Counselling Children and Young People MSc

Program Overview

The University of Northampton's Counselling Children and Young People MSc is a two-year part-time program designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills in counselling practices for children, young people, and their families. The program emphasizes an eco-systemic perspective, integrating Systemic Family Therapy, CBT, and Creative therapies. It prepares students for career opportunities in counselling and serves as a stepping stone towards further postgraduate study.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The University of Northampton's Counselling Children and Young People MSc is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide advanced knowledge and understanding of counselling practices for children, young people, and their families. The program aims to equip students with the skills and theoretical knowledge necessary for a career in counselling.

Objectives:

• Promote an advanced level of knowledge and understanding of counselling with children, young people, and their families.
• Develop practical and professional counselling skills.
• Enhance employability and skills through self-awareness, reflection on practice, and supervisory relationships.
• Provide opportunities to attend the CAMH conference.

Outline:

Structure:

• The program is structured into two years of part-time study.
• Students typically attend classes for 1-2 days per week (once per week in Year 1 and 2 days per week in Year 2).
• A typical teaching day runs from 9am to 5pm.
• There are two intensive weeks (Tue-Wed-Thu) in Year 1, one for induction and one for consolidation.

Course Schedule:

• Year 1:
• Understanding Mental Health in Children and Young People (30 Credits)
• Counselling with Children, Young People and Families (30 Credits)
• Counselling Children and Young People in Practice (30 Credits)
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (10 Credits)
• Fundamental Skills for Working with Children, Young People and Families (30 Credits)
• Year 2:
It offers a critical perspective on diagnosis and treatment, and a nuanced analysis of cognitive-emotional, social, and behavioral development.
• Counselling with Children, Young People and Families (PSYM066): This module focuses on developing advanced counselling skills, including evidence-based approaches suitable for counselling with children and young people.
• Counselling Children and Young People in Practice (PSYM067): This module provides opportunities for practical application of knowledge and skills, building professional relationships, and developing career opportunities.
It also helps students build a consistent model of counselling with children, young people, and families.
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods (PSYM085): This module develops a critical understanding of research methods, enabling students to evaluate research and propose research of an acceptable standard.
• Dissertation and Research Methods (PSYM086): This module builds on basic research methods skills, developing advanced research skills for conducting an empirical research project relevant to the program.
• Fundamental Skills for Working with Children, Young People and Families (PSYM111): This module equips students with core skills for working with children, young people, and their families in CAMH-related contexts, emphasizing the complexity of counselling with children and young people.

Assessment:

• The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Essays
• Case studies
• Self-reflective log books
• Critical reviews
• Video recorded role plays
• Oral presentations
• There are no examinations in this course.
• The Research Methods and Dissertation module culminates in a supervised, original, and independently undertaken research project assessed through a 12,000 to 15,000 word dissertation.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods include:
• Lectures
• Workshops
• One-to-one tutorials
• Private study
• Online activities
• Group work
• Role play scenarios
• The teaching staff includes specialists in the field of counselling with expertise in CBT, systemic family therapy, Creative therapies, Play therapy, and Gestalt approaches.
• The program benefits from the experience of practitioners from various professions, including psychology, social work, nursing, psychiatric nursing, law, and psychiatry.

Careers:

• The program leads to a counselling qualification, opening up a range of employment possibilities.
• Potential career paths include:
• Private practice
• Educational and healthcare institutions
• Community and youth work services
• Third sector organizations
• Residential facilities
• Students are required to complete a supervised placement practice of a minimum of 100 hours, as well as a minimum of 40 hours of personal therapy with an approved and BACP or UKCP accredited counsellor or therapist.