Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy

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Academic Year of Entry: 2024/25
Course overview
(Graduate Diploma) Graduate Diploma
Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy
Inactive
University of Essex
University of Essex
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Graduate Diploma
Part-time
None
DIPLC89E24
08/05/2024

Details

Professional accreditation

None

Admission criteria

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

You must complete all core and compulsory modules and the required number of optional modules (as noted on the full-time version of this course) during your two years of study. When you start your course, please contact your School or Department office to agree on the sequence in which you will take your core, compulsory and optional modules.

External examiners

Staff photo
Mr Mike Keating

Head of Training

Wessex Counselling and Psychotherapy

Dr Nini Kerr

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

eNROL, the module enrolment system, is now open until Monday 27 January 2025 8:59AM, for students wishing to make changes to their module options.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2024/25

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 PA217-5-AU-CO Psychodynamic Concepts Compulsory 15 Compulsory Compulsory
02 PA218-5-SP-CO Personality Development Compulsory 15 Compulsory Compulsory
03 PA216-6-FY-CO Psychodynamic Observation for Counsellors Compulsory 15 Compulsory Compulsory
04 PA221-6-FY-CO Personal Development Core 15 Core Core

Year 2 - 2025/26

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 PA256-6-AU-CO The counselling relationship and counselling techniques Core 30 Core Core
02 PA215-6-SU-CO Counselling Contexts Compulsory 15 Compulsory Compulsory
03 PA257-6-SP-CO Group and Organisational Dynamics for Counsellors Compulsory 15 Compulsory Compulsory

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

This programme aims to offer students a grounding in psychodynamic theory and its applications so that they can be prepared for the MA Psychodynamic Counselling with a clinical placement in the following year. It aims to provide a bridge between a BA in another discipline or relevant professional practice and psychodynamic understanding, addressing both personal and organisational dynamics.
It will provide a foundation in psychodynamic concepts and an understanding of the psychodynamics of child development. It aims to equip students with an understanding of the clinical role, its ethics and setting, to enable them to take up the professional role on the MA. It will give students counselling skills and techniques to facilitate the transition to practice.


Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

Learning methods

The programme makes use of theoretical seminars based on set reading of texts, observation seminars, workshops on practice issues and the experience of a group relations conference

Assessment methods

Essays for each module

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

Learning methods

The programme makes use of theoretical seminars and observation seminars, practice workshops and some experiential learning (eg group relations).

Assessment methods

Formal assessment is by essays and reflective report.

C: Practical skills

Learning methods

The programme makes use of theoretical seminars, observation seminars, workshops and the experience of group relations.

Assessment methods

Formal assessment is by essays and reflective report.

D: Key skills

Learning methods

The programme makes use of theoretical seminars and observation seminars, practice workshops and some experiential learning (eg group relations).

Assessment methods

Formal assessment is by essays and reflective report.


Note

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Contact

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.