THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Health in Social Science : Counselling Studies

Postgraduate Course: Beginnings in Counselling Practice (CNST11061)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Health in Social Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis 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.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) 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 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) This course involves lectures, seminars and supervised practical excercises.
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
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.

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:
  1. 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
  2. A comprehensive understanding of the importance of the therapeutic alliance and the body of research on this topic
  3. 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
  4. A clear assessment of their strengths, learning and support needs in relation to beginning counselling practice
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.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Patrick Joyce
Tel: (0131 6)50 6696
Email: Patrick.J.Joyce@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Sue Larsen
Tel: (0131 6)51 6671
Email: Sue.Larsen@ed.ac.uk
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