Counselling and Psychotherapy: Professional Practice

Counselling and psychotherapy are the talking therapies that support people to understand themselves better, to address difficulties in their relationships and lives, and to find their own ways toward wellbeing and change. Professional training in these fields develops both a deep understanding of psychological and therapeutic theory and the relational skills to build and sustain a safe therapeutic relationship in which genuine personal growth can occur. It is work that demands personal as well as intellectual development, and the training process necessarily involves reflection on yourself as well as on theory and technique.

At the University of Salford, this part-time programme is grounded in the recognition that human relationships are at the heart of almost every aspect of personal and working life. Training to be a professional counsellor develops your understanding of effective relationships and enables you to help people who are struggling with themselves or with others to find their own ways to transform their situation. You will study the major therapeutic models, including person-centred approaches, psychodynamic thinking, and cognitive behavioural perspectives, developing the ability to work within and across frameworks in ways that serve the individual client.

Supervised practice is central to professional counselling training, and the programme includes placements that develop your clinical skills under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

Graduates from professional counselling and psychotherapy programmes go on to work as counsellors, psychotherapists, and therapeutic practitioners in NHS services, GP surgeries, employee assistance programmes, schools, voluntary organisations, private practice, and community settings. Many pursue accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Further study at postgraduate level is available for those who wish to deepen their therapeutic expertise or develop research skills in the field.