Course Overview

Our new Graduate Certificate in Foundation for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training has been designed to provide you with a pathway to full clinical training as a counselor or psychotherapist. It is suitable for those working within the helping professions who have completed our Introduction to Counselling course, or equivalent.

You will learn about key concepts in counseling and psychotherapy with a focus on the psychodynamic method and psychosocial/organizational perspectives. You will be taught the significance of developmental life stages and the impact of these on the counseling relationship. You will also develop counseling skills in practical listening exercises and engage in a process of personal development through various experiential learning activities.

This course will enable you to make informed choices about whether counseling and psychotherapy training is right for you.

On completion, you will be ready to apply to clinical training, including Birkbeck's MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy and MSc Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents.

If you choose to continue in your current work role, you will have acquired valuable skills and understanding which can increase your professional effectiveness, especially if you are in a helping role or working with people in some capacity.

Graduates from our MSc clinical training courses go on to work as counselors and psychotherapists in a range of settings, often related to the placements they undertook while training.

We offer a comprehensive Careers Service - Birkbeck Futures - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education, and future ambitions.

General Eligibility

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge, and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on the judgment of academic potential.

Part Time Work Details

n/a

Language Requirement

• If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, and at least 6.5 in writing.