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Our Person-Centred Counselling programmes is the starting point for a career providing life-changing therapy. Full-time or part-time, you can achieve and MSc, PgDip or PgCert allowing you to progress to your chosen career.

This programme is grounded in Carl Rogers’ theory of human potential, and training in this approach opens you to the self-knowledge needed to offer clients the deep connectedness at the heart of the therapeutic relationship.

Our full-time route allows you to complete an MSC in 18 months, with an option on the final 60 credits coming from either a Dissertation/Counselling Related Research Study, or a combination of a shorter Dissertation/Counselling Related Research Study and our Specialist Certificate for Counselling Children and Young People. Our part-time options give you more flexibility over 3 years for an MSc.

The programme 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 March for the start of the next academic year.

How You'll Study

Attendance, after the 4 day induction, is 1 full day each week on campus for part-time, or 2 full days each week on campus for full-time study. Learning on the PG Diploma prepares you to work within the counselling profession and is quite different from learning in other subjects. The emphasis is on experiential and relational learning which is central to the course operation and ethos. You’re encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning, to see learning as a tool that will help you achieve your goal of becoming a person-centred counsellor, able to confidently and comprehensively fulfil your personal and professional duties.

Assessment Methods

A significant aim of the course is to support and encourage the development of 'reflexive practitioners’, able to offer and use constructive feedback. Through the process of self, peer, and tutor assessments, the programme members will have the opportunity to realise and understand the impact of their personal power and responsibility in the process of becoming recognised as professional counsellors.

Why Study Person-Centred Counselling?

• Our aim at Aberdeen is for students to come to know themselves well enough to be able to offer the deep connectedness vital for successful therapeutic relationships
• To develop self-awareness, reflective ability and an in-depth understanding of the person-centred therapeutic process.

Careers

On completion of the validated diploma students can register as a qualified counsellor with the professional bodies.