This module provides opportunity for students to practice skills, link skills to theory and reflect on personal qualities they bring to a helping relationship. Initially the focus is on use of basic counselling skills to establish an appropriate, safe and supportive relationship. These are built on with core skills linking to the different theoretical approaches taught on the course and bringing in similarities and distinctions. Self reflection helps develop awareness and understanding of how personal values, beliefs and experiences influence the therapeutic relationship.
Reflexivity is a key feature of the module and students are encouraged to reflect on personal and professional development through group participation, large and small group experiential exercises, triads and individual reflection. There is guidance in on the construction of a personal journal and facilitation of a weekly personal development group.

Contact Hours;
30 hrs Personal/professional development group (including residential)
46 hrs small group work/ workshop (including Saturday workshop and residential)

Independent study hours;
62 hrs Reading
62 hrs Assessment preparation
100 hrs Personal reflection and journal writing

The course takes place weekly, for 4hr sessions, over 27 weeks (incorporating elements from both modules). In addition there is a one-day workshop (6hrs contact time) and a residential weekend (16 hrs contact time). The counselling theory, ethics and professional issues module will include discussions, experiential exercises, working in triads and larger groups. The interactive lectures will include tutor led presentations and facilitate discussions of theory, ethical and professional issues in some depth. Students will be expected to undertake extra reading, both general and directed by the course tutors. This is necessary to help develop and broaden knowledge of theory and ethics with the purpose of accomplishing the assessed work and to encourage self-directed enquiry and learning. Reflective practice is encouraged and facilitated by a personal professional development group, personal reflection and completing a journal.

Culley S and Bond T (2011) Integrative Counselling Skills in Action. Sage

Hedges, F. (2010). Reflexivity in Therapeutic Practice. Palgrave Macmillan

McLeod J (2009). The Counsellor¿s Workbook: Developing a Personal Approach. OU Press.

Groups of 15 or more require extra tutors to facilitate learning in personal professional development groups and triads.
Equipment to record and save a piece of skills practice and provide opportunity for reflection and feedback in small group setting.
Computer and projector for lectures
Break out rooms for triad work
Counselling textbooks
Access to Learning Resource Centre.

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

Assignment 1. An assignment weighted at 0%
For this assignment students will engage in a 20-minute practice
counselling session with another student. From the session, they will
produce a 20 minute DVD recording, which will be fully transcribed.
The recording and the transcript will be submitted. (Learning outcomes
2, 3)
This assignment is PASS/FAIL
Assignment 2: An assignment weighted at 50%
A 1500 word critique of the recorded session. (Learning outcomes 1,4)
This will ask students to:
1. Provide evidence of an understanding and use of counselling skills
within a counselling setting
2. Demonstrate their knowledge of counselling skills and critically
evaluate their own practice.
3. Demonstrate their ability through use of counselling skills to engage
with some of the fundamental theoretical issues.
Formative Assessment
Students will be both peer and tutor observed, with feedback, in their
practice of counselling skills during sessions, as well as through personal
reflection and peer group discussion
Assessment 3. REFLECTION ON PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Length 1500 words, weighted at 50%, submitted at the end of teaching
block 2.
Students are expected to keep a journal of their personal development
throughout the course. This assignment asks students to summarise their
learning in the area of personal and professional development, drawing
on material from their personal journal. (Learning outcomes 4-7)
This will ask students to:
1. Reflect on their learning and development of self during the course.
2. Show ability to think reflexively about their learning within the group,
through skills practice and linked to counselling theory.
Both assessments must be passed in order to pass the module.
Formative assessment
The Personal Journal will be submitted once in teaching block 1 for
tutors to read and comment on if necessary