Welcome to your Psychotherapeutic Counselling course

Welcome to the psychotherapeutic counselling course. We’re very excited to meet you and to be able to support you as you train to become counsellors.

Starting a new course can be daunting and this introduction is designed to be something of a help with that. You’ll begin the course in our ‘becoming a counsellor’ module, which is designed to give you the building blocks you need to be able to move into placement quickly and easily.

Our team consists of qualified counsellors from across a variety of modalities, which means that you will gain a wealth of experience, understanding and knowledge. Your placements will help you to gain the practical knowledge and understanding alongside the theory that informs your approach, and the reflexivity we ask for that helps to make you better counsellors.

We update and change module content every year to make sure that the course is relevant and exciting for you as you learn.

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Mairi Smith

Lecturer

Seamus Corcoran

Lecturer

James Vernon

Lecturer

After completing his MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, James splits his time between academia and his private counselling practice. His research interests are in the field of bereavement counselling especially in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

James's profile

Jacqueline Jouannet

Lecturer

I am a lecturer on the MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling and course lead on the University Certificate in Counselling. I work as a counsellor/supervisor in private practice, with interest in working with school counsellors in educational settings

Jacqueline's profile

Isabel Willerton

Lecturer

Johanna Johnson

Support Worker

I am a part-time lecturer and Specialist Mental Health Student Mentor at Staffordshire University and facilitate peer group supervision and provide clinical supervision in my private practice.

Johanna's profile

First activity

Welcome to your counselling course. This is a two year diploma course that runs on a Wednesday from 9-5

First module

Your first module, delivered from 18^th Oct is ‘becoming a counsellor’. You have already started your counselling life throughout either a level 3 or a certificate, or through other experience. This module prepares you for starting your placement. The module will cover the bases of theory, as well as practical experience and the ‘readiness to practice’ test that you must pass before you start in placement. This module also requires you to identify and contract with your personal therapist ready to start your therapy hours requirement.

Delivery of course

Most of the course is taught in person. Some lectures and workshops will be online – these will be whole days. As practitioners, most of you will do a mixture of online and in-person work and it’s important to do a mix of this in practice also.

Progression

The course is designed that you progress from module to module. You must pass the end of year one to progress in to year two (you may not carry assignments over). Your progress is monitored by course tutors. We are trained in a variety of counselling approaches, and this means that sometimes you will hear feedback that we consider differently important. All tutors are aligned on the basis of what makes a good counsellor, and additional feedback is something of our own professional opinion.

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

We look forward to welcoming you in October.

If you have any questions, please send them to your Course Leader: LJ Potter (LJ.Potter@staffs.ac.uk)