Doctoral Conversion Programme for Counselling Psychologists (DCPsych)

A Joint Programme with Middlesex University

Joint Heads of Department: Professor Maria Gilbert and Professor Vanja Orlans

Programme Leader: Professor Vanja Orlans

The Doctoral Conversion Programme for Counselling Psychologists is a joint programme between Middlesex University and Metanoia Institute. This is a post-qualification programme and has been derived from the longer Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy by Professional Studies (DCPsych) which is a first training. The Doctoral Conversion Programme has been designed for Chartered Counselling Psychologists who also have a masters degree and who are interested in developing their work at Doctoral level.

A key feature of the Doctoral Conversion Programme is the integration of research and practice as a core philosophy. Canidates on this programme are therefore expected to pursue doctoral level work in the context of some area of practice with which they are involved and through which they would both articulate and demonstrate a significant contribution to the fields of counselling psychology and psychotherapy.

Entry Requirements

We recognise that applicants will already have completed a masters level programme and will have accumilate the required 180 credits at level 4. They will also already have BPS Chartered Counselling Psychologists status and will therefore have acquired the relevant BPS competencies from previous training. However, as the award of DCPsych in the context of the validated MIddlesex/Metanoia programme reflects a particular philosophy and way of approaching clinical work, we do require candidates on application to demonstrate the following:

• An integrative framework based on the theory and practice of the psychological therapies, and which draws on the literature of both counselling psychology and psychotherapy.
• The capacity to work at the relational depth with clients that would include significant experience of personal psychological therapy.

In order to confirm the demonstration of these requirements as well as the necessary credits at master's level, we require applicants at entry to submit a reflective esay of 2,000 words (+/- 10%) that makes a persuasive case for the attainment of the above requirements and that also includes a protfolio of supporting evidence that these have been achieved. We refer to submision atlevel 4. This submission is part of the application process and a place on the programme is subject to an appropriate case being made.

Application Procedures

An application form for the Doctoral Conversion Programme can be obtained fro our Integrative Academic co-ordinator. The completed form needs to be submitted along with a full CV, the reflective essay referred to above, and 2 references, one academic and one personal.

The application will be assessed by the Head of Department and/or Admissions Tutor to ensure that basic entry requirements have been met. Suitable applicants will then be invited to attend a formal assessment interview.

Programme Design

The Doctoral Conversion Programme is designed on the modular basis enabling candidates to build up to the necessary level of credit required for the award of the DCPsych. Year 1 begins with an Introductory Day and is followed by three modules covering the development of a Professional Practice Portfolio, the design and development of the Research Proposal, and the consideration of Professional Knowledge. The modules provide a grounding in some key issues relevant to the development of Doctoral Projects as well creating an opportunity for candidates to work collaboratively and learn from each other.

Year 2 focuses on the Programme Approval and Project Development. Candidates meet together for a series of seminars over the year in order to hone their research projects for formal presentation to the Programme Approval Panel (PAP) and to pursue the further development of final project work. The Programme Approval process will normally take place at the beginning of this year so that the final project can be officially confirmed and registered with the University.