Psychology with Counselling
Psychology with counselling is a degree that combines the scientific study of mind and behaviour with an understanding of therapeutic approaches and the practices through which people are supported through psychological difficulties. Psychology as a discipline has developed a substantial evidence base for understanding how people think, feel, and behave, and how psychological difficulties arise and are maintained. Counselling is concerned with the application of interpersonal and therapeutic skills to support people through distress, and it draws on a range of theoretical frameworks, including person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, and psychodynamic approaches.
Studying them together gives you both the scientific grounding and the applied orientation needed for many careers in health, wellbeing, and mental health services.
The Open University offers this programme through distance learning on a part-time basis, which makes it accessible to people at any stage of life and with any range of prior experience or commitments. You will study core psychology, including cognitive, social, developmental, and biological psychology, alongside modules that introduce counselling theory, therapeutic skills, and the ethical frameworks that govern practice. The OU's distinctive learning model combines high-quality written and digital study materials with online tutorials and a supportive academic community, and many students find that the flexibility of part-time distance learning allows them to reflect on what they are studying in the light of their own life and work experience in ways that enrich their learning.
Graduates from psychology with counselling programmes go on to careers in mental health and wellbeing services, counselling and psychotherapy practice, and the broader health and social care sector. For those who want to work as counsellors or psychotherapists, the degree provides a foundation but further professional training and supervised practice are required, typically through a postgraduate diploma or masters programme in counselling or psychotherapy accredited by a relevant professional body. Other graduates work in welfare roles, student support, community mental health services, and the voluntary sector.
The psychological knowledge developed in the degree is also valued in education, human resources, and management roles where understanding human behaviour is important. Postgraduate study in psychology, counselling, or clinical psychology is available for those who want to develop their expertise further.