Introduction to Basic Counselling Skills, mi. 24 hours.
Prior experiences and/or alternative qualifications may be accepted where possible.

Video/Audio taping equipment Counselling textbooks, access to Learning Resource Centre.

Weekly 4 hour sessions over 30 weeks, (which incorporate elements from all modules), plus 2 one-day workshops and a residential weekend. The Personal Development module involves group work and self reflection. Personal Development sessions allow students the opportunity to reflect on their personal learning throughout the course, in words, pictures or other media. It allows students to have an awareness of personal values and material and how these may impact on the self and others. Students will be encouraged to assess their individual personal development and the ways in which they are applying the theories to themselves.

The Personal Development module provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their professional and personal development, through development self knowledge and self acceptance. The module involves no taught material but the weekly group is facilitated by a staff member. There will however be guidance on the construction of a personal journal. The focus of this module is on self reflection and their personal learning within the group.

Assessment will be based on a Personal Development journal in which students will record and reflect on their personal learning throughout the course, in words, pictures or other media. The whole journal to be submitted at the end of the year together with a 1500 word summary of the journal. Assessment will be made using Pass/Fail criteria.

This will ask students to:
Reflect on their learning and development of self during the course
(Learning Outcomes 1-7)

Formative Assessment
The Personal Journal will be submitted once per teaching block for tutors to read

Bond T (1993). Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action. Sage.
Frankland A, Sanders P (2003) Next Steps in Counselling, PCCS Books.
McLeod J (2004). The Counsellor's Workbook: Developing a Personal Approach. Open University Press.
McLeod J (2003). An Introduction to Counselling (3rd Edn). Open University Press.
Mearns D & Thorne B, (2003), Person-Centred Counselling in Action, Sage
Nelson-Jones R (Ed) (2000). Introduction to Counselling Skills
Palmer S. Wolfe R (Eds) (2000). Integrative & Eclectic Counselling & Psychotherapy. Sage Publications
ProchaskaJ, Norcross J (2002). Systems of Psychotherapy: A Transtheoretical Analysis (5th Edn). Prentice-Hall
Rogers C R (1961). On Becoming a Person. Constable, London