Our Mission
The Counselling Psychology Program, in line with the mission of the research-intensive University of British Columbia, creates, advances and critically examines knowledge in counselling psychology, especially with respect to its validity, applicability, limits, and interface with other disciplines. In developing and applying pertinent and innovative research methodologies, the Counselling Psychology Program relies upon and builds qualitative and quantitative evidence to determine effective counselling interventions in educational, community, health, and occupational settings.
Our Culture & Core Values
The Counselling Psychology program recognizes the critical importance of diversity in our rapidly changing and globalized society, and provides leadership in emphasizing culturally-based considerations in learning, human development, assessment and counselling. In addition to its cultural lens, our program embraces positive, growth-oriented, and developmental perspectives across the lifespan. Attention is also paid to the complex ecological influences on individuals, groups and communities. Our faculty members’ programs of research reflect the core values and foci of the discipline of Counselling Psychology: career development, health and wellness, indigenous healing, gender and cultural diversity, disability, and social justice issues. Our Master’s and Doctoral programs address the needs of individuals, couples and families across the lifespan in terms of research, teaching and counselling practice.
Our Mandate
Our graduate programs adhere to the scientist-practitioner model. Rigorous theoretical and research training is integrated with the development of core counselling competencies. In addition to our core curriculum at the Master’s and Doctoral levels, our students can specialize in community, school, higher education or vocational rehabilitation counselling. Our programs focus on the education of the whole person – promoting not only students’ professional development, but also helping them to realize their intellectual, physical, and emotional potential. Faculty view their roles as facilitators of learning rather than providers of information, and strive for excellence in their research, teaching, and community and professional engagement. The mandate of our programs is the preparation of professional counsellors, counselling psychologists, and scholars in the field of Counselling Psychology.
Program Goals
The mission, philosophy and values of the Program are represented in five specific program goals:
Goal 1
Graduates will demonstrate critical understanding of counselling theory, research, and practice and in the pursuit of a Master of Arts degree will demonstrate competence in planning, conducting, evaluating, and disseminating counselling psychology research.
Goal 2
Graduates will have mastery of theoretical and empirical knowledge in Counselling Psychology.
Goal 3
Graduates will acquire and demonstrate competency required for practice as counsellors in schools, community agencies, higher education, and vocational rehabilitation settings.
Goal 4
Graduates will understand and demonstrate ethical and professional conduct in counselling psychology.
Goal 5
Graduates will understand and demonstrate their knowledge of the role of diversity in all areas of counselling psychology research and practice.
If you’re in British Columbia (BC), call Counselling Services at 604 822 3811 to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, offered Mondays to Fridays. First-time appointments are booked for the same day and arranged on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can also connect with the embedded counsellor in your faculty, who can provide support for concerns that students in your program commonly experience.
If you’re outside of BC, there are other free counselling and health resources available. Get a list of support options specific to your location and needs with the Finding health support online tool.
There may be delays due to call volumes that are higher than usual. If you choose to leave a voice message, please speak clearly and leave the following information, as this will help us to return your call:
- Name
- Student number
- Phone number
- Faculty
Calls will be returned as soon as possible. You are welcome to call back and speak to the front desk directly. When we return your call, we will be calling from an unidentified number. To protect your privacy, we will not leave voicemails unless we have your written permission.
Privacy and Confidentiality
All of UBC’s health professionals are committed to keeping your visit and concerns completely private and confidential.
Information about you and your health can only be shared with your permission, or when safety concerns or legal requirements arise.
If you have any questions about confidentiality, please ask during your appointment.
Counselling Psychology
Degrees Offered: Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.
Members
Professors
W. Borgen, M. Buchanan, A. Hubley.
Associate Professors
R. Bedi, D. Cox, B. Haverkamp, I. Ishiyama.
Program Overview
The Counselling Psychology (CNPS) program offers Ph.D., M.A., and M.Ed. programs. The Ph.D. program is accredited by the Canadian and American Psychological Associations, and the master’s programs are accredited by the CCA Council on Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs. Faculty members are involved in a wide range of research activities including intercultural counselling, First Nations counselling, career development and counselling, stress and coping, sexuality and reproductive health, disabilities, trauma, working with families and children in school settings, prevention of anxiety disorders, and empirically supported approaches utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Note: The American Psychological Association will stop accreditation for any program in Canada as of September 1, 2015. This will include our program.
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the general academic requirements of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and have completed a thesis-based master’s degree equivalent to the CNPS M.A. in counselling (or its equivalent) with an overall grade average of at least 80%. Applicants are also required to write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test, and, if applicable, the TOEFL test.
Program Requirements
The 51-credit CNPS doctoral (Ph.D.) program requires four years of full-time study, including on-campus courses, supervised training, and pre-doctoral internship.
The Ph.D. program is designed to educate counselling psychologists as researchers, practitioners, and educators. The focus of the program is on developing doctoral level competence in research, counselling theory and counselling skills. In exceptional circumstances, up to 15 credits of coursework may be waived in recognition of previous coursework. The program involves completion of 51 credits of coursework, theory and specialty comprehensive examinations, a 1600 hour internship and a dissertation meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements. In order for students to meet deadlines for comprehensive examinations and candidacy, the department requires students to be engaged in full time study prior to advancement to candidacy.
Master of Arts
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the general academic requirements of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. In addition, applicants should have completed senior undergraduate courses in each of learning, statistics and either abnormal psychology or behaviour disorders. CNPS 362, 363 and 365 also are required prerequisites. Applicants should have a minimum of three years work/volunteer experience that involves helping relationships with children, adolescents and/or adults.
Applicants are required to write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test, and, if applicable, the TOEFL test.
Program Requirements
The program requires completion of 48 credits of coursework and a 6-credit thesis. In exceptional circumstances up to 12 credits of coursework may be waived in recognition of previous coursework and relevant work experience. In addition to offering core courses in research, counselling theory and skill acquisition/practica, the program provides the opportunity for students to focus on one of the three areas recognized by the organization that accredits the program, Council for Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs. These areas of focus are school counselling, counselling in higher education, and community and agency counselling. The program may be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Master of Education
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the general academic standards of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. In addition, applicants should have completed senior undergraduate courses in the areas of learning (except for the vocational rehabilitation counselling area of focus), and either abnormal psychology or behaviour disorders. For details, see Counselling Psychology. CNPS 362, CNPS 363, and CNPS 365 (or equivalent) are also required prerequisites. Applicants should have a minimum of three years work/volunteer experience that involves helping relationships with children, adolescents and/or adults. If applicable, applicants are required to write the TOEFL test.
Program Requirements
The program requires completion of 48 credits of coursework. In exceptional circumstances up to 12 credits of coursework may be waived in recognition of previous coursework and relevant work experience. In addition to offering core courses in counselling theory, skill acquisition/practica, and research, the program provides the opportunity for students to focus on one of the four areas recognized by the organization that accredits the program, Council for Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs. These areas of focus are school counselling, counselling in higher education, community and agency counselling, and vocational rehabilitation counselling. Note that the area of focus in vocational rehabilitation counselling requires CNPS 363 as a prerequisite rather than a course in learning. For the other areas of focus, CNPS 363 is part of the M.Ed. program. The school counselling, counselling in higher education, and community and agency counselling areas of focus may be completed on a full or part time basis. The vocational rehabilitation counselling area of focus is available on a part time basis only.
Contact Information
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education
2125 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
Tel: 604.822.6371
Fax: 604.822.3302
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ecps.educ.ubc.ca/counselling-psychology/
