Humanistic Counselling (Top-Up)

If you have a DipHE in counselling (or an equivalent Level 5 counselling qualification), you can top it up to a Bachelor's degree on this 1-year course.

You'll build on the counselling skills (100 hours completed by the end of L5) and interpersonal abilities you gained in your previous studies by developing knowledge in advanced humanistic counselling skills. You'll learn the latest trends and developments within humanistic counselling theory and apply them to your practice, with professional development support in the form of discussion focus hubs, supervision and networking.

You'll also complete a research project on a topic that aligns with your interests and ambitions.

When you complete the course, you could work as a humanistic counsellor in areas such as education, the police service, the prison service and the voluntary sector. The advanced skills and practitioner experience you gain will allow you to work with a wider variety of clients with more complex needs.

Alternative courses
You can specialise in other types of counselling and therapy on our BSc (Hons) Gestalt Counselling and BSc (Hons) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy top-up degrees.

Location
This course takes place at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus. While studying here, you can access the University's student support services and community including study support, the Students’ Union and our library's online resources.

What you'll experience

On this course you'll:
• Learn advanced humanistic counselling skills, building on the knowledge you developed during your DipHE



• Develop advanced research skills on a research project that aligns with your interests and career ambitions



• Apply your knowledge and skills with at least 100 hours of supervised counselling on a placement in the community



• Learn from experienced, industry-trained staff who've worked in organisations or run their own private practices



• Build a foundation to help work towards a further professional accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) following completion of the course



• Develop transferable skills you can apply in all aspects of your life and career in areas such as problem solving, communication, group working, planning, effective feedback and IT



• Study at South Hampshire College Group - Southampton College Campus with access to University of Portsmouth support and services



• Apply for membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and get access to member resources including journal subscriptions, free courses and job boards



Careers and opportunities

Events such as the coronavirus pandemic and increased awareness in society about mental health have increased the demand for counselling and therapy services. As a humanistic counsellor, you can have a significant positive impact on people's health and wellbeing, and help take the pressure off other health services such as GPs and hospitals.

Public, private and charity sector settings you could work in after the course include:
• Education



• Alcohol and drug services



• Eating disorder services



• Mental health services



• GPs



• Police and prison services

All Clearing students are guaranteed an offer of a room in halls (terms and conditions apply), giving you added confidence as you plan your next steps. Full details can be found on the University of Portsmouth website.

By signing up for Priority Clearing, you can receive accommodation information straight to your inbox, along with exclusive access to Portsmouth’s Clearing Visit Day on Thursday 6 August. Priority Clearing applicants benefit from queue-jump status on Results Day, as well as exclusive updates, invitations to Clearing Webinars and personalised one-to-one application support.

The Clearing Visit Day offers you the chance to experience Portsmouth’s welcoming campus and vibrant student community first-hand before you enrol. With guaranteed accommodation, you can feel reassured that you’ll be at the heart of university life from day one.