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