Person-Centred Counselling University of Aberdeen

Overview

At a Glance

The postgraduate diploma runs part-time over two years and successful completion allows progression to the MSc. The master’s stage of the programme consists of a project or dissertation.

This qualification is validated by, and meets the professional training requirements of, COSCA (Scotland’s professional body for counselling and psychotherapy) with the diploma consisting of a minimum 400 tutor contact hours and 100 client hours.

The Person-Centred Counselling programme of the University of Aberdeen aims to enable students to:

• Understand the philosophy, theory and research of the person-centred approach

• Develop a high level of awareness of, and competence in, person-centred counselling relationships

• Understand person-centred therapeutic process

• Develop awareness of their professional developmental needs and how to fully use supervision

• Evaluate the importance of personal development in relation to training as a person-centred counsellor

• Consider the effect of personal experience, values and attitudes on practice

• Develop critical understanding of where the person-centred modality is placed in the field of counselling and the role counselling plays in society as a whole

• Place individual counselling practice within a sound ethical framework as outlined in the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and the COSCA Statement of Ethics and Code of Practice

• Keep accurate and up-to-date records of client work in accordance with professional body ethical guidelines (BACP 2018, COSCA 2018)

Applications are accepted until the end of May for the start of the next academic year.

Careers

On completion of the validated diploma students can register as a qualified counsellor with the professional bodies. There are growing opportunities for employment in the third sector, in Employee Assistance Programme companies and for working in private practice. There are also opportunities in human resources, occupational health and in the NHS as counsellors or wellbeing practitioners.

Career Opportunities

• Counsellor