Incorporating HEDip Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions and HECert Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Information Only

Leicester Vaughan College is currently in negotiations with an established university that should see us offering degrees from autumn 2021. The information provided here only gives an indication of the College’s plans and does not form part of any formal offer or commitment. Once we receive formal approval and agreement for the course, we will be able to provide more detailed information.  Please note therefore that this information is subject to change.

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About the BA Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions Course

This is a part-time six-year BA programme, however, if this feels a little daunting, you can opt to study at varying levels within the course, as it has entry and exit points throughout the programme. 

The first two years will give you a Higher Education Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions.  This would give you a qualification to enhance existing or desired professional roles within the therapeutic and caring sector, for example, Mental Health Support Worker. It will not qualify you as a professional counsellor. The HE Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions is an open access course and does not require standard qualifications. 

On successful completion of the Higher Education Certificate you are eligible to apply to study on the Higher Education Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions, which is a professional counsellor training course. It is at this stage you will begin clinical practice and see clients within a placement counselling agency, undertake clinical supervision and personal development work. The application process will include an interview and group process to ascertain suitability for the counselling work. If you already have some Level 4 qualifications in Counselling, you may be eligible to start with the Higher Education Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Interventions. 

The final two years of the degree programme is the BA Top Up. This is open to all professional counsellors who have undertaken a Higher Education Diploma or Foundation Degree in Counselling.

Counselling Course Entry Requirements

This course offers entry and exit points throughout at Level 4 HECert; Level 5 HEDip and Level 6 BA Top Up. It is designed for students who wish to either, use counselling skills in another role or for personal development, professional counsellor training or top up existing core professional counsellor training to a BA Hons degree.  

  • Level 4 consists of six modules that cover both theory and practice of counselling, with the last module giving focus to either using existing skills or to continue with the HEDip professional counsellor training.
  • Level 5 training consists of ten modules over the two years.  It is at this stage you will begin to see clients in a placement agency, undertake clinical supervision and take part in a weekly personal development process group. It is also when you will become student members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, with opportunity on completion to become a registered counsellor on the National Register of Counsellors. You will be required to have a DBS and clinical supervisor in place before seeing clients.
  • Level 6 training will top up previous counsellor training to a BA Hons and aims to provide additional skills and knowledge to the professional counsellor, including working with children and young people. 

Part-Time Course Hours

Your commitment would be to approximately 15 hours of study per week.

Our intention is to offer this as weekday twilight sessions (approx. 6-9pm) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays , with occasional other days and times, such as Saturdays.  These will be in Leicester City Centre, but it might be that the autumn term is online or blended in 2021 due to corona. If this is the case we will discuss with student the different options and structures. Normal face-to-face teaching will mean one evening per week; if blended we will likely have two shorter sessions each week.

Student and Staff Co-operative

You will also benefit from being part of an innovative co-operative community of scholars organising autonomously with your peers and academic staff. You will gain valuable co-operative skills as it is delivered by you and other students, with support and guidance from staff. Students are actively encouraged to join Leicester Vaughan College, the education co-operative in which they are learning. As members of the Community Benefit Society they will have full voting rights, and be able to participate fully in the life of this democratic organization, which in itself is a rich site of learning.