Find out more about studying Doctor of Counselling Psychology at Bristol, UWE? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
DCounsPsych - Doctorate in Counselling Psychology
Frenchay Campus
Part Time
Sep 2026
4 Year
This course gives you a doctorate-level education and training in psychotherapy and applied psychology, leading to the award of Doctor in Counselling Psychology. It includes a comprehensive programme of taught modules, 450 hours of supervised counselling psychology practice in a range of placements, and a doctoral research thesis. Experts guide you through psychotherapeutic theory, personal and professional development, and clinical practice.
Principles of Counselling Psychology - introduces the fundamental values and ethos of counselling psychology, with a strong focus on ethics and anti-oppressive practice.
Theory and Practice in Counselling Psychology 1 - exposes you to the history and principles of the relational psychodynamic approach.
Personal and Professional Development 1 - involves skills training, practice placements and personal reflection. You'll participate in a weekly experiential process group centred around relational psychodynamic principles.
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods - covers research methods in qualitative and quantitative design, ensuring that you acquire the essential skills for carrying out your research.
Systemic Thinking and Practice in Counselling Psychology - covers working with couples, families and groups. It gives you an opportunity to reflect on the systems in which you're embedded and identify institutional opportunities and barriers in your placements. The module forms the basis for extending your practice beyond the core emphasis on 1:1 work with individuals.
This module contextualises research within the field of counselling psychology, covering advanced methods such as autoethnography and psychotherapy process research. It also provides support for students in developing their initial research ideas and guides them through the various stages of the UWE Bristol professional doctorate research journey.
Theory and Practice in Counselling Psychology 2 - an in-depth look at the CBT approach filtered through a relational (rather than protocol-driven) lens, which equips you to work in the NHS. All teaching by an accredited CBT practitioner/counselling psychologist.
Personal and Professional Development 2 - further development through practice placements and personal reflection, based on CBT.
Critical Psychopathology - a critical deconstruction and interrogation of the knowledge(s) that psychologists, psychotherapists, and society at large draw upon when conceptualising mental health and wellbeing. We consider psychology's role in constructing 'individuals' and turn to community psychology for a more expansive understanding of the interrelatedness of people and their environment.
Professional Issues in Counselling Psychology - will present a critical oversight of current issues within the profession, such as the current emphasis on empirically supported treatments and the prescription rights debate. It's designed to support your professional artistry, one of the distinguishing features of counselling psychology.
Personal and Professional Development 3 - here we begin to integrate the approaches you have learned so far in applied practical and personal contexts. Placements can be chosen based on trainees' specialist interests.
This module covers leadership, psychometric testing, neuropsychological assessment and supervision.
When you complete the taught modules of the course, you submit a 40,000 word thesis on a topic that you've researched during the training. Research in counselling psychology is never far from practice or the subjectivity of the researcher, and we'll help you develop your research interests into a passion for scholarship that speaks to people and contributes to social justice. You'll work closely with a research supervisor (Director of Studies) and have support from a second supervisor; you are expected to independently defend your thesis at the final viva as a trainee counselling psychologist seeking qualification.
The University of the West of England, also known as UWE Bristol, is one of the UK's larger universities with nearly 40,...
