Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 1 x Observation and 500 word skills practice reflection | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Portfolio Assessment (1,500 words) | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Portfolio Assessment (1,500 words) | 70% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 1 x Observation and 500 word skills practice reflection | 30% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Define counselling as a practice.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the historical, conceptual and contemporary basis for counselling in society.
3. Select and apply appropriate strategies to facilitate counsellor-client communication in simulated counselling settings.
4. Discuss the values, virtues and ethics that underpin counselling practice.
5. Demonstrate the ability to engage in self-reflective practice.
Brief description
The aim of this module is to introduce you to key counselling and psychotherapeutic theories and approaches, with the opportunity to develop practical skills such as active listening and effective questioning. This module is also designed to help you think creatively and critically, developing the problem-solving skills that will enable you to prepare to apply psychology and counselling to address a wide range of personal, professional and societal needs.
Content
What is counselling? How can it help, who can it help and why?
The counselling relationship.
Introduction to counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches and major theoretical divisions.
Introduction to basic counselling skills: communication, active listening, interpersonal skills and self-awareness.
Introduction to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions: the ethical practitioner.
Introduction to reflective practice, supervision and self-care: the reflective practitioner.
Diversity, equality and human rights.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Students will develop and awareness of the role of statistical evidence in the literature supporting elements of counselling practice. |
| Communication | The development of communication skills in the counselling context as a key element of this module. The development of these skills is discussed in lectures, and they are practiced and developed during practical sessions and assessed via observations and weekly reflections. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The concept of the reflective practitioner –and the skills required to support such practice with the counselling context –are embedded across this module. Students evidence their development as reflective practitionersby means of their weekly reflection assessment. |
| Information Technology | Students will access bibliographic resources in order to locate appropriate literature to support their studies. Studentswill also use ICT skills in developing their patchwork and weekly reflection assessments. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module focuses on personal development, reflection and self-awareness that are primarily facilitated through weekly reflections, supervisor meetings, group activities and practical sessions. Thus, the applied nature of this module will enhance students’ understanding of counselling as providing them with the opportunity to begin to ‘try out’ a potential career path in the helping professions. |
| Problem solving | Each practical will enable learners to apply theoretical material from the lectures to be developed and applied to solve particular problems relating to counselling practice. This ability will be formally assessed via the observational component. |
| Research skills | Studentswill identify supporting literature to develop and extend material introduced in lectures. These skills will be assessed in the patchwork assessment. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of counselling-specific skills. These include rapport building, active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard, questioning techniques, communication and body language awareness, self-awareness and ethical practice. These are assessed via the patchwork assessment, observations and weekly reflections. |
| Team work | Students will work in small groups toundertakepractical activities, such as role play and problem solving. Also, due to the nature of the module, students will play an important role in developing a group identity and helping to create a supporting learning environment for their peers. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4