Counselling

Programme Structure

Courses

• The ‘core conditions' of person-centred counselling
• The person-centred approach to personality and behaviour development
• Therapeutic process in person-centred counselling
• The Development of Professional Counselling Practice
• Understanding and Using Research
• Counselling approaches and social contexts
• Counselling approaches to issues of mental health and psychopathology
• Reflexivity and professional practice

And after completing eight diploma courses:

• A four module Dissertation; or
• A four module Work-based Project.

The Dissertation study can take any form including a theory driven exploration, library based study or empirical investigation.

The Work-based Project involves the identification of a problem or question for a practice based investigation, and the collection and interpretation of research data.

Practice, Teaching and Assessment

Participants are encouraged to be active and reflective learners and emphasis is placed on the value of authentic experiencing in workplace settings. Our programmes challenge participants to direct their own professional and personal growth, as they set and achieve new standards of academic enquiry, professional practice, and self-awareness.

The assessment procedures reflect a belief in the inherent trustworthiness of programme members to act as arbiters of their competence. To this end, throughout the programme, trainees, together with core staff, will be involved in a variety of assessment processes. Trainees will be introduced to the concepts of self and peer appraisal and, mindful of the person-centred theoretical ethos and integrity of the programme, feedback will be central to all aspects of the programme.

Formative and summative assessment is a feature of all modules. Formative assessment opportunities, with tutors and peers, are designed to arise naturally through practice and from course work; including classroom- based practice sessions, the taping of client-work for use in course-based supervision, and structured feedback sessions across the group. Each summative assessment task takes the form of an assignment that will address aspects of counselling theory, research, personal development, professional issues and counselling practice.

Duration

Two years, part-time.