Psychology with Counselling Skills

Psychology with counselling skills is a British Psychological Society-accredited degree that combines the scientific study of mind and behaviour with the practical, relational skills that underlie therapeutic work. The pairing is a natural one: understanding how people think, feel, and develop provides the theoretical foundation for the kind of attentive, empathic, and ethically grounded work that counselling demands. Studying them together equips you to engage with human distress and wellbeing from both a scientific and a relational perspective.

At Middlesex University, this three-year programme blends psychological theory with hands-on experience in therapeutic settings. You will study the full range of psychological science, from cognition, perception, and developmental psychology through to social, clinical, and biological psychology, alongside the counselling skills frameworks, ethical principles, and reflective practice that underpin effective therapeutic work. The programme includes a foundation year for those who benefit from additional academic preparation, a sandwich placement year providing professional experience in a relevant clinical or counselling setting, and embedded work placement opportunities throughout.

BPS accreditation means graduates achieve Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership, opening the route to professional qualification in a range of applied psychology fields. Those who wish to qualify as counsellors or psychotherapists will need to pursue further postgraduate training. Other graduates move into mental health support roles, wellbeing coordination in education and the workplace, youth work, social care, and a range of roles in which psychological understanding and relational skills together add value.

Further study in clinical psychology, counselling psychology, or psychotherapy is the natural next step for those seeking professional qualification in the therapeutic professions.