Practice-based learning and real-world experience is embedded throughout all of our mental health and counselling courses.

On our mental health courses, you will spend at least 120 hours on placement throughout your degree. Reflection on practice experiences, your personal and professional development, and a dedicated employability module are designed to support your progression into the workplace or further study.

In counselling and psychotherapy, on the BA (Hons) programme you will be required to undertake counselling placements in years 2 and 3. This comprises of offering one-to-one therapy for real clients, ensuring you gain the necessary professional experience to become a competent practitioner. On the BSc (Hons) degree you will have lots of experiential training in empathic responding and counselling skills, undertaking a placement in third year. Across both courses, experiential learning is essential in encouraging your development as a reflexive practitioner.

Work placements

During the programmes, students will engage in the opportunity to work directly with individuals who access mental health support and services via a work-based placement. These placement experiences provide students with the opportunity to gain key transferrable skills that are specific to their chosen career. Placements increase students’ knowledge of the workplace allowing them to directly apply their theoretical learning. This ultimately aids student achievement and their overall University experience. The University has great links with many organisations in areas such as education, NHS, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol, homelessness, women’s services, and carers services, providing a broad range of opportunities for student placements.

Eloise Smith, Practice and Employability Lead

The graduate experience

When I started my degree, I did not know whether my life skills could benefit the service in which I work at today. With the help from all the tutors at Edge Hill University, I have gained knowledge and the confidence to take on such a rewarding role in child and adolescent mental health. Learning about how children develop and respond has taught me that with the right support children can develop to a standard in which they will be able to live independently. Mental ill health in young people is on the rise and it is essential we provide them with the right support they need. Without all the support through my degree I truly believe I would not be in such a great job, and for that, I am truly grateful. I cannot emphasise enough how much this degree has helped me.”

Philip Clark, BSc (Hons) Child & Adolescent Mental Health & Wellbeing.

May 18, 2022