Psychotherapy

The MSc in Psychotherapy is a four-year part-time professional training programme at Level 9 NFQ (120 credits). Students may exit after two years with a Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy (60 credits; although please note that the Graduate Diploma is not a qualification to practise psychotherapy).



The MSc programme is an integrative psychotherapy training programme, focused on working with adult clients (individuals and relationships); not for working with children or adolescents, as this would involve further or more specialised training. Our programme is integrative in comprising of and holding instruction and in-formation within the theories and practice of humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic and systemic approaches.



The MSc programme fosters an inquiry-based attitude in psychotherapy theory, practice and research. This integrative psychotherapy programme provides students with an opportunity to work psychotherapeutically with a diversity of clients with complex and multifaceted needs and intends to hold equality, diversity and inclusion as a core principle for staff, students, clinical training and thus clients.



Students will also be able to develop specialist expertise in particular fields of psychotherapy - including relationship therapy, psychosexual therapeutic practice and working with trauma.



It also includes supervision of research and clinical work to facilitate completion of a research project and a professional practice portfolio.



The MSc programme is designed to equip students to undertake therapeutic practice with individuals and relationships. The course is delivered in Dublin City University via block teaching (approximately three days per month) over the academic year September to May.

For admission to the M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, entrants will normally:



Have a relevant level 8 undergraduate degree (on the NFQ: National Framework of Qualifications; or its equivalent outside of Ireland; for example, in social care/work, psychology, nursing, education, etc.)



Have completed a minimum of one year's recent relevant professional experience in a caring or mental health helping role, which has included some training and supervision (for example, voluntary counsellor/helpline work, social care, nursing, special needs teaching or guidance counselling, psychology assistant or pastoral care experience). This year of experience should be completed prior to application. The majority of this experience needs to have been working with adults and be based on real time verbal communication (in person or by phone/video, but not text or email communication



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their application under the Transcripts section of the portal, affirming their intent to apply for RPL. For more information on RPL see here



Be able to establish and demonstrate reflective capacity, personal readiness, and professional suitability for psychotherapy training



Successfully undertake a selection interview



Due to the specialist nature of this programme, additional criteria may be used to assess suitability to undertake this programme. For further information, please contact the Programme Chair using the contact details above.

4 years part-time.

Careers

There are career prospects for counsellors and psychotherapists within the Statutory, Education, Voluntary and Private sectors. Due to the programme's specialism, you will find specialist psychotherapeutic practice with individuals and couples. Alternatively, researchers in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research projects are always in demand.