Program Overview

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MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Person Centred Modalities)

Overview

This programme is suitable for graduates who wish to expand their knowledge and understanding of the human condition and the contribution of advanced-level counselling and psychotherapy practice. It uses person-centred approaches that focus on the person’s perceptions of his or her present circumstances and assist the person in identifying his or her own answers to problems or obstacles in life.

Course Details

Type

Postgraduate

Duration

Two Years Part-Time

Validated by

QQI (by ICHAS)

Mode

Part-Time

Campus

Dublin Main Campus / Limerick

NFQ Level

9

Course Placement & Personal Therapy

Practicum Module

Learners must undertake work-based learning requiring 200 hours of Client Work in a counselling or psychotherapy setting. This allows learners to apply the theoretical and practical aspects of the programme, working therapeutically with clients in a clinical setting and developing transferable, adaptable, appropriate therapeutic and active listening skills under appropriate clinical supervisory arrangements.

Knowing Self Module

Learners will undertake 50 hours of Personal Psychotherapeutic experience as part of the Knowing Self module.

Module Outline

Theoretical Perspectives of Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy

This module aims to support learners in acquiring the knowledge of person-centred approaches to counselling and psychotherapy necessary to work with clients. Over the course of the module, learners will focus on the theoretical basis for Person-Centered counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches. They must appraise the evidence base for the range of explanatory theories and practices associated with this Modality of Practice.

Research Methodologies & Design

The aim of the module is to facilitate students to critically evaluate the differing approaches and methods used for the generation of evidence.

Skills & Competencies in Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy

The module aims to facilitate students' exploration and critical evaluation of skills and competencies used in individual person-centred counselling and psychotherapy. Over the course of the module, learners will focus on the central place of the therapeutic relationship and the role of the practitioner in supporting and facilitating change. They will also be required to appraise the evidence base for person-centred approaches.

Person-Centred Modalities & Therapeutic Group Work

The aim of the module is to facilitate students to explore and critically evaluate the use of Therapeutic Group Work in Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy. Learners will focus on the central place of the Therapeutic Relationship and the role of the practitioner in supporting and facilitating Group Work over the period of the Module. They will also be required to appraise the evidence base for Group Work within Person centred approaches.

Understanding Psychopathology

The aim of this module is to help the learner achieve a higher order understanding of the importance of mental illness and disorder in the context of psychotherapeutic activities.

Knowing Self

The Module will focus on the development of in-depth ‘personal’ knowledge through structured forms of psychotherapeutic engagement. This module will offer an experientially orientation introduction to personal psychotherapeutic experience.

Applications of Person-Centered Counselling & Psychotherapy

The aim of the module is to facilitate students to critically evaluate the use of Person-Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy in differing contexts and with differing populations.

Practicum

The aim of this module is to support learners to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitude to work within applied settings at a higher order level using a defined structure to enhance ongoing performance. The fields of Counselling & Psychotherapy have dimensions that extend beyond the acquisition of theoretic knowledge alone and the professional Practicum placement affords the opportunity for learning to take place in appropriate professional contexts. This module aims to extend the professional experience of learners through exposure to varied counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches and philosophies, and allow them the opportunity to experience a range of service provision models. This experience will allow learners to reflect critically on issues relating to quality and delivery of practice. The module will further explore the concepts of professionalism, ethical practice and continuing professional development, enabling learners to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes for dealing with issues both personal and professional.

Dissertation

As a capstone module, the aim is to facilitate students to complete a research project, drawing on their own learning within the programme and enabling them to focus on an area of specialism that is of particular interest and relevance to their own practice. The Dissertation module (30 ECTS) will be a culmination of the research-based practice/independent practice and in the form of an Academic Dissertation.

Timetables

Timetable

Timetables will be made available closer to the course start date.

This course is delivered over 2 Years Part-Time. Lectures are delivered one evening a week from 6pm-9pm and on approximately eight Saturdays from 9:30am-4:30 pm in the academic year (Sept-May).

The programme utilises blended learning for theoretic elements of engagement while in-person attendance is required for skills-based modules, allowing for flexibility in achieving a work/life/study balance.

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

This programme is designed for graduates in health and human sciences, particularly graduates of counselling-related programmes, nursing, social care, social work, psychology, and programmes in cognate areas, who wish to expand their knowledge and understanding of the human condition.

Applicants will normally have successfully achieved a Level 2:2 award in a relevant Human Science Level 8 degree.

Those who have completed other relevant education programmes or have relevant professional experience, etc., where Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Acquired Prior Learning (APL) can be applied to the programme by submission of programme content, qualification, and assignments equivalent to an appropriate Level 8 award at an Honours 2:2 standard can also be considered.

All applicants undertake a selection interview to support applicants to make an informed decision regarding their choice of programme and to ensure suitability.

Successful applicants would be required to complete Garda Vetting at the College.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your native language, you must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement. The minimum English language proficiency requirement for this programme is B2+ in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.5.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The College is committed to recognising prior learning attained both formally and informally. It may be recognised either to facilitate access to a higher education programme or to allow an award of credit, such as exemption from a module.

It is the learner's responsibility to make a formal written application to the College requesting an exemption and supplying all appropriate supporting evidence, i.e., transcript of results and module descriptor/syllabus, including intended learning outcomes. Recognised prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis, with an emphasis on academic and clinical experience.

Fees

This programme is offered on a part-time basis only, and tuition fee payment options, including payment plans, are available to learners.

Please note that not all study modes may be offered at all times; for confirmation, refer to the Intake dates on the Overview tab.

Tuition Fees

Irish/EU citizens, living In Ireland

Study Mode: Part-Time / Blended

• Dublin Main Campus: €7,800.00
• Limerick Campus: €7,800.00

Additional Requirements and Costs

Please be aware that Personal Therapy and Clinical Supervision have to be completed as part of the programme and the costs associated with these are extra and are not included in tuition fees.

Flexible Payment Options

Students wishing to avail of an instalment plan should contact [insert contact information].

Students who opt for an instalment plan will incur an extra annual fee of €150 to avail of this facility.

Progression

Progression

On successful completion of the MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy, learners will be qualified to access Level 10 Programmes on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Career Options

This programme is designed to meet the requirement of professional accreditation with the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (APCP) and the National Association for Professional Counselling & Psychotherapy. Graduates from this programme can be found working in various settings across the caring profession and can be found working in such as:

• Private Practice
• HSE
• Addiction Treatment Centres
• Pieta House
• Mental health Services
• Aiseiri
• My Move Counselling Services
• Tusla
• Social Care
• Mental Health Nursing