This module will build on students knowledge of reflective models to help them engage in critical reflexivity as they analyse their own counselling skills and personal development to becoming a reflective practitioner. 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. Students will develop an ability to analyse skills used in counselling practice and make valuable links between the use of theory and core skills to facilitate the therapeutic process. We will also reinforce issues of consent and ethical practice learned in previous modules. Students will continue professional development and group learning through the collaborative exercises geared towards cultivating transferable skills that are valuable for future employability.

As the final module for this award, it consolidates and builds upon the learning from the previous modules of the course.

Personal Development JOURNAL (pass/fail)
A personal development journal kept throughout the module recording personal learning and reflections on the process of being engaged in this module, both the taught aspects and relationships with self and others. Parts of the journal will be submitted as evidence towards the end of the module (weighted at 0%, to assess LO's 1, and 2).

Minimum of 75% attendance on the module (0% Pass/Fail) to assess LO 3 and 4

A 20-minute video recording of a simulation of therapeutic skills with another student (weighted at 0%). This will be marked pass/fail. The recording must be within18-22 minutes, or you will be asked to re-record it to meet the criteria of the assessment (learning outcomes 1 and 4)

A 2,500 word essay addressing the following:
Part A. a critical evaluation of the skills video recording (1,500 words), with consent form in the appendix
Part B. a reflective practice summary (1,000 words) of your personal development and how this has influenced your counselling practice. (learning outcomes 2 and 3)

All elements of assessment must be passed in order to pass the module to enable students the opportunity to progress onto our BACP accredited MSc in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

Formative Assessment:
Discussion of ethical and professional issues and application to real life examples in small and large groups.

Skills practice, case studies and regular feedback sessions

Reflective group and journal writing

On this module students can expect to engage in 32 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activity (e.g., lectures, workshops, assessment preparation). Some sessions will be delivered through live online platforms in order to continue to develop online counselling skills. Students should also be aware that they will need to build in time outside of the course for independent reading, assessment preparation, personal reflection and journal writing.

This module aims to include discussions, experiential exercises, working in triads and larger groups. The interactive lectures will include tutor led presentations and facilitate discussions of how to apply critical reflexivity to students counselling skills practice and personal development. Students will have the opportunity to link relevant theory to core counselling skills and reflect on their own development as a reflective practitioner. 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 analysing core counselling skills with the purpose of accomplishing the assessed work and to encourage self-directed enquiry and learning.

Students will continue professional development and group learning through the construction of collaborative group project. This also helps student build skills around conducting research into a chosen topic, working with others and project management.

Analyse and evaluate own practice in relation to the use of counselling skills and the practical use of contemporary theory in counselling approaches.
Knowledge and Understanding

Demonstrate an ability to facilitate a professional helping relationship which can be applied in different situations.
Reflection, Learning and Communication

Evidence and communicate development of personal growth and professional skills.
Analysis and Communication

Demonstrate competence in using different counselling skills and in developing skills for ethical practice.
Application and Problem Solving

Blackboard VLE

Library access to relevant textbooks, journals, ebooks

Internet access to relevant websites and online databases.

Break out rooms for triad group work.

Bolton, G. with Delderfield, R. (2018). Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. SAGE Pub

Dykes, Postings and Kopp (2017) Counselling Skills and Studies. 2nd Ed. SAGE Pub.

Budd, McKeever, Postings and Price (2020) A Student’s Guide to Therapeutic Counselling. SAGE PUB.

Lago , C. &Thompson, J. (1996) Race, Culture & Counselling. London: SAGE

Tuckwell, G. (2002). Racial Identity, White Counsellors and Therapists. Buckingham: OU Press.

Sue, D., and Sue, D. (2019). Counseling the culturally diverse. UK: Wiley

Achieve a non-compensated pass on PSYC50813 Counselling, Theory Ethics and Personal Development

This module will build on students knowledge of reflective models to help them engage in critical reflexivity as they analyse their own counselling skills and personal development to becoming a reflective practitioner. 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. Students will develop an ability to analyse skills used in counselling practice and make valuable links between the use of theory and core skills to facilitate the therapeutic process.