Psychotherapy PGCert

Course overview

Advance your therapeutic practice through expert relational training and pathways to higher professional recognition.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy provides you with advanced training in intersubjective psychotherapy. It’s designed for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists seeking to deepen their clinical practice and progress within recognised professional pathways.

Delivered fully online and grounded in real-world mental health service contexts, the course offers an integrated blend of advanced theory, supervised clinical practice, portfolio development, and professional reflection. All this combines to give you portfolio evidence of higher-level competency and help ensure you can work confidently with complex and enduring mental health presentations.

Train alongside other mental health professionals and learn within a supportive online community. You’ll also benefit from structured placements and supervision arrangements that strengthen your therapeutic identity and prepare you for roles in NHS, statutory, and specialist mental health settings.

Why study at Leeds

• Professional progression pathways: Clear pathways toward advanced professional recognition, including routes aligned with UPCA and UKAHPP.
• Integrated placement experience: Work within mental health services, gaining supervised practice in real clinical environments.
• Advanced relational and intersubjective training: Designed for work with complex and enduring mental health presentations.
• Blended theory‑to‑practice learning: Combining advanced academic content with structured supervision and portfolio development.
• Flexible online delivery: Built for working practitioners, blending asynchronous study with live experiential teaching.
• Accreditation‑ready development: Helping you gain the evidence required for UKCP‑aligned pathways and broader professional advancement.

Clear pathways toward advanced professional practice

The University of Leeds offers a flexible, professionally aligned set of pathways that allow you to progress toward UKCP registration based on your prior training and career goals.

Pathway 1 - If you previously completed the MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling (post-2022) at Leeds, you could choose to complete the Advanced Practice Portfolio Part 1 Module alongside the PGCert.

This lets you build the full evidential pathway required for UKCP accreditation via the UPCA pathway, so you can register as a UKCP Psychotherapist once all training components are met.

This unique option supports your professional development and ensures your training aligns with SCoPEd Column C competencies.

Pathway 2 – If you’re new to Leeds and have an MA/MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy from another institution, with an equivalent core therapeutic modality (humanistic, relational common factors), you may choose to complete the PGCert in Psychotherapy to support progression toward UKCP accreditation via UKAHPP.

This route is suited to experienced practitioners who already hold a Level 7 professional training but need:

• A recognised pathway to UKCP
• Advanced relational/intersubjective training
• Structured evidence of practice, supervision, and personal therapy
• A clinical portfolio aligned with SCoPEd Column C requirements.

External applicants may need to complete additional portfolio elements depending on their prior training structure and professional gaps – see the entry requirements section for more information.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA).

Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA)

Course details and modules

This course is a fully online, part-time Level 7 qualification designed for trained counsellors and psychotherapists who want to advance their clinical practice and work towards professional recognition within UK psychotherapy frameworks.

Rooted in intersubjective and relational psychotherapy, the course strengthens your theoretical understanding and deepens your therapeutic skills. It supports you to evidence professional development through supervised clinical practice and a structured portfolio.

This course forms a key stage within the University of Leeds' accredited psychotherapy training pathway. Depending on your prior qualifications, successful completion of the PGCert – alongside required practice, supervision, and personal therapy hours – can contribute towards progression along recognised UKCP pathways. Clear guidance on the requirements for each route is provided during the programme.

What you will study

Across two complementary modules, you will explore advanced humanistic and relational psychotherapy while developing your clinical identity and reflective practice.

Key topics include:

• Intersubjective and relational theories of psychotherapy
• Working with complex, severe, and enduring mental health presentations
• Integrating theory, formulation and live clinical practice
• Understanding organisational, ethical, and service contexts
• Mental health familiarisation, including diagnostic frameworks, legislation and risk
• Professional identity development and reflexive awareness
• Recording and evidencing clinical hours, supervision, and personal therapy
• Critical engagement with contemporary debates in psychotherapy.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Psychotherapy PGCert in the course catalogue

Modules

Pathway 1 - You will complete:

HECS5338 - Advanced Practice Portfolio Part 1

This module lets current MA Psychotherapy and Counselling students at the University of Leeds, as well as alumni from 2022 onwards, continue accruing supervised clinical hours, supervision, and personal therapy required for UKCP registration. For current students, it runs alongside the Year 3 Dissertation Module. Eligible alumni may complete the module before beginning the PG Certificate.

Plus

HECS5339 – Intersubjective Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice

This module deepens your understanding of humanistic, relational, and intersubjective approaches. You will critically engage with key theories, analyse contemporary debates, and explore how intersubjective dynamics shape therapeutic work. Teaching focuses on integrating conceptual knowledge with reflective clinical practice and responding to complex adult mental health presentations.

HECS5340 – Advanced Practice Portfolio Part 2

You will consolidate your therapeutic practice through supervised clinical work, personal therapy, and structured portfolio development. The module supports you to evidence professional competence, ethical awareness, and readiness for more independent psychotherapy practice. You will document client hours, supervision ratios, placement learning and reflective engagement with intersubjective processes.

Pathway 2: You will complete:

HECS5339 – Intersubjective Psychotherapy: Theory and Practice

This module deepens your understanding of humanistic, relational, and intersubjective approaches. You will critically engage with key theories, analyse contemporary debates, and explore how intersubjective dynamics shape therapeutic work. Teaching focuses on integrating conceptual knowledge with reflective clinical practice and responding to complex adult mental health presentations.

HECS5340 – Advanced Practice Portfolio Part 2

You will consolidate your therapeutic practice through supervised clinical work, personal therapy, and structured portfolio development. The module supports you to evidence professional competence, ethical awareness, and readiness for more independent psychotherapy practice. You will document client hours, supervision ratios, placement learning and reflective engagement with intersubjective processes.

Learning and teaching

This course is delivered fully online using a bichronous model that blends self‑paced preparation with live experiential teaching.

Your learning experience includes:

• Asynchronous study (pre‑session Sways) to prepare flexibly in your own time
• Live online teaching focusing on experiential learning, discussion and skills development
• Integrated group supervision supporting reflective practice and application to real clinical work
• Portfolio-based development, enabling you to evidence practice in line with professional expectations
• Opportunities to build a connected and supportive online learning community.

If you’re a working practitioner, this blended structure ensures flexibility while maintaining the depth and experiential quality essential to psychotherapy training.

Is this course right for you?

This course is ideal if you are:

• A qualified counsellor or psychotherapist seeking advanced relational and intersubjective training
• Looking to deepen your practice with complex adult mental health presentations
• Working towards alignment with recognised professional psychotherapy standards
• Seeking a flexible online route that fits alongside clinical work, supervision and personal commitments.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of written and practice-based work that reflects the professional expectations of psychotherapy training. Assessments include:

• Written assignments that integrate psychotherapy theory, research evidence and reflective practice
• Practice-based tasks that demonstrate your therapeutic skills and application of theory in clinical settings
• A clinical portfolio, where you record and reflect on client work, supervision, personal therapy and placement learning

Formative feedback through supervision and guided support helps you develop your work throughout the course.

Applying

Entry requirements

You’ll need a Masters Level degree in either Counselling or Psychotherapy. This programme must be accredited by a Professional Standards Authority-approved regulatory body, and the course's core modality must be Humanistic. 

Disclosure and barring screening (DBS)

All successful applicants will also need to pass disclosure and barring screening.

The University has a policy statement on students with criminal records. For the vast majority of students who are resident in the UK the record will be checked via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The DBS check can only include background checks on your time in the UK. A criminal record check from other countries in addition to the UK DBS check may be required. Abroad this may be referred to as a "Certificate of Good Conduct" (CoGC), but the name varies.

Occupational health

Any offer of a place to study PG Certificate in Psychotherapy is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment, which will include a health questionnaire, and if necessary further telephone consultation and/or an appointment with an occupational health clinician. Screening for serious communicable disease, (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and a review of immunisation status and needs, which includes COVID-19, will also be arranged before beginning your studies.

International students

Due to the nature of the Psychotherapy PGCert, this programme is not available to applicants residing outside the UK or to those who require a student visa.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

How to apply

Application deadlines 

UK – 30 June 2026 

If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline. 

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system. 

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help. 

Documents and information we will need include: 

• Original or certified copies of your transcripts 
• Original or certified copies of your degree certificate 
• Original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language)

Admissions policy

Admissions Policy for Clinical and Practice Courses in the Faculty of Medicine and Health 2026-27

This course is taught by

School of Healthcare

Contact us

School of Healthcare Admissions Team

Email: admissions@healthcare.leeds.ac.uk

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

In addition to the course fees, you must also complete a portfolio. The number of hours required will depend on the pathway you are following: 

1. Progression from the University of Leeds MA (Post-2022 Graduates):  

This pathway assumes that 70 hours of personal therapy with a UKCP-registered therapist have already been achieved. In addition, it assumes that 100 hours of placement have been achieved, and this was supervised at a 1:6 ratio with a UKCP-registered supervisor.  

• Advanced Practice Portfolio Part 1 (HECS5338): £300
• Personal Therapy: 90 hours (assuming £50/hour): £4500 
• Clinical Supervision: Supervision at a ratio of 1:6 (assuming £50/hour): £2950  
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Approx. £75/year 
• Trainee UKCP Membership: £75/year  

2. External or Pre-2022 Graduates (Where Applicable): 

• Personal Therapy: 90 hours (assuming £50/hour): £4500 
• Clinical Supervision: Supervision at a ratio of 1:6 (assuming £50/hour): £2950  
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Approx. £75/year 
• Trainee UKCP Membership: £75/year 

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Scholarships are also available to help fund your Masters. Find out more and check your eligibility below:

• Scholarships and funding for UK students
• Your subject area may also offer scholarships

The School of Healthcare usually offers several scholarships each year. Find out more on the School's scholarships page. 

Career opportunities

Once you graduate, you’ll be equipped for roles in adult psychotherapy and mental health settings aligned with SCoPEd Column C practice.

Where this degree could take you

Career pathways may include positions within the NHS, specialist and secondary mental health services, third sector organisations, community services, and independent or private practice. Typical roles include Psychotherapist, Psychological Therapist, Counsellor, and other positions supporting adults with complex or enduring mental health needs.

This course also prepares you to work within multidisciplinary teams, trauma-informed services, and specialist adult support settings. It supports your progression into roles that involve relational, in-depth therapeutic work while operating within the ethical, organisational, and professional frameworks of UK counselling and psychotherapy practice.

Work placements and industry experience

Clinical placements are a core component of this programme and essential for developing competent, reflective psychotherapy practice.

During your placement, you will work with clients in psychotherapy or mental health service settings under structured clinical supervision, allowing you to apply theoretical learning in real-world environments. Your practice will be evidenced through client hour logs, supervision records, and placement reports completed within PebblePad, the School of Healthcare’s online portfolio system.

You will also complete Mental Health Familiarisation placements, ensuring exposure to wider statutory or voluntary sector services in line with professional requirements. Placement settings may vary, but all are designed to support safe, ethical, and professionally aligned therapeutic practice within contemporary mental health services

The programme is supported by established links with the Practice Placement Unit and a range of approved placement providers, including statutory services selected specifically to meet the training needs of this course.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one – that’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers. The University's Careers Service is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to help you take your next steps after graduation and get to where you want to be. 

• Dedicated employability officer – gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated employability officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning. 
• Employability and networking events – we run a full range of events, including careers fairs and specialist talks with employers who are actively recruiting for roles, giving you the opportunity to network and engage with industry.  
• Employability skills training – to support your career, we embed training in a range of key transferable skills valued by employers, such as research and data analysis, in all our programmes. 
• MyCareer system – during your studies and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events. 
• Opportunities at Leeds – there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.