MA Person-Centred Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy Alumni Profiles

Andrew Bould

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: UK
Studying: Part-time

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

Nottingham is local to me and it has a great reputation. Also, you cannot find an equivalent course to MA Person-Centred Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy with its unique approach to teaching and specialisation in person-centred theory and practice.

How do you hope this course will help with your career or further study in the future?

Literally my entire philosophy on life has shifted because of the course. Every relationship I have regardless of who it is with has improved and is healthier, and I feel more self-assured in myself than ever before. As a result, I have the passion and confidence which has secured me a higher level leadership wellbeing role within an education setting immediately after completing the course. At the end of my course, I have felt there were many options for careers paths available to me based on what I wanted to do. I chose to stay within an education setting, but I could have aimed for more medical settings, or private practice. I am not seeking any further study, but I do feel that the option is there. 

Is there a particular module that you enjoyed the most? 

I particularly enjoyed the modules on developing person-centred theory. It’s the first module you do, but it introduces the learning approach and prepares you for the rest of the course. Doing the course part-time, this was my only lecture each week during the first year, and it was a deeply enriching and enlightening experience. 

How did you find your placement - how did it help develop your skills?

I had two placements, my initial placement I set up myself, and my second was one that was offered to the course. I found the placement experience to be fantastic and really empowering towards feeling like I can be an effective therapist. You are expected to have supervision more frequently than on other therapy courses, but I prefer this as I felt more supported than I would be otherwise.

What was the best part of the course?

Encountering others in group sessions (particularly the encounter weekends). This course is like no other, with a unique approach to teaching and learning, with an emphasis on being student-led. Groups are facilitated well, and to those willing to embrace the process, the benefits and outcomes are incredible. The encounter weekends allowed for meeting other students on a very deep and meaningful level. 

How have you been supported on this course?

Every single member of staff on the course is willing to support you, and they are amazing. You are strongly encouraged to be autonomous and accountable to your own learning journey, which can seem overwhelming to some students, but so long as you ask for the help when you need it, then you will always receive masses of support from the staff. Plus, by becoming more self-sufficient, you’re better equipped for life beyond education.

How did you manage to balance studying part-time with a job (and personal life)?

It was very challenging. I had to work for three days a week in a decent position to be able to afford the course, and it would have been impossible to pay for it without the masters loan. I was able to continue with my hobbies and never felt too overwhelmed or burnt out to meet any course deadlines. I do feel strongly that the course should be completed part-time purely because the personal development required to fully experience the learning from the course takes a long time and cannot be rushed.

Why do you think someone should choose this course?

No other course is like this, and it really does transform your life in all aspects if you can embrace the unique learning process. This course runs in the way that education should be ran.

Do you have any advice for someone considering this course?

Research person-centred theory and Carl Rogers in detail before beginning the course. Understand how encounter group’s function and be open to the fact that you will undergo a personal growth and development that forces you to reflect inwardly in ways that may often feel uncomfortable. It is all worth it. Also, always ask for help if you need it.

Anything else you'd like add about the course?

You will connect to the other students on this course in ways you would never achieve on another. This course is about developing the skills and understanding of meaningful, healthy, and deep connection. What you gain from this course is worth so much more than a regular masters degree.

Antara Jain

Year of graduation: 2023
Home country: India
Studying: Full-time 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I chose to study at Nottingham primarily for the purpose of the course and how it seemed to fit with what I hoped to study and pursue. However, as I researched more about what the university represented, I really did come to appreciate how diverse, supportive and open it is for students and the community overall. Often, universities can be quite distant but the University of Nottingham has done a great job in being very student-centred whilst facilitating a sense of home away from home. 

How do you hope this course will help with your career or further study in the future?

This course, more than anything else, has helped me become who I truly am. I entered the course as a very different person – someone who was shy, afraid to speak up and quite consumed with what society hoped for her to be, but the most significant thing this course did for me was shine light on who I truly am. The person-centred environment allowed me to feel a sense of freedom and unconditionality which I have never felt before, unleashing possibilities which seemed so far-fetched at first but not so much anymore. I believe with a course which is focused on opening up a realm for you to become a therapist – it ironically facilitates you to become a person of your own right first. More than the intellectual knowledge I have acquired through my two years, I believe it is the transformation of my inner world which is most valuable to me and will always be, with the course forever etched in my heart. 

The course has given me the confidence to trust myself enough to not depend on opportunities and people but rather take initiative and create new ones for myself. I did not acknowledge my potential and love for academia until I came on this course and I have realised that I want to do a PhD in a few years, primarily because I want to invest my energy in something which feels significant to my growth. Without this course I do not think I would have discovered or trusted this as a possibility for myself. It has given me more than I could have asked for.

Is there a particular module that you enjoyed the most? 

I don't think I can choose because all the modules were so great but if I had to anyway, I would definitely say that I loved the module Personal Power and Social Change in the second year. I believe it was in this particular year where I truly did find my voice, so to express the different realms of what exists in the world whilst also challenging my own personal power in the process was a deeply meaningful and enriching experience. It helped me challenge myself but also others without wondering what it would be like if I did. I believe that is the best part about the course: you have the freedom to bring what is most important to you whilst questioning and challenging it with others who have the capacity to listen to and understand you. The ‘connections’ you build will forever be something to hold close. Additionally, I also loved this module because of the way it was facilitated by a tutor. It was personal, safe and liberating and I will not forget any of the classes I had the opportunity to experience and cherish. 

How did you find your placement - how did it help develop your skills?

My placement organisation was The Human Flourishing Project and I really enjoyed it. I remember how nervous I was prior to starting my placement but the support from everyone around me enabled me to feel comfortable and safe. To sit with clients of my own was a deeply meaningful experience, where I got the opportunity to hear many stories whilst also forming a sense of profound connection with a diverse range of people. 

The many encounters with different clients helped me to understand the kind of therapist I am, whilst also adapting to what each one may need from me. It taught me how to be more open and honest. It showed me how to be amidst challenging moments in the therapy room whilst continuing to trust myself enough to navigate it. It shone light on moments where I often came close to my very fragile inner world in relation to the story of my clients, yet I used such moments as an opportunity for growth and reflection rather than being fearful or rejecting of it. I learnt to find solace in the prospect of patience which one often needs to hold close as a therapist. I began to appreciate 'connections' more deeply and learnt about what it means for me to have a meaningful therapeutic relationship with my clients. And lastly, my time on placement with clients taught me to appreciate every single moment that exists in the therapy room because soon, there would be an ending – hence, gratitude, faith and humanness were values which I discovered on placement. Additionally, it came with a lot of responsibility which has left me feeling more prepared and confident in myself as I embark on the journey of starting my own private practice soon.

What was the best part of the course?

The best part about the course for me was the freedom it provided me, along with the staff who are not ‘staff’ but more like family. I know this may sound strange but when you do become part of the course with a willingness to give 100% to it, nothing will feel too much or unfamiliar because you will come to discover that you do belong. I think, for me, particularly my fascination and deep interest in academia was a very new and significant part of myself which I discovered amongst others. One of the first moments through which I encountered my potential to want to write and ‘publish papers’ as a student was through the encouragement of one my tutors itself. If you have ideas, they will never shut you down or think you are not ‘good enough’ to pursue those ideas but rather they will wholeheartedly support you in your journey and may even be willing to write and extend the person-centred literature together. 

If your belief and faith in it is real and you bring that belief to them, they will stand by you and guide you for as long as you may need it. I remember how I wished that I had endless tutorials primarily because I loved sitting with a tutor and simply have very meaningful and deep conversations about the potential of the literature which exists, whilst also questioning who I am in the process. I came to appreciate connections much more deeply than I ever did, whilst also being very grateful for the unconditionality of staff and students. 

I can write a novel about the course, but I will leave it at this!

How have you been supported on this course?

I have been supported in many different ways, not primarily in the context of academia and coursework but also amidst challenges in my personal life. If you are struggling and need to speak to someone, you can reach out to any of the staff and they will always be receptive to you. I believe this is another significant part of the course as well: you are truly perceived as a person and your tutors will never perceive themselves to be on a ‘pedestal’ but will rather be there for you when you feel you need someone to be there to support you. You will be met, heard and seen. 

Why do you think someone should choose this course?

I think you should choose this course, first, if you are interested in the person-centred approach. It is imperative to remember that this course is primarily person-centred, which means that it not only academically focused on person-centred literature, but the experience of it as a whole is person-centred. It is very unique from other counselling courses, where unless and until you trust that this approach is for you, you may feel conflicted amidst the process. It is a beautiful course with an approach which can be life-changing if you choose to trust it. 

Second, if you want to understand what it is like to be ‘you’, diving deeper into your inner world whilst striving to sustain the capacity of holding heart and compassion for others, then this course is for you. I believe we are often under the impression of how we need to "learn to be therapists" through a set of skills and techniques but this course goes far beyond that. It facilitates you to start from the very beginning – it opens up a space for you to become a person first, unfolding the significance of the kind of therapist you are and hope to be amidst such a process itself.  

It will be scary and confusing at first; I know it was for me. But, as long as you remain open to it and what it brings for you, it will unravel a painful yet liberating journey. You will never forget it.

Do you have any advice for someone considering this course?

The only advice I have for anyone considering the course is to trust yourself and be true to who you are and what you need. This course is challenging but if you are truly passionate and want to enter the realm of becoming yourself and a therapist, then go for it. Just remember, even when it is not easy, it will be worth it and you are going to miss it when you leave.

Also, if you do get accepted, do not take it for granted. Give your whole self to the course because when you choose to do that, is when it will be the most liberating and rewarding experience. Best of luck! 

Nipa Uddin

Year of graduation: 2022
Home country: UK
Studying: Full-time  

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

The University of Nottingham was the only university offering a person-centred course that I felt represented my values and what I wanted to learn. I had also previously completed my bachelor’s degree at Nottingham Trent University and so I felt very at home in Nottingham and wanted to return.

How do you hope this course will help with your career or further study in the future?

Upon completion of the course, I found myself really struggling to find any work or job opportunities. Everywhere I applied, I didn’t meet the criteria:

• Do you have 2 years post-qualification counselling experience?
  No, I’ve just graduated
• Are you BACP accredited
  No, I’m NCPS accredited
• Are you happy to work in an IAPT / NHS / Clinical environment?
  Hmmm, it seems like a waste of my person-centred degree to just join a clinical psychotherapeutic approach

This was incredibly difficult for me as even though I was satisfied with my degree and proud of my achievement, I became aware that there were limited opportunities for me to work in the industry the way I would have wanted to. I found it hard to find person centred therapy jobs or jobs that held the philosophy of the person centred approach. This impacted me financially as I found myself out of work for a couple of months. 

Seeing this, I decided that I would create my own therapy practice and become self-employed. I got to a point where I decided I wanted to create my own opportunities for myself and that only I can create the environment I’m looking for. Speaking honestly, this strong sense of self, and determination/motivation did stem from the personal work I put into myself over the two years on the course. Before the degree, I would have settled for whatever job picked me first and become miserable in an environment that doesn’t fulfil me for the sake of money. But since connecting with my true self and working on my boundaries, needs, interests etc, I realised I have so much more power than I ever truly recognised for myself. I realised I also had a choice about what job I picked and that I have a lot of skills, knowledge, experience, and personality that I can offer, and also make a living from. 

I have currently been self-employed for seven months now. Running my own therapy practice has been incredibly empowering. It also has opened a lot of other opportunities for me as I connect with myself more and more. I am able to take on extra jobs and freelance opportunities on the side in things that I’m really passionate about and interested in like becoming a member of the Nottingham Poetry Festival team, creating a partnership with Nottingham Women’s Centre for client work and referrals and making more time to do things I enjoy.

Being self-employed has also meant that I can create future plans and opportunities for myself too. I currently am employed as a facilitator at the University of Nottingham on the course I graduated from which opened up a major opportunity for me to build on independently by offering encounter groups / weekends through my private practice (this is a future goal of mine). I also have a lot of other ideas and concepts that I can create to further my career. Depending on how my future goes, I may also consider doing a PhD to further my own education and development, but if there is anything all of this has taught me, it’s to take things one step at a time!

Is there a particular module that you enjoyed the most? 

In my first year I enjoyed the Developing Professional Practice and Skills module the most. I struggled with grasping an understanding of the theory when I was in the first year and felt a lot of conflict with what I felt like the theory meant vs what it actually meant. The skills module allowed me to explore the theory in real life practice. It was great for me to be able to kind of ‘test out’ what the theory said and to have a more tangible idea of the theoretical concepts. 

In the second year, I really enjoyed the Power, Politics and Socio-cultural World module. This was because at this stage in my development, I particularly enjoyed discussing different phenomena and the theory against real life concepts and examples. I really enjoyed the group processes that would take place and the space that the group would create and hold for me each and every week. I found myself unpacking a lot of my own experiences in this module and I uncovered and learned so much about myself. 

How did you find your placement - how did it help develop your skills?

 My placement experience was a little up and down at times. It was difficult sometimes having to adhere to an organisation's way of doing things and occasionally things were disorganised which consequently deeply impacted our client work, and also was quite stressful to deal with as a trainee counsellor and student. However, the work I was doing on placement was incredibly enriching. I gained so much knowledge, experience, and skills from working with the clients I had and from being supported by the organisation and my course tutors. I felt like I really came into myself as a therapist as I figured out my way of being and was often indirectly challenged by clients about my own sense of self and life experiences. 

What was the best part of the course?

There were so many best parts of the course for me. One of them would have to be encounter weekends –  they  were really pivotal in my personal journey. It was such a unique and person-centred space and really allowed me to work through a lot of my experiences and also connect with other people’s experiences too. With each encounter weekend I took away really significant memories, connections and understandings. 

I also deeply enjoyed relationship building with my course peers and tutors. Each member on the course, whether staff or student, felt really important in my process as a professional and as an individual. I feel so grateful for the patience and kindness my course tutors showed me. They went above and beyond in supporting me and helping me to overcome experiences of trauma and abuse. My course peers equally supported me in this manner which enabled me to support myself – the encounter of everyone will really stay with me and I often find myself seeking / craving similar environments now. 

Lastly, I would say the overall feeling of finding and connecting with myself was the best part of the course. No other experiences have matched up to what I encountered on the course and the way it made me change and grow. I navigated so many different aspects of my life like learning how to heal, how to give myself love, affection and care, how to set boundaries for myself, how to process certain life experiences better, how to manage certain relationships and such. These moments were invaluable and were pivotal moments in my current journey. 

How have you been supported on this course?

I was incredibly supported throughout my journey on the course. My course tutors showed me real patience and kindness in moments when I was deeply struggling, being aggressive, really vulnerable and more. I had guidance whenever I asked for it, whether that was academic, theoretical, or personal. I equally felt supported by my course peers who I leaned on at times to get through the course.

Why do you think someone should choose this course?

I think you should choose this course if you’re passionate about unconventional ways of learning. The course is very unique and definitely not like a typical degree, there is so much to gain in learning in this manner if you’re open to that experience. I also think you should choose this course if you have a genuine passion in psychotherapy, society and social justice issues. If you’re also someone who wants to work on yourself then that’s another incentive for why you should choose this course! 

Do you have any advice for someone considering this course?

Keep an open mind about your experiences. When you go into the course with expectations, you will experience friction / tension. Entering the course with an open mind and a willingness to go with the process will really benefit you. I think it’s also important to remember that because of the nature of the course – you get out of it, what you put in. Make conscious decisions to participate and be involved and you’ll get so much more out of the course than looking for or waiting for direction from others. I would also advise you to make sure you have adequate support around you. The course is incredibly heavy and requires a lot of personal exploration – a good support system will help you to manage this a lot better. Also be prepared for a lot more fluidity and independent learning than you may have been used to.