PhD in Counselling Psychology

PhD in Counselling Psychology

This course gives you a doctorate-level education and training in psychotherapy and applied psychology, leading to the award of Doctor in Counselling Psychology. It includes a comprehensive programme of taught modules, 450 hours of supervised counselling psychology practice in a range of placements, and a doctoral research thesis. Experts guide you through psychotherapeutic theory, personal and professional development, and clinical practice. Our course builds upon Counselling Psychology’s existential-phenomenological base as it integrates:

• contemporary developments of relational psychotherapy
• high-quality research that applies to ‘real world’ contexts
• critical perspectives that deconstruct, decolonise, and reframe psychopathology
• the voices and knowledge of experts and those working across a range of related helping professions
• a caring ethos that brings together staff, students, external stakeholders, and the wider community.

In-depth preparation for practice

You’ll receive thorough training on personal, professional and academic levels. This will require you to combine your unique psychobiography and social identities with advanced psychological theory as a basis for mindful and ethical clinical practice.

The training will equip you to work in a broad range of settings, including the NHS, industry, the third sector, private practice, academic and research roles, and many others. We have an extended network with partner providers and practices including NHS services and established charities. This makes our programme popular with prospective candidates and highly desirable with employers. Many of our graduates develop into portfolio professionals who combine interests and work in multiple contexts (for example, the NHS, consultancy, advocacy work, private practice and teaching/training).

Please visit the PhD in Counselling Psychology website