This module builds on existing knowledge of the philosophical and theoretical underpinning of your approach providing opportunity to develop and advance understanding of practice within the Person-Centred and Experiential ‘tribes’. The emphasis on values and principles is maintained, stressing the personal and professional dimensions and the quality of the therapeutic relationship in theory and ethical practice. You will explore the phenomenological and relational foundations of Person-Centred and Experiential modalities where the therapeutic relationship is deemed to be the locus of therapeutic potential; engaging with the argument that these approaches take this aspect of professional education further than most other professional trainings in psychotherapy. There will be opportunities to consider what constitutes ‘Self’ including exploration of how aspects of diversity may be creatively utilised within the therapeutic relationship. A variety of therapeutic techniques will be critically explored together with contemporary perspectives regarding pluralism and integration within the Person-Centred and Experiential framework. Consideration will be given to the use of the practitioner’s own presence in the therapeutic and supervisory relationships. Your self-understanding will be refined in support of your capacity to be therapeutically available to clients including those who may be very troubled or hard to reach. You will be facilitated to develop your ability to be critically self-reflexive, contributing to understanding of how personal development, emotional competency and ‘use of self’ potentially impact the therapeutic relationship as well as the process of therapy and its outcomes. Relevant research findings will be explored.

Part A Presentation (25%): a 20-minute individual presentation evidencing learning outcomes 1-3 of this module.

Part B Professional Statement (75%): a written assignment evidencing learning outcomes 1-3 (3000 words +/- 10%).

Total hours = 56
• Group process – 16 hours
• Experiential and theoretical learning – 12 hours
• Supervised clinical practice in small and/or large groups – 16 hours
• Self-reflective journal writing – 4 hours
• Student-focused activities encouraging active participation,(including accessing electronic systems and support staff for data, literature, resources and contacts, tutorials) – 8 hours

Total hours = 144
• Self-directed independent study including research, reading, assignment planning and writing – 74 hours
• Placement preparation and attendance – 30 hours
• Personal therapy (preparation, attendance, post-session journaling) – 12 hours
• Clinical supervision (preparation, attendance, post-session journaling) – 12hours
• Tutor-directed independent study (including workshop preparation) – 16 hours

BALDWIN, M. (2013) The Use of Self in Therapy. 3rd Ed. New York: Routledge.
WOSKET, V. (1999) The Therapeutic Use of Self. London: Routledge.

• Creative materials
• Audio-recording/playback devices
• Access to an approved placement which provides suitable learning opportunities, and a suitably qualified supervisor to provide the required ratio of supervision hours to clinical practice
• Access to a suitably qualified therapist to provide the required sessions of personal therapy

1. Demonstrate systematic understanding of what constitutes ‘Self’ within person-centred psychology and ‘use of self’ in the Person-Centred and Experiential modalities..
(Knowledge & understanding)

2. Illustrate a capacity to critically reflect on your ‘use of self’ in order to assess fitness and competence for integrated practice as an autonomous, self-directed person-centred/experiential practitioner.
(Reflection)

3. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge when utilising recordings of clinical work to create and interpret aspects of Person-Centred and Experiential philosophy, theory and technique.
(Application)