Psychology

Psychology (Counselling) is a degree that combines the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes with a focus on the theory and skills of counselling, positioning it for students who are drawn to both understanding psychological science and working therapeutically with people who are experiencing distress. Psychology as a discipline examines cognition, emotion, behaviour, development, and the biological systems that underpin all of these, using rigorous research methods to build an evidence base for understanding the mind. The counselling component introduces you to the major therapeutic traditions, including person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, and psychodynamic approaches, and to the practice skills, ethics, and self-awareness that effective helping relationships require.

At the University of Northampton, this three-year full-time programme gives you a foundation in both areas within a single degree. Northampton has a recognised tradition in counselling and psychology, and the programme is designed for students who want to understand the science of psychology while developing the personal and professional capacities that work in counselling and the helping professions demands. You will study core psychology areas, including cognitive, social, developmental, biological, and abnormal psychology, alongside counselling theory, the therapeutic relationship, diversity and ethics in counselling, and your own reflective development as a potential practitioner.

It is important to note that a degree of this kind is typically the beginning of a journey into counselling practice, not its endpoint. Professional registration as a counsellor requires further training beyond undergraduate level, and the degree provides a strong foundation for that progression.

Graduates move into further counselling training, roles in mental health and wellbeing support settings, youth work, social care, the NHS, human resources, and a wide range of contexts where understanding of psychological science and interpersonal communication are valued.