Psychotherapy and counseling are types of therapy that can help boost mental well-being.

Psychotherapy is typically a more in-depth, long-term process that focuses on a person’s feelings and past experiences. It can lead to personal growth.

Counseling, meanwhile, is more likely to refer to short-term talk therapy. It focuses on helping a person find solutions to current issues. An individual can use it to develop strategies, actions, and behaviors that can help make daily life more manageable and enjoyable.

For more information:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/psychotherapy-vs-therapy

https://www.brightonandhovepsychotherapy.com/blog/the-difference-between-counselling-and-psychotherapy-2/

Counsellors help people to identify problems in their lives, allowing them to reflect on what is happening to them and consider alternative ways of doing things.

Counsellors help people discuss their problems and feelings in a confidential setting. 

Career Prospects 

You can take on increased responsibility in training or supervision, or choose to specialise in an area such as:

• bereavement

• children and young people

• family therapy

• mental health

• sexual health

• sexual violence

• substance abuse.

Although there's no compulsory training required to become a counsellor, most employers will expect you to have undertaken professional training and be registered with a relevant professional body. Registration shows that you meet certain educational standards and abide by a code of ethics.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) recommends a three-stage training route, comprising the following:

1. Introduction to counselling - provides basic counselling skills and an overview of training before committing to a full counselling course. Courses typically last 8 to 12 weeks and are available at further education (FE) colleges or adult education centres. These courses are a good way of helping you to decide if counselling is right for you.

2. Certificate in counselling skills - a deeper theoretical understanding of counselling, develops your counselling skills and prepares you for the core training at the next stage. Courses typically last one year part time at FE colleges.

3. Core practitioner training - equips you with the skills, knowledge and competence to work as a counsellor. The minimum level of training at this stage should be a Level 4 Diploma, but can also be a foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Training must adhere to internationally recognised standards of quality and cover reflective, competent and ethical practice. Courses should be at least one year full time or two years part time, with a minimum of 100 hours in supervised placements.

https://www.bacp.co.uk/careers/careers-in-counselling/training/

Training courses are provided by colleges, universities and private training organisations. Research courses thoroughly to make sure they meet your career needs as training is a substantial investment of time and money.

Look for courses that are approved/accredited by a professional body such as:

• BACP

• National Counselling Society (NCS)

• UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) (psychotherapy or psychotherapeutic counselling).

Completion of an accredited core practitioner training course will allow you to apply to join the professional body's professional register of practitioners.

Different courses have different entry requirements and you should check with individual providers for what they are looking for in terms of previous training and experience.

As a psychotherapist you'll help clients explore and express their thought processes, feelings and behaviour. Sessions with clients can cover a range of issues, including:

• addiction

• behavioural issues

• eating disorders

• emotional issues, such as anger or grief

• learning difficulties

• mental ill health, for example anxiety and depression

• sleep disorders

• work difficulties, redundancy and job loss

• relationship difficulties and divorce.

As a psychotherapist you can take a number of approaches to your work, depending on the theoretical models you adopt and the therapy you practise.

Therapies include:

• constructivist and existential psychotherapy

• family and systemic therapies

• humanistic and integrative psychotherapy

• outcome-oriented and hypno-psychotherapies

• psychotherapy for children and young people

• psychoanalysis.

You can train as a psychotherapist via a course accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). 

Psychotherapy is often a second career with many people coming from clinical psychology, psychiatry, mental health, education, nursing or social work backgrounds.

To practise as an adult psychotherapist, you should complete an accredited psychotherapy training programme.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) accredits a number of postgraduate psychotherapy training programmes. Taught training usually takes four years part time, with potentially another two years to meet all requirements for practice with clients for accreditation. This includes evidence of approximately 450 hours of practice, theory and skills.

Before choosing a course, consider which psychotherapy approach ('modality') you want to train in as different training providers focus on particular psychotherapies. Contact the relevant professional organisation for the specialist area you're interested in to identify training and accreditation options.

To get a place on a postgraduate training course, you'll usually need a degree in a relevant subject such as:

• psychology

• nursing

• medicine

• social work

• teaching.

You'll also need experience of working in a 'helping' profession, such as nursing, social work, mental health, probation work or teaching.

Taken from Prospects 2024 

A degree in a related subject, such as nursing, psychology, social work or education, might help you to get onto a counselling course. 

However, previous counselling experience and evidence that you have the necessary personal qualities, commitment and self-awareness can be just as important. 

Click the buttons below for information regarding the below degree options : 

Example degree courses - linked to counselling:

UCLan

https://www.uclan.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/psychology-with-psychotherapy-counselling-bsc

Chester 

https://www1.chester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/counselling-skills-and-psychology

Edge Hill 

https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/courses/counselling-and-psychotherapy/

Manchester Met 

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/bsc-psychology-with-counselling-and-psychotherapy/september-2022/

Search on ucas.com for all courses that include Counseling/ psychotherapy. 

Personal Statement help 

https://universitycompare.com/personal-statement-examples/psychology/statement-23/

https://www.studential.com/personal-statement-examples/counselling-psychology-personal-statement

Reflexive Statement 

Some Universities have asked for a 'Reflexive statement' as part of the application process. Click here for help with this. 

Interview 

Questions to think about :

Why do you wish to study Psychotherapy and counselling?

Why would you like to attend this university?

What do you know about humanistic counselling and psychotherapy and how does it fit with your own approach to helping?

What do you know about the person-centered approach?

What do you know about other counseling approaches?

What do you understand by the term ‘empathy’ and its importance to this degree?

What do you think the emotional demands of the course might be? How will you respond to those demands?

Can you please share an example of when you were in touch with your own feelings? What did you learn about yourself in this process?

Learning on this programme is often experiential. What would it be like for you to share your thoughts and feelings with others in a group?

A commitment to ethical practice is an important part of the course. How are your personal values similar to or different from the values outlined in the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions?

What do you know about the BACP/ BCP? Why are they important?

What are the current issues in this sector currently?

What career plans do you have?

Do you have any questions?