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Course information

Department

Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies

Length

1 year part-time (26 weeks, Wednesdays 6-9pm)

Course overview

An intensive foundation in counselling for those who meet elements of counselling in their day-to-day work and who wish to enter this field professionally.

This programme will give students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Psychodynamic Counselling if they currently lack sufficient experience and qualifications to study at a postgraduate diploma level.

The programme is taught by means of theoretical lectures, seminars, experiential workshops, and group tutorials. You’ll study key theoretical concepts that inform the practice of humanistic and psychodynamic counselling and will identify the specific responsibilities and processes of the counselling alliance.

The programme is particularly suitable for those who wish to apply to our MA in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Please note: Entry requirements for further qualification vary considerably between institutions. Students are expected to conduct their own research before applying

The programme covers

  • Humanistic approaches to counselling, with special emphasis on the philosophy and influence of Carl Rogers
  • Psychodynamic principles of counselling, with reference to growth and development, unconscious processes and intra-psychic conflicts
  • The ethics of counselling: boundaries and responsibility
  • Good practice and care for the counsellor: self-awareness, supervision and meeting your own needs
  • Transcultural Counselling, looking into issues of diversity and dominance in the counselling relationship

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Tali Lernau.

What you'll study

This course takes place over 26 weeks.

Autumn term

  • Defining the counselling alliance
  • Fundamental conditions of the counselling relationship
  • Overview of the humanistic framework
  • Carl Rogers and person-centred counselling
  • Gerard Egan's goal-orientated approach
  • Existential philosophy and Gestalt therapy
  • Comparing and contrasting the different humanistic theories

Spring term

  • Defining the psychodynamic model (Freud, Klein)
  • Introduction to human growth and development
  • Attachment, containment and trust (Bowlby and Winnicott)
  • Unconscious processes: transference and countertransference, projection and introjection, defence mechanisms

Summer term

  • Defining Transcultural Counselling and its impact
  • Exploring issues of diversity, gender, race, and power in the counselling relationship
  • Ethical professional frameworks, supervision, and self-care
  • Treatment ending

Assessment

Assessment is continual and is carried out by means of 2 essays of 2,500 words; a reflective journal and a practical skills assessment. Students must pass all four essays pieces of work to be awarded the Certificate. 40% constitutes the pass mark.

Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the programme changes page.

Entry requirements

You must be able to demonstrate:

  • a commitment to counselling as a profession
  • an ability to sustain academic study
  • the potential to develop those qualities essential to counselling, for example empathy and sense of self

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

To find out more about your fees, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
  • A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
  • If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

Selection process

Admission is by group interview.

Find out more about applying.

Careers

Skills

You'll develop critical, communication and interpersonal skills, and listening skills.

Careers

Suitable careers for graduates of this programme include:

  • support and welfare work
  • residential social work
  • teaching
  • advocacy
  • mentoring

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths. 

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