MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy

The choice between becoming a counsellor or psychotherapist depends on the career pathway you want to pursue and your long-term goals. Psychotherapists typically engage in deep, long-term therapy and often require more advanced training. A master’s in counselling and psychotherapy, like the MSc at GBS, can help you explore both professions. Whether you pursue talking therapy courses or in-depth psychotherapy, both careers are respected, in demand and impactful in the UK healthcare sector. 

To enrol on an MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy programme at GBS, you typically need a degree or an equivalent qualification. Please check the course-specific requirements before applying. For more information on entry requirements, email the admissions team at admissions@globalbanking.ac.uk. 

Graduates of the MSc psychology or MSc counselling psychology can pursue roles such as psychotherapist, counselling psychologist, mental health therapist or clinical supervisor. You can explore rewarding opportunities in schools, hospitals, private clinics and community outreach services as a mental health counsellor, school counsellor, social worker or family therapist. 

Counselling is a form of talking therapy, but the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Talking therapies are when individuals talk to a trained professional to address their mental and emotional issues. It is a long-term commitment and involves a range of therapeutic approaches. Counselling, on the other hand, focuses on current issues and short-term support. It addresses immediate issues or situations, such as relationship problems, career changes or grief. 

GBS's MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy is a postgraduate course that blends academic study with practical training in therapy. It focuses on developing creative and therapeutic skills and applying those skills and psychological theories in real-world settings. Through experiential learning and expressive personal development, you will have a chance to build the self-awareness and clinical competence required for professional practice in the UK. 

Yes, GBS’s MSc Counselling and Psychotherapy programme is validated by Bath Spa University and aligns with industry standards. This ensures the academic rigour and professional relevance required for further registration with professional therapy organisations in the UK. 

Yes, it does. To become registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), students are required to complete at least 100 hours of clinical practice. For the MSc Counselling with Psychotherapy programme at GBS, these 100 hours can be done over 6 weeks, working two days a week. Students will be placed in a suitable therapy setting, where they will connect theory with practice, understand different counselling approaches, manage a small caseload under supervision, improve their communication skills, work with varied needs, create care or treatment plans, recognise risks to individuals or others, and make recommendations for future support.