Counselling Psychology
Counsellors come in many guises but more recently, thankfully, there has been a move towards greater protection for clients by requiring formal registration - although as far as I know just about anyone can still set themselves up as a counsellor. The BPS defines counselling psychologists as:
"Counselling psychologists
apply psychology to working collaboratively with people across a diverse
range of human problems. These include helping people manage difficult life
events such as
bereavement, past and present relationships and working with mental health issues
and disorders.
Counselling psychologists accept subjective experience as valid for each person,
explore underlying
issues and use an active collaborative relationship to empower people to consider
change. Counselling
psychologists utilise a holistic stance, which involves examining the issues
brought, within the wider
context of what has given rise to them." BPS
There are some 29 institutions that
offer, primarily, Masters programmes in Counselling Psychology across the UK.
Modules covered might include: Cognitive Behavioural Approach, Cognitive Behaviour
Skills, Humanistic Approach, Humanistic Skills, Personal Development, Professional
Issues, Psychodynamic Approaches,
Research Methods, Therapeutic Issues and Ethics, Therapeutic Model.
I think most institutions require a Certificate in Counselling and, of course, GBR status for the BPS.
Recommended reading:
Handbook of Counselling Psychology
Stress Management and Counselling
Counselling couples in relationships
Foundations of Clinical and Counselling Psychology