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Bachelor of Counselling (BCouns)

Want to turn your passion for helping people into a career? The Bachelor of Counselling is a three-year degree that weaves Christian faith together with real, proven counselling skills. You’ll graduate ready to register as a counsellor in New Zealand — and more than that, you’ll grow as a person. Through group process and personal counselling every semester, this degree changes you from the inside out. Whether you’re chasing a counselling career or simply want to work better with people, this is where it starts.
  • Qualification Level
  • Total Credits
  • Completion Time
  • Study Location
  • Level 7
  • 360
  • 3 years full-time, or part-time equivalent
  • Auckland, Christchurch, Distance Learning
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Counselling

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The Bachelor of Counselling is a three-year degree designed for students who want to integrate Christian faith with a range of sound, well-established counselling theories and practical skills. This degree prepares you to become a registered counsellor with either the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or the New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association (NZCCA). It has a common core of biblical, theological, and philosophical studies which provides a foundation for a deep appreciation of the Scriptures, and the outworking of the Gospel in life and professional practice. Much of the learning happens in personal counselling and in group process, in which all students participate each semester. It is in these groups that deep and enduring formation takes place. The BCouns is for those who want to build a career in counselling, or those who want to develop lifelong skills for working with people.

  • Programme Title
  • Bachelor of Counselling (BCouns)
  • Programme Abbreviation
  • BCouns
  • School
  • Counselling
  • Total Credits
  • 360
  • Programme Requirements

  • The BCouns is a three-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) programme. It is made up of 20 courses of 15 credits each and two courses of 30 credits each, at levels 5, 6 and 7.
  • Study Commitment
  • Full-time (3 years) or part-time equivalent (approval required)
  • Study Location
  • Auckland, Christchurch, Distance Learning
  • Delivery
  • In Person · Distance Learning available for some courses
  • Start Dates
  • February (full-time) / July (part-time)
  • Maximum Timeframe
  • 8 years maximum unless extension granted by Academic Head
  • Practicum Hours
  • 200 hours across Years 2–3
  • Formation Requirements
  • Weekly group process; personal counselling each year
  • Career Opportunities
  • Private practice
    counselling in schools
    family and health support roles
    community development
    social services
    postgraduate study
  • Entry Requirements
  • General Admission Requirements
    English Language Requirements
    Selection Interview (Group Interview)
    Police Clearance
    Minimum 20 years of age
    Two Professional References
    Entry Assessment (literacy test) may be required

Please refer here for full entry requirements.

  • Distinctives
  • Theological Integration
    A Highly Relational & Supportive Context
    Focus on Narrative & Person-Centered therapeutic approaches

* Note: The BCouns programme is three years and the annual fee may vary. Please refer to Fee Schedule for more details (www.laidlaw.ac.nz/fees)

Additional Information

Only a select number of courses are available for distance learning.

Graduate Outcomes
  • Educated in preparation for provisional membership of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors and the New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association, in a variety of health, social service and educational settings.
    Equipped with an approach to counselling that draws from Person-Centred and Narrative Therapies, and emphasises relationality.
    Proficient at articulating a well-integrated theological anthropology, developed from the study of the sacred Christian Scriptures and traditions, history, culture and the social sciences that understands people as persons­-in-relationship, people of dignity who are formed through and for loving relationship.
    Practiced at relationally engaging with people including their emotions, cognitive processes, meaning-making and social positioning.
    Skilled with a range of reflective practices including self, peer and clinical supervision.
    Prepared for postgraduate study and research.