Course summary

The BSc (Hons) Counselling for the Helping Professions celebrates how training in counselling prepares people for a wide range of roles that involve working with people. As a “degree in people skills”, the BSc (Hons) trains people in how to work with and support others through learning how to: listen actively; empathise and demonstrate that empathy so that others feel heard and understood; be self-aware and reflective; communicate clearly and effectively with others; handle confidential information; work with emotions and emotional content; manage difficult and high-pressure situations relating to mental health; interpret, manage, and operate in stressful situations; think critically and use evidence to make decisions; and facilitate behaviour change. Such transferable skills, which are trained and developed in depth on this course, will be invaluable in a wide range of helping professions that involve working with people. On this degree, we educate in the theory, research, and practice of counselling and associated subjects like Psychology, with a particular interest in how these can be used to support other people. With consideration to theory, there are a variety of approaches to counselling that are based on different theoretical perspectives of behaviour change. The degree covers a variety of these theoretical perspectives (person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, strengths-based). With consideration to research, counselling is an evidence-based profession. Teaching is evidence-based, and students learn how to interpret, critique, and apply research. They also learn how to conduct research in the context of counselling. With consideration to practice, students learn, practise, and develop the counselling skills that will be invaluable in a range of professions that involve listening to, caring for, and supporting other people.