Master’s programs

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Somatic Psychology (MA) – California Institute for Integral Studies, California, USA
This program is one of only three programs in the United States that uses a combination of traditional psychotherapy and body-oriented approaches to work holistically with patients.

The program takes approximately two to three years of full-time study through a combination of distance and full-time coursework. Along with coursework requirements, students complete 50 hours of somatic psychotherapy.

Somatic psychotherapists explore the bodily sensations that patients experience as they form their personalities and interact with others. Students are taught traditional psychotherapy techniques through bodily and verbal interventions (e.g., breathing exercises, massage, motor exercises, and expression).

A combination of these approaches can be effective in working with patients who have experienced PTSD, dissociation, and identity issues.

The curriculum prepares students for accreditation and careers in counseling psychology in private and professional settings.

Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling and Psychotherapy – Institute for Clinical Social Work, Illinois, USA.
This master’s degree is closely related to psychodynamic perspectives and emphasizes clinical practice.

Psychodynamic therapy involves interpreting mental and emotional processes rather than focusing on behavior (Ackerman, 2017). The program takes about two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study.

Their educational approach emphasizes mentoring and real-world experience, emphasizing the importance of clinical practice and internship hours.

Courses are more generalized to psychotherapy practice, but students have the option of choosing specialties such as family psychotherapy and child and adolescent psychotherapy. There is also an online distance program .

Master of Psychotherapy (MSc) – McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.
McMaster’s program prepares students for a career in psychotherapy with a special emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ). The program is full-time and takes about 20 months to complete with 400 hours of practical training. Students take nine classroom courses and two clinical practicum courses.

This program is more general in that students must take general courses in mental health and well-being and the principles and research of psychotherapy. They must also take more specialized cognitive-behavioral therapy courses, with the option to take elective courses in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to become more diverse.

The workshops are general in nature and can be offered in medical, social service, or school settings, depending on the availability of space and student interest.

Master of Counseling and Psychotherapy (MSc) – Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.
This program provides students with the skills needed to become counseling practitioners.

The program, which includes coursework and 100 hours of counseling practice, takes approximately one year full-time or two years part-time.

It takes a person-centered approach, teaching counselors how to develop relationships with patients so they feel safe, valued and challenged. To achieve this, the program includes courses that are humanistic and person-centered, with an emphasis on reflection , personal development and exploration through counseling approaches.

Students are also offered mentor-led training in practical counseling skills to help them feel comfortable with placements.

The British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy has accredited this program.

Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy (MPsyT) – Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
This program offers candidates the opportunity to take a more general approach to psychotherapy or to earn a specialized master’s degree in psychotherapy with an emphasis on children and adolescents.

The program is two years full-time or five years part-time and includes a thesis component, meaning that students must participate in independent research along with coursework and practice.

In addition to a wide range of courses in the general psychotherapy program, including general psychotherapy practice courses, it also offers courses specifically designed for children and adolescents.