.

It is important to note that this is primarily an academic course rather than a professional training course, and that students who complete it will not be qualified as counsellors or counselling psychologists. However, on successful completion of the course, with a 2:2 or above, students should have the knowledge, skills and experience to enable them to pursue professional training in counselling or counselling psychology at postgraduate level.

This course not only prepares graduates for training in counselling / counselling psychology, but in other areas too. After further qualification, you can also obtain 'chartered' status as a clinical, educational, occupational, health or forensic psychologist. Also, academic psychologists conduct research and teach in higher education. Northampton graduates have followed each of these careers. It is widely acknowledged by employers that psychology degrees provide an excellent grounding for a diverse range of non-psychological careers. Moreover, the listening and communication skills developed on this degree course will be highly valuable in a range of health and social care professions. Our graduates are employed in education, the health service, the police force, human resources management, marketing, the civil service, broadcasting, social work and many other professions.