Foundation of Arts - Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations (LX51)

The University of Essex Foundation Degree, comprising one afternoon of teaching a week, offers a theoretical understanding and the practical tools for emotionally grounded therapeutic work with children, adolescents, and adults, whatever the student's role. Using a psychodynamic framework, the course will help students develop a thorough understanding of the human processes within and around the people who use their service and the people who are trying to help them. Essex also equips students with an awareness of the wider dimension of organizational dynamics. Put together, these both will contribute to the student's development as an effective and perceptive practitioner.

Students study: psychodynamic theory, child and adult development, issues of trauma and violence, and the dynamics of therapeutic interventions in organizations. Students also have the opportunity to develop their insight as a reflective thinker through reflective observation workshops. Essex connects the workshops on campus with elements of work-place learning, to ensure that students can make the connection between the course and their practice.

After finishing this Foundation Degree, students are able to take a further one year course to gain a BA Honours Degree.

In undertaking this course students study a range of psychoanalytic concepts - applying them to individuals, relationships and organizations, which will provide the student with a unique perspective of why humans are the way they are, on understanding others and knowing how to relate to them, which will make students suited for further clinical training, postgraduate study in different fields, or employment.

Key areas of employment for people with these skills include marketing, advertising, human resources, management, the media, care work, teaching or health care.