Counselling psychology

Sherri Pooyak teaches students how to bead
Counselling students learn to bead from Sherri Pooyak, a guest presenter in Indigenous Mental Health & Healing (ED-D 591D). This special topics course examined Indigenous culture-based treatment and healing within the broader historical and social backdrop of the history of psychology in Canada and cultural revitalization.

Are you passionate about helping people? With us, you'll gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a professional counsellor and have a real impact on people’s lives. Our trauma-informed graduate programs offer a balance of theory, practice and research.

We offer two programs:

  1. The Counselling Psychology program is available as a project-based master's or a thesis-based master's for those who want to pursue doctoral-level studies. This program is accredited by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association’s Council on Accreditation of Counsellor Education Programs.
  2. The Indigenous Communities Counselling Psychology program integrates Indigenous values and traditions. The makes the needs of Indigenous communities and clients central. This program is the first of its kind in Canada.

Why study counselling psychology at UVic?

We offer:

  • Balanced programs of theory, practice and research
  • Small classes, ongoing contact with a program supervisor and close faculty contact
  • Practicum component where you'll get the counsellor preparation and training necessary to work in different settings.
  • Excellent record of graduate job placement—see what our students have to say!

Explore our programs

Project-based master's program

Thesis-based master's program

Indigenous communities master's program

Upcoming Counselling Psychology MA info session:

We host info sessions on Zoom once every few months. Our next info session will be Monday, July 17 at 4:30-6:00 p.m. Pacific time, hosted by the Graduate Advisor. The info session provides an overview of our program, career prospects, admissions requirements, and how to put together a competitive application. 

Please email eplsgrad@uvic.ca for the Zoom link.