Counselling Children and Young People MSc

• Overview

  Our Counselling Children and Young People MSc is a multidisciplinary course that aims to promote an advanced level of knowledge and understanding that underpins practice in the area of counselling with children, young people and their families.

  This postgraduate counselling course supports you in developing your skills and theoretical knowledge of counselling with children, young people and their families. If you have a particular interest in counselling work with children, then this course is designed with you in mind, allowing you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in counselling.

  You will study alongside practitioners from health, social or voluntary services who work with children and young people, as well as graduates of psychology and other social and behavioural sciences, allowing you to learn from each other’s experiences as well as course materials.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Available opportunities to develop your practical and professional counselling skills.
  • Exploration of eco-systemic perspective integrating Systemic Family Therapy, CBT, and Creative therapies.
  • A chance to attend the CAMH conference.
  • Excellent teaching staff who teach with an integrated approach to counselling with children and young people, imparting their experience from their personal practice.
  • Face-to-face client placement.
  • Credits can count towards a professional body accreditation with UKCP or BACP.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  This Masters in Counselling course provides you with opportunities for you to enhance your employability and skills are structured into the course to allow you to develop your self-awareness, reflect upon your practice and to benefit from the supervisory relationship. Our CAMH conference (see highlight video below) is an excellent example of the extra opportunities that are available as part of the course.

  Our experienced course team includes specific expertise in CBT, systemic family therapy, Creative therapies, Play therapy and Gestalt approaches. Our teaching staff are able to teach you an integrated approach to counselling with children and young people, imparting their experience from their personal practice.

  The course is led by specialists in the field of counselling with a variety of specialisms and backgrounds. Throughout your study, you will also be supported by practitioners from similar professions (e.g. psychology, social work, nursing, psychiatric nursing, law and psychiatry).

  You have the option to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling with Children and Young People or you can complete all of the modules needed to be awarded an MSc in Counselling Children and Young People.

  To count towards a professional body accreditation, such as UKCP or BACP, you will need to undertake a supervised placement practice of a minimum of 100 hours as well as a minimum 40 hours of personal therapy with an approved and BACP or UKCP accredited counsellor or therapist. A student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a professional indemnity insurance and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check are also mandatory for this course.

  Structure

  You will ordinarily be required to attend classes for 1-2 days per week (once per week in Year 1 and 1-2 days per week in year 2, when the research methods and dissertation modules run). A typical teaching day runs from 9am to 5pm. Depending on which group you are allocated to, the core classes will be taught either on Tuesdays or Thursdays. In the second year, you will need to attend research methods and dissertation classes on Wednesdays.

  There are two intensive weeks (Tue-Wed-Thu) in year one, the first of which being held as an induction week at the start of the academic year, whilst the second is a “putting it all together” week toward the end of the second semester.

  What is child and adolescent counselling?

  Child and adolescent counselling is an area of counselling that enables people to explore the issues that young people face within their behaviour, their mental health and overall well-being. The therapeutic processes and practices employed, including play therapy in child counselling, can be effective in helping young people to express their feelings in a safe and constructive environment.

  How do I become a child counsellor?

  A postgraduate counselling degree which specialises in counselling practices for children and young people will best equip you with the essential and most relevant knowledge required to gain a career in this field. In order to step into this profession, you will need the appropriate certification, relevant professional experience and the necessary skills.

  If you have a first degree in psychology which is Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) accredited, your further postgraduate training opportunities will include doctoral training on British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited courses in Counselling Psychology. Graduates from this course will be able to work as a counsellor in a range of settings such as healthcare and educational institutions, residential facilities and community and youth work agencies.

  If you have a professional background in areas such as teaching, nursing and social work, you will find this course will strengthen your skills and competencies and allow youto develop a strong specialism in children’s mental health. You will have the skills to appropriately position yourself as a counsellor and will have a good critical and in-depth understanding of professional practices when working with children, young people, families, parents and carers.

  Will the university provide me with a placement?

  You will need to find your own placement. However, our team is highly committed in supporting you throughout. We are engaged in maintaining and expanding partnerships with placement agencies all over the UK. We have two dedicated placement coordinators who can offer you guidance in evaluating your options.

  Do I need to have my placement at Northampton?

  No. You can have your placement virtually anywhere in the world, including, of course other areas of the UK, provided that BACP and course requirements are met by the placement. An audit is carried out with all placement agencies to ensure the quality of the placement experience.

  Is the course accredited, and what difference does it make for me?

  The course is not currently accredited. However, the course is designed to meet the requirements that the BACP has set for counselling courses, therefore it provides you with the opportunity of progressing towards individual applications for personal accreditation. Please be mindful that course accreditation and personal accreditation are two completely different matters.

  What happens when I finish the course?

  You will be awarded both a Master of Science and a Professional Qualification for Counselling with Children and Young People.

  Who can I counsel when I have completed the qualification?

  You can counsel virtually any client between 5 and 24. You will not be able to counsel adults. Although you will be trained in conducting interviews with parents in light of your commitment to work with children, this does not qualify you as an adult counsellor.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  UKCP or BACP accreditation

  To count towards a professional body accreditation, such as UKCP or BACP, you will need to undertake a supervised placement practice of a minimum of 100 hours as well as a minimum 40 hours of personal therapy with an approved and BACP or UKCP accredited counsellor or therapist. A student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a professional indemnity insurance and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check are also mandatory for this course. For more info click Read More under Course Details.

  You need to attend at least 80% of the sessions on each module to be eligible to apply for BACP membership.

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying at The University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    As a professional master programme, the MSc CCYP leads to a counselling qualification and opens you up to a range of employment possibilities. Upon completion of this course you could find employment in one of the following areas: private practice, educational and healthcare institutions, community and youth work services, third sector organizations and residential facilities. You may choose to take the MSc as a stepping stone towards further postgraduate study such as a Clinical Doctorate.

    For further information about Careers, see the Read More button under Course Details.

    
• Requirements

  You will need to hold a first or second class bachelors’ degree in order to be eligible to apply for this course. Voluntary or professional experience of work with children and young people is desirable, but not essential.

  For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 7.0 in all categories (or equivalent)
    for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  For information on how to apply to study with us as an international student, please see our How to Apply for International Study page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Level 7

  • Understanding Mental Health in Children and Young People (30 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM062

    Core Module Y
  • Fundamental Skills for Working with Children, Young People and Families (30 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM111

    Core Module Y
  • Counselling with Children, Young People and Families (30 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM066

    Core Module Y
  • Counselling Children, Young People and Families in Practice (30 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM067

    Core Module Y
  • Qualitative and Quantitative (10 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM085

    Core Module Y
  • Dissertation and Research Methods (50 Credits)
    Module code: PSYM086

    Core Module Y

  Methods of Learning

  Teaching methods that are used on our Counselling Children and Young People course include lectures, workshops, one-to-one tutorials, private study, online activities, group work and role play scenarios.

  Assessments

  Our assessment strategy is designed to include a broad range of assessment methods, in order to ensure that you have the maximum opportunity to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for the course. Assessment methods include: essays, case studies, self-reflective log books, critical reviews, video recorded role plays and oral presentations.

  Please note that there are no examinations in this course.

  The Research Methods and Dissertation module supports you in completing a supervised, but original and independently undertaken, research project which is assessed through a 12,000 to 15,000 word dissertation.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  The MSc promotes an advanced theoretical understanding of Counselling with Children and Young People, integrating opportunities to develop your practical and professional counselling skills.

  The course equips you with a working knowledge of child development, psychological difficulties in children and young people in their contexts and counselling based skills for working with them and their carers within an an eco-systemic perspective integrating Systemic Family Therapy, CBT, and Creative therapies.

  Opportunities for you to enhance your employability and skills are structured into the course to allow you to development your self-awareness, reflect upon your practice and to benefit from the supervisory relationship. Our CAMH conference (see highlight video below) is an excellent example of the extra opportunities that are available as part of the course.

  Our experienced course team includes specific expertise in CBT, systemic family therapy, Creative therapies, Play therapy and Gestalt approaches. Our teaching staff are able to teach you an integrated approach to counselling with children and young people, imparting their experience from their personal practice.

• Further Studies
  • Alumni 20% Discount

    Our Graduate Discount Scheme

    If you have previously studied an undergraduate degree with the University of Northampton, you may be eligible for a 20% discount on Postgraduate course fees.

    Visit our Graduate Discount Scheme page to find out more information and eligibility requirements.

    
  • Postgraduate Loan

    Get funding to study

    If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course either full-time or part-time you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student finance England.

    Visit the GOV website for more information on eligibility.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time Year 1 £3,705 (90 Credits) / Year 2 £3,705* (90 Credits)

  *Fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 21/22

  Additional costs

  • 40 hours of personal therapy (average cost is £30-50/hour, although there is high variability across the market)
  • 30 hours of supervision (this might or might not fall on the students, as some placements offer free supervision to trainees, but we cannot predict which ones. This has always been clarified during interviews)
  • DBS clearance
  • BACP student membership requested
  • Professional insurance policy (some placement services may cover students with their organization policy but not all so we recommend you to factor this in).

  All these costs are communicated during the admission interviews.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time Year 1 £3,645 (90 Credits) / Year 2 £3,645* (90 Credits)

  *Fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 20/21

  Additional costs

  • 40 hours of personal therapy
  • 30 hours of supervision (this might or might not fall on the students, as some placements offer free supervision to trainees, but we cannot predict which ones. This has always been clarified during interviews)
  • DBS clearance
  • BACP student membership requested
  • Professional insurance policy (some placement services may cover students with their organization policy but not all so we recommend you to factor this in).

  All these costs are communicated during the admission interviews.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £12,750
  International Part-time Fee: £2,125 per 30 credit module

  18/19 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 18/19 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £12,200
  International Part-time Fee: £2,030 per 30 credit module

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

• Part Time Study

  Courses offered on a part time basis are an excellent way of gaining a qualification around a busy home life or job. The University of Northampton recognises that many of our students have family and work commitments and offer various courses on a part time study basis, working flexibly around your requirements.

  A lot of our courses can be completed part-time, so you can fit your studies around your life. The majority of part-time and professional courses start in October. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure we have your details before your course starts.

*Course data provided by Unistats