Course summary
Do you have a background in counselling or psychology and want to gain the practical knowledge and interpersonal skills you need to pursue a career as a gestalt counsellor? On this Gestalt Counselling DipHE, you'll learn how to help people reflect on their current thoughts, feelings and behaviours so they can better understand their current situation. This can help them deal with relationship problems and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and stress. In year 1, you'll develop foundational counselling skills and explore all the counselling approaches available to practitioners, including humanistic counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). In your second year, you'll focus on developing the practical skills you need as a gestalt counsellor, putting what you learn into practice by conducting 100 hours of supervised counselling. You'll also learn about mental health issues and develop skills you need to work with different types of clients. When you complete the course, you could top up your diploma to a Bachelor's degree. You could also work as a gestalt counsellor in areas such as education, the police service, the prison service and the voluntary sector. Alternative courses This course shares the same 1st year modules as our DipHE Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and DipHE Humanistic Counselling. It's simple to switch courses at the end of year 1 if you change your mind about which counselling specialism to study. Location This course takes place at South Hampshire College Group - Eastleigh 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 from experienced, industry-trained staff who've worked in organisations or run their own private practices
- Study modules that give you a strong foundation for your studies and future career, covering topics including counselling skills, ethics, counselling theory and professional skills and development
- Focus on developing specialist gestalt counselling skills and knowledge in year 2
- Apply your knowledge and skills with at least 100 hours of supervised counselling on a placement in the community
- 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
- Learn research skills, which you can apply in your career and in degree-level study after 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 Eastleigh College 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
- Education
- Alcohol and drug services
- Eating disorder services
- Mental health services
- GPs
- Police and prison services
Modules
Year 1: Core modules in this year include:
- Development of Counselling Skills (40 credits)
- Developments in Counselling Theory (40 credits)
- Personal Development (20 credits)
- Professional Issues for the Counselling Practitioner (20 credits)
- Counselling Specific Clients' Groups (20 credits)
- Gestalt Counselling Skills (20 credits)
- Gestalt Counselling Theory (20 credits)
- Introduction to Research Methodologies (20 credits)
- Mental Health Issues (20 credits)
- Professional Development (20 credits)
Assessment method
On this counselling diploma, you'll be assessed through: Essays Live skills assessments (role play scenarios) Individual and group presentations Portfolios of evidence Case studies Personal learning journals Professional requirements (a 'Fitness to Practice' assessment) Supervised work-based learning You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. Feedback is central to this course. You'll get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future, as well as on your application for the 'Fitness to Practice' assessment. You'll also practice giving feedback during live skills assessments, where you'll receive feedback from your peers, as well as the assessment tutor.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
International applicants
This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 112 points
A level - BBC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DMM
Scottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 25 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H4
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
GCSE/National 4/National 5
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DMM
T Level - Not accepted
Level 3 Counselling skills qualification, Non-standard applications that do not meet the specific admissions criteria may be invited to attend an interview. Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting the course.
Additional entry requirements
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the course.
Interview
We consider applicants without Level 3 Counselling on an individual basis subject to a successful interview and interpersonal skills role-play.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5. |
Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
PTE Academic | 62 | An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill. |
TOEFL (iBT) | 79 | 79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing. |
Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components. |
Student Outcomes
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
EU | £6165 | Year 1 |
England | £6165 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £6165 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £6165 | Year 1 |
Wales | £6165 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £6165 | Year 1 |
Republic of Ireland | £6165 | Year 1 |
International | £19200 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP