Introductory description

This module provides students with a framework for understanding Ethical decision making and an understanding of the process and procedures for Ethical and legal decisions and practice within the Counselling Relationship. Fundamental practical issues will be addressed including confidentiality, informed consent, dual relationships, professional assessment, anti-discriminatory practice, and safeguarding within practice.
This will be backed up through individual research of counselling settings.
The BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions is central to this module.
This module develops employability skills in students through building a current awareness of key professional and ethical issues for students working within multidisciplinary teams and within various organisational settings.

This module is delivered through a mixture of learning and teaching methods, including didactic presentations, small group work and discussion, and case studies/scenarios. Topical, relative issues recounted in the media are utilised to enable students to put the theoretical concepts in context. Formative and summative assessments aim to facilitate students’ ability to deliver a critical understanding of key concepts and issues; enabling them to enhance from L4 further autonomous learning, problem solving, research skills and to work effectively with others. Formative feedback will be provided for essay plans and presentation material. Summative assessments include a written assignment, group presentation and desk based research of counselling provision in which students consider ethical issues, good practice, context and processes and anti-discriminatory practice.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module will cover understanding and application of the BACP Ethical Framework and legal issues within counselling practice; understanding the process and procedures for Ethical and legal decision making; contracting and professional boundaries, including confidentiality, information sharing, note taking and record keeping; managing risk, safeguarding and suicide; multi agency and joint working, including referral pathways and professional issues in regard to mental health; complaints process and professional responsibilities; Individual research of a counselling agency; self care and compassion fatigue resilience, and working in small groups, and theories of group dynamics.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify and explain relevance to practice of key principles of the BACP Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions
• Identify and explain relevance of key legal issues pertaining to Counselling Practice and legal obligations in practice.
• Identify and explain appropriate personal ethics and practice, with awareness of impact of socio-cultural and political context
• Identify and explain key issues in regard to mental health, safeguarding and working with suicide.
• Demonstrate recognition and applicaton of the importance of self care
• Understand and apply ethical practice to working group processes.
• Work effectively in small groups, applying relevant group theories to understand group dynamics

Indicative reading list

BACP 2018, Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions, Lutterworth , BACP pubs.
Bond T 2015, Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action, London, SAGE.
Bond T and Mitchels B 2014, Legal Issues across Counselling and Psychotherapy settings, London, SAGE.
Oldale, M. & Cooke, M.J. (2013) Making the Most of Counselling & Psychotherapy Placements. London: Sage.
Reeves A 2015 Working with risk in counselling and psychotherapy. London: Sage
Lago, C and Smith B, 2010 Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy Sage
Cameron, R 2020 Working With Difference and Diversity in Counselling and Psychotherapy Sage

Research element

Foundational reading and application of understanding of research into professional issues. Individual research, online research of counselling agencies.

Subject specific skills

• Identify key ethical and professional requirements and principles and their application in counselling
• Relationship building in groups and other course contexts
• Empathy and the ability to listen carefully and reflect back in the helping context
• Formative assessment and formulation of client needs
  Anti-discriminatory practice

Transferable skills

• Formative ethical decision-making sometimes with incomplete information
• Capacity to understand and evaluate debates on sensitive professional areas
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing - including ability to articulate principal concepts and arguments and giving and receiving feedback,
• Foundation level ability to work in small groups, with some understanding of the dynamics of such groups
• Ability to form good, supportive, challenging and trusting relationships with others in which sensitive personal material can be considered
  Anti-discriminatory practice