COURSE CURRICULUM

The Counselling and Psychotherapy modules provide a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge, practical counselling skills, research competence, ethical awareness, personal development, and supervised professional experience. Bereavement Counselling focuses on the psychological effects of loss and grief, helping students understand intervention skills and evidence-based approaches for supporting clients through different stages of bereavement. Current Paradigms in Counselling and Psychotherapy introduces major therapeutic approaches, including psychoanalytic, Adlerian, existential, person-centred, Gestalt, reality, cognitive-behavioural, and postmodern perspectives, with emphasis on their practical application, effectiveness, ethics, and critical evaluation. Family and Couples Therapy explores contemporary approaches for working with multiple clients while considering social, cultural, international, and gender-related factors, goal setting, observation, reflection, and supervision. Introduction to Research develops students’ understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including experimental and correlational designs, surveys, interviews, focus groups, participant observation, data collection, analysis, research ethics, reliability, and validity. Personal and Professional Development promotes self-awareness by examining personal characteristics and perceptual styles that influence interactions and helping relationships, supported by reflective learning activities. Professional, Legal and Ethical Issues in Counselling and Psychotherapy introduces professional standards, ethical codes, legal frameworks, accreditation requirements, and approaches to ethical decision-making, while encouraging students to consider how their own values and backgrounds may influence professional practice. Psychopathology develops knowledge of psychological disorders and contemporary diagnostic frameworks such as DSM-5, ICD-11, and the Power and Threat Meaning Framework, covering symptoms, differential diagnosis, comorbidity, psychological formulation, treatment planning, evidence-based practice, and cultural and socioeconomic influences. The Integrative Approach in Action helps students understand how different counselling and psychotherapy theories contribute to an integrative approach and encourages reflection on personal factors influencing therapeutic practice. Students also choose between a Dissertation and Practical Internship, allowing them to pursue research-based or practice-focused development. Overall, the programme combines therapeutic theory, clinical application, research, reflection, professional development, and ethical practice, preparing students to work thoughtfully and responsibly with individuals, couples, and families while developing their own professional identity as counselling and psychotherapy practitioners.