Therapeutic Counselling Foundation Degree

Students

Foundation Degree level courses are available for those candidates who wish to progress to professional qualifications. Successful completion of this course will enable you to provide a therapeutic counselling service within the context of an agency's service framework.

You will explore psychodynamic and person-centred approaches within a framework of Clarkson’s 5 facets of the therapeutic relationship. By the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate that they can work safely, ethically and professionally with clients presenting with a range of problems.

Theory 

This is comprised of a programme of seminars developing understanding of the self, personal history and interpersonal relating within both Person-Centred and Psychodynamic theory

Professional Framework

A programme of seminars designed to equip students with the knowledge of practice issues. Seminars will be mainly tutor-led and will involve discussion of typical practice issues.

Skills Development

A series of practice sessions aimed at helping students develop their ability to work with clients. A variety of skills exercises are used including whole group work, pairs work and work in triads (Year 1).

Casework Discussion

Working in groups, students will take turns to present actual client work. The objective is to enable students to integrate theory, self-awareness and skills into ethical and professional practice (Year 2).

Common Presenting Issues

There will be a number of sessions where you will explore working with people with specific issues such as bereavement, abuse issues etc.

Personal Development

Fortnightly Personal Development Group and weekly Learning Journal entries. Students also attend personal therapy and a residential weekend.

Study Skills (Y1) and Advanced Study Skills (Y2)

Study Skills supports students in all aspects of producing academic work at L4 & L5. Advanced Study Skills (Y2) introduces FDA students to the basics of academic research and is not compulsory for Diploma students.

In addition to the College fees there are other costs to be considered including:

* Personal therapy (typically £45 per session)

* Supervision: most agencies provide supervision but occasionally students either supplement existing supervision, with the agreement of the agency, or organise supervision privately at around £45 per hour

* Books, photocopying, travel, childcare, etc.

If you need information about a loan for your fees and other related information try

The Student Loan Company www.slc.co.uk/services/higher-education.aspx

Please be aware we do require you to apply via UCAS https://www.ucas.com//apply.

The UCAS Institution Code for Gloucestershire College is G45.  The UCAS code for this course is B940.

Although this course is not accredited by the BACP it meets their requirements for course accreditation and prepares student counsellors for individual accreditation (see www.bacp.co.uk/accreditation/). Students will complete 110 hours of counselling work in an agency.

Following completion of the course, students may consider continuing to work in their agency in order to gain experience prior to applying for other roles (e.g. with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), senior agency roles) or counselling in private practice.

Please see Gloucestershire College’s Admissions Policy and Code of Practice available at http://www.gloscol.ac.uk/about-us-and-jobs-at-gc/partnerships-and-governance/governance/policies (subject to agreed amendments).  Gloucestershire College’s Admissions Policy and Code of Practice has been written based on guidance from external bodies that regulate consumer law, customer protection and education standards.  If you have any queries about either Gloucestershire College’s Admissions Policy or Code of Practice, please contact Gloucestershire College’s Admissions department via telephone 01242 532008 or applications@gloscol.ac.uk

Please note that modules could be subject to change but any such changes, to module delivery, would be in consultation with the students.

Class times:

     September 2023 intake: Fridays 9am-5pm

     September 2024 intake: Wednesdays 9am-5pm (subject to change)