Postgraduate Course: Beginnings in Counselling Practice (CNST11061)
Course Outline
School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the theme of beginnings in counselling practice, examining the essential skills and knowledge which beginning counsellors need to commence therapeutic practice, in order to meet the needs of counselling clients entering the therapeutic relationship. |
Course description |
The course explores the diversity in professional approaches to contracting, assessment and goal-setting, including the debates around these issues within contemporary social and political contexts. The course focuses intensively on the client's experience of making themselves vulnerable to another in commencing therapy and the implications of this for counsellors-in-training. The course also introduces students to the substantial corpus of research related to the therapeutic alliance.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 24,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 12,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
152 )
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Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
This course involves lectures, seminars and supervised practical excercises.
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Elements of summative assessment (with weightings)
One 3,000 word essay (100%) plus assessment of listening practice (pass/fail).
Students are required to pass both parts of the summative assessment to pass the course.
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Feedback |
Formative feedback will be given on student's therapeutic skills and written feedback on a trial assignment.
Summative feedback will be given on the course paper via Learn. |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- An understanding of the needs of counselling clients entering the therapeutic relationship and the practice implications of these, including an awareness of issues of power, diversity and difference
- A comprehensive understanding of the importance of the therapeutic alliance and the body of research on this topic
- The capacity to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of approaches to the core activities associated with beginning counselling practice, such as assessment, contracting and goal-setting
- A clear assessment of their strengths, learning and support needs in relation to beginning counselling practice
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Reading List
T. (2000) Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action, London: Sage (2nd edition)
McLeod, J. (2003) Introduction to Counselling. Third edition. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Mearns, D. and Thorne, B. (1999) Person-centred Counselling in Action. Second edition. London: Sage.
Embleton,Tudor, L., Keeras, K., Tudor, K., Valentine, J. and Worrall, M. (2004) The Person-centred Approach: A Contemporary Introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Higdon, J. (2004) From Counselling Skills to Counsellor: A Psychodynamic Approach, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Spurling, L. (2004) An Introduction to Psychodynamic Counselling London: Palgrave Macmillan |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students completing this course will have enhanced their:
- capacity to make assessments in relation to complex situations.
- communication skills, especially in relation to emotional matters.
- self awareness and capacity to assess their skills and knowledge.
- ability to give and receive feedback. |
Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser | Mr Patrick Joyce
Tel: (0131 6)50 6696
Email: Patrick.J.Joyce@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sue Larsen
Tel: (0131 6)51 6671
Email: Sue.Larsen@ed.ac.uk |
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