Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies
Interested in a career in psychotherapy? Already have a degree? The Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies can prepare you for further study in the Master of Psychotherapy.
The Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy Studies is designed for health professionals and volunteers, as well as individuals interested in becoming a psychotherapist and focused on a detailed understanding of human experience and behaviour. It’s the first stage of AUT’s integrated psychotherapy programme that leads to qualification as a beginning psychotherapist.
Graduates who go on to complete the Master of Psychotherapy can apply for provisional membership of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists and under an interim scope of practice with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists website
Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand website
We encourage you to apply as soon as applications are open. Places are limited, and there are often more applications than available places. Once we have received your application, we may ask you to provide further information. Your application can only be assessed when you have provided all of the information requested.
Start date: 2023
- Download our Health Sciences programme guide [PDF, 3.8 MB]
Minimum entry requirements
- A bachelor’s degree OR
- Relevant professional qualification or experience approved by the Dean (or representative) to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree
- Interview may be required
International student entry requirements
The recommended background for the graduate diploma includes:
- Having engaged in at least six months of your own personal psychotherapy
- Evidence of people-helping experience (like counselling or similar)
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent.
Explore the theory and foundation skills of psychotherapy, and develop an understanding of human experience and human behaviour.
There’s an emphasis on self-awareness and experiential learning, so you learn to understand your own processes of interaction and develop effective communication skills.
Complete the following courses
- MENH602 Mental Health and Psychopathology
- PSYT701 Psychosocial Life Review
- PSYT702 Social and Cultural Analysis
- PSYT706 Psychotherapy Practice Skills
- PSYT707 Relational Psychotherapy
- PSYT712 Reflexivity and Relational Skills
There is also a requirement that you engage in your own personal psychotherapy during the course of study.
The Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy courses are designed for health professionals, teachers, youth workers and individuals who have extensive experience of working with children and who have a strong interest in becoming a specialist child and adolescent psychotherapist. Courses provide you with in-depth knowledge of observational studies, infant and child development and a strong theoretical framework from which to progress towards the clinical component of this training.
Currently this is the only specialist child and adolescent psychotherapy training on offer in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Offered in Semester 1 only (starts February).
Graduates who go on to further postgraduate clinical study with children and adolescents will be expected to apply for student membership of the New Zealand Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists, and under an interim scope of practice (working with children) with the Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Psychotherapists Board of Aotearoa New Zealand website
Courses you can study
Choose eight 15-point courses including at least four of the five listed below, with the rest from a related programme, subject to the approval of the programme leader.
- PSYT701 Psychosocial Life Review
- PSYT702 Social and Cultural Analysis
- PSYT708 Infant Observation
- PSYT709 Child and Adolescent Work Discussion
- PSYT710 Psychoanalytic Concepts
- PSYT711 Psychoanalytic Theory
- PSYT712 Reflexivity and Relational Skills
This includes the requirement that you engage in your own weekly personal psychotherapy for the duration of this course of study.
Interview process for this programme
You may need to participate in an interview process for acceptance into this area of study. We will contact you with interview details.
The recommended background for this programme includes:
- That you have engaged in at least six months of your own personal psychotherapy
- That you have evidence of people-helping experience, for example, counselling or similar
For more information about this contact:
($6,901 - $7,126 tuition fees + $934 student services levy)
($35,500 tuition fees + $934 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.