The Master’s in Counseling Psychology curriculum emphasizes clinical courses as well as core courses that support the student’s evolving relationship to professional practice. The Master’s in Counseling Psychology meets the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Senate Bill 33, Section 4980.36 of the Business and Professions Code (MFT). This degree also meets the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Senate Bill 788, Section 4999.33 of the Business and Professions Code for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).

The MS in Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy balances theoretical perspectives with the application of techniques and approaches, aiming to train students who wish to work with a variety of client/patient groups in various settings. The program prepares participants to conduct the assessment, prevention, and interventions for psychological difficulties, and to serve the profession and the client by offering high-quality services based on theory, high ethical integrity, and empirically validated practices.

The MSc in Applied Psychology: Health Psychology and Counselling is designed to help students to work effectively as health psychologists with patients (and their significant others and caretakers) and other professionals, by acquiring the essential theoretical and empirical knowledge, as well as essential therapeutic counselling skills, emphasizing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to meet the profession’s demands. The programme covers psychological theories of health and illness, stressing the importance of health promotion, risk prevention and behaviour change. The programme also stresses the importance of empirical evidence, legislation, ethics and related contexts (e.g. social, political) and health-related policies.

The MSc Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy is a programme structured in order to equip students with all the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the field of psychotherapy as independent counsellors – psychotherapists of the integrative approach. Students are encouraged to develop their understanding of the theoretical, social, cultural and ideological contexts in which their clients perceive, confront and manage problems. They will also consider and analyse major trends and orientations within integrative therapeutic work and develop their ability to identify and use appropriate sources of supervision within counselling practice. The programme has been designed by the University of Derby according to the criteria of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). While it meets BACP requirements it is not accredited by the Association; therefore students can apply for individual accreditation with the BACP, upon course completion.

The MSc in Applied Psychology: Clinical Psychology and Counselling is designed to help students work effectively as clinical psychologists with clinical individuals and other professionals, by acquiring the essential theoretical and empirical knowledge, as well as essential therapeutic counselling skills, emphasizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to meet the profession’s demands. The programme covers theories and empirical evidence around mental health, disorders and psychopathology, neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. The programme stresses the understanding of psychological functioning, as well as ways of dealing with psychological dysfunction and disorders, in everyday functionality.

UCLan’s pioneering accredited Undergraduate Degree Programme combining Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Counselling.

The mission of the MA in psychology with an emphasis in counseling psychology program is to provide its participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent in counseling psychology through academic and experiential learning.