Working in combination with the Parallel Clinical Obligations (PCO) of the Independent Studies Stage (ISS), this module aims to facilitate the consolidation of your integrated, holistic professional identity and practice. You will continue to explore modality-specific phenomenological and relational foundations where the therapeutic relationship is deemed to be the locus of therapeutic potential. Consideration will be given to various client populations and settings, together with relevant ethical and legal implications. 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. Emphasis is on both evidence-based practice and practice-based research findings in an attempt to support and advance professional practice. Significant attention will be given to the requirements involved in preparation and construction of both a comprehensive, summative account of your individual clinical work and of a research project relevant to the theory and practice of Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapies. Writing about your therapeutic work as a means of reflexivity and practice-based research will inform how Person-Centred and Experiential methods are implemented, as well as how it may be critically utilised as a reflexive tool in the assessment of competence and professionalism. In addition, working with the philosophical origins and assumptions of the major research paradigms will facilitate you to develop as a research-competent practitioner capable of advancing the profile of Person-Centred and Experiential Psychotherapies. The aim being to encourage your contribution to the profession’s knowledge base, as well as to expand awareness of how to become a critical consumer of research to inform and support practitioner efficacy.

Part A: Clinical Research – Establishing practice-based evidence (50%) a written assignment evidencing learning outcomes 1- 6 of this module (10,000 words + or – 10%).

Part B: Research Project - Exploring an area of clinical specialism (50%) – a written assignment evidencing learning outcomes 1- 6 of this module (10,000 words +/- 10%).

Please note – you must pass each component independently in order to receive an overall pass for this module.

Total hours = 105
• Group process – 30 hours
• Experiential and theoretical learning – 22.5 hours
• Supervised clinical practice in small and/or large groups – 30 hours
• Self-reflective journal writing – 7. 5 hours
• student-focused activities encouraging active participation,(including tutorials, accessing electronic systems and support staff for data, literature, resources and contacts) – 15 hours


Total hours = 495
• Self-directed independent study including research, reading, assignment planning and writing – 195 hours
• Placement preparation and attendance – 180 hours
• Personal therapy (preparation, attendance, post-session journaling) – 60 hours
• Clinical supervision (preparation, attendance, post-session journaling) – 45 hours
• Tutor-directed independent study (including study day and workshop preparation) – 15 hours

BAGER-CHARLESON, S. (2014) Doing Practice-Based Research in Therapy: A reflexive approach. London: Sage.

COOPER, M. et al. (eds.) (2013) The Handbook of Person-Centred Psychotherapy & Counselling. 2nd Ed. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

MCLEOD. J. (2015) Doing Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy. 3rd Ed. London: Sage.

MCLEOD, J. (2010) Case Study Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage.

• 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
• Research participants

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge which is at the forefront of the Person-Centred and Experiential framework in terms of philosophy, ethics, theory, research and clinical practice.
(Knowledge & understanding)

2. Demonstrate the independent learning ability required when selecting, designing, executing and evaluating clinical and research activities in order to advance your knowledge, expertise and developmental agenda as a Person-Centred/Experiential practitioner.
(Learning)

3. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding and critical evaluation of methodologies and techniques in order to apply and interpret knowledge and expertise applicable to your advanced scholarship and/or research within the Person-Centred and Experiential framework.
(Enquiry)

4. Demonstrate a critical awareness and evaluation of current research, advanced scholarship, contemporary problems and/or new insights, much of which are at, or informed by, the forefront of Person-Centred and Experiential psychology and psychotherapy practice.
(Analysis)

5. Systematically and creatively evaluate complex ethical and legal issues inherent in Person-Centred and Experiential psychotherapy approaches, making sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and employ appropriate decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.
(Problem Solving)

6. Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge within the Person-Centred and Experiential framework.
(Application)