Course summary

The BA (Hons) Counselling Studies and Working with Children, Young People and Families is a popular course combination involving the study of two different disciplines to give students the knowledge and understanding needed for a range of career opportunities. The Counselling Studies element of the programme focuses largely on working with individuals and using therapeutic interventions in order to facilitate change and promote psychological well-being. The Working with Children, Young People and Families subject focuses holistically on broader factors that may impact upon an individual’s quality of life including environmental, and economic factors. Together, both subject areas critically consider factors at both an individual, family, social, political, and sociological level that may impact upon an individual’s quality of life and the potential need for interventions to promote well-being. Why Study This Course?

• Students on the Counselling Studies and Working with Children, Young People and Families programme gain an in-depth understanding of counselling theory and its application, along with the acquisition of a range of listening skills.

• Whilst it must be emphasised that this course does not provide a professional counselling training, and that graduates will not be qualified as counsellors, it does provide an excellent basis for postgraduate training as a counsellor or psychotherapist.

• The course is also designed to give students a ‘rounded’ understanding of work with children, young people and families through interdisciplinary study, drawing on a number of social science traditions in social policy, sociology and politics - all studied in an applied way

• The programme will develop graduates who are familiar with and able to critically analyse concepts around professional judgement and risk in working ethically with others

• Students will learn how to negotiate the relationship between academic theory and their understanding of workplace settings and their roles within these settings