In this module you will continue to apply reflective models to help you develop an attitude of reflexivity when developing ethical and professional awareness. Reflexivity is a key feature of the module and you are encouraged to reflect on personal and professional development through group participation including personal development groups, large and small group experiential exercises, triads and individual reflection.
You will have opportunity to develop your understanding of the importance of an ethical approach in a counselling setting. Ethical and professional issues will be considered, including boundary setting, confidentiality, ethical dilemmas and the importance of supervision and practitioner self-care. You will develop an awareness of diversity and difference and the impact this may have on the therapeutic relationship. This will increase your awareness, personal identity and the impact this has on personal, professional, and counselling relationships. Discussions of personal and professional identities can centre around a specific area of interest in the field of counselling. You will work in groups to research and prepare presentations around this area of interest. Presentations will highlight an area of interest and learning around your personal influences on professional identity.

Career support helps you to practice ways to communicate and present your professional identity for future career development.

Contact Hours:
68 hours of class time including lectures and small group work

Independent study:132 hours of Reading, Assessment preparation, Personal reflection and journal writing

This module takes place weekly from weeks 21-30. Mid-way through the module there is a one-day research workshop (6.5 hours’ contact time.)

The ethical awareness, personal and professional development in counselling module will include discussions, experiential exercises, working in triads and larger groups. The module includes lectures, discussion, student-led presentations, and workshops. These sessions allow involve in-depth exploration of contemporary counselling issues and tutor-guided reading will assist in developing a broad base of professional knowledge and the skills required to make informed ethical decisions. The legal ramifications of counselling will be taught in conjunction with tutor-guided reading. Directed and self-directed reading will form part of the module to broaden theoretical knowledge and to research specific theoretical interests in greater depth.

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive critical understanding and analysis of the key psychological and practice-based assumptions within a variety of counselling approaches through analysis of research in the contemporary counselling field. Analysis,Enquiry, Knowledge and understanding.
2. Evaluate critically and comprehensively on counselling practice and demonstrate skills necessary to make autonomous informed ethical decisions using self-reflection. Problem-solving,Reflection
3. Extensively and critically reflect on personal, group and societal experiences in a self-accepting way, and show an ability to communicate professional experience and willingness to act on identified areas for development. Communication, Reflection.
4. Demonstrate ability to learn from critical reflection on personal values, beliefs and experiences and the ways these impact on professional identity, to facilitate your own professional development. Learning.

Groups of 15 or more require extra tutors to facilitate learning in personal professional development groups and triads
Computer and projection facilities for lectures
Large flat room for whole group with tables for group discussions
Break out rooms for triad group work
Counselling textbooks
Access to Learning Resource Centre and library facilities

Cooper, M., and Dryden, W. (2016). The Handbook of Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. London. Sage
Lapworth, P., and Sills, C. (2009). Integration in Counselling & Psychotherapy: Developing a Personal Approach. London: Sage
Mitchels, B., and Bond, T. (2011). Legal Issues Across Counselling & Psychotherapy Settings: A Guide for Practice. London: Sage
Reeves., and Bond, T. (2021). Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action. 5th edn. London. Sage.

Certificate in Counselling; face to face delivery, level 3
UG degree 2.1 or above
Prior experiences and/or alternative qualifications may be accepted where possible

There are two assessments for this module:

A presentation that showcases a piece of creative work that students have made that focuses on their reflection of their professional identity and show how this informs working in a current area of interest in the counselling field (LO 1,2,3,4).

500 word reflexive piece exploring the process of creation and its relevance to their developing professional identity (LO 3,4)

What sort of counsellor do you want to become?

This module will help you to work on your professional identity, as well as incorporating your Patch work to showcase