CE1F1-30 Contextualising the Therapeutic Relationship
Introductory description
This module aims to situate counselling in a professional, ethical and legal context. You will learn the importance of clearly contracting with clients and of working within a clearly defined ethical and legal framework. You will become familiar with the BACP Ethical Framework and use it to explore the process of making difficult ethical decisions as a professional practitioner, understanding the potential implications for clients and yourself. Fundamental practice issues such as confidentiality and its limits, informed consent, dual relationships, professional assessment and case formulation, anti-discriminatory practice and safeguarding will be covered. You will prepare for your professional practice placement by learning about and the variety of settings in which counselling takes place, and consider issues around working in a multi-disciplinary team. We will also consider the specific ethical, procedural and professional requirements involved in working online and on the telephone with clients. During this module, you will work together with peers in a variety of small group settings to explore contextual and ethical situations, and will apply your learning about safe and ethical practice to your work with others on the course.
Module aims
To develop a comprehensive understanding of the BACP Ethical Framework and its application to practice
To critically examine own values, morals and beliefs, own intersections of identity and lived experience of oppression and privilege and to explore the impact of these on practice
To understand professional obligations of ethical and legal practice
To explore a variety of settings in which counselling takes place and understand their particular ethical and legal contexts
To develop ability to make difficult ethical decisions
To develop effective supportive and inclusive ways of working and learning together that reflect and ethical way of being
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.
Understanding and application of the BACP Ethical Framework and legal issues within counselling practice
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
Specific ethical and contextual considerations involved in working in different contexts such as online, on the telephone and face to face with clients
Individual research of a counselling agency
Self care and compassion fatigue resilience
Working in small groups, and theories of group dynamics
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Apply BACP Ethical Principles to example practice scenarios
- Describe some key legal and professional obligations of a counselling agency
- Describe the specific ethical and legal characteristics of varying contexts in which counselling is delivered
- Describe aspects of own personal values and ethics
- Apply understanding of group processes to own work in small groups
- Explain some ways in which access to counselling services is unequal
Indicative reading list
BACP 2018, Ethical Framework for Counselling Professions, Lutterworth , BACP pubs.
Bond T 2021, 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
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
Identify key legal, ethical and professional requirements and principles and their application in counselling
Ethical decision making in a professional counselling context
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
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
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
| Seminars | 17 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Tutorials | 2 sessions of 30 minutes (0%) |
| Practical classes | (0%) |
| Supervised practical classes | 7 sessions of 2 hours 30 minutes (6%) |
| Fieldwork | (0%) |
| Work-based learning | (0%) |
| Online learning (independent) | (0%) |
| Private study | 154 hours 30 minutes (51%) |
| Assessment | 100 hours (33%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
Reading on professional issues and knowledge
Journal reflective writing on the above
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| Exploring local mental health provision | 50% | 50 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
Investigation into local mental health and counselling support, and the contexts in which counselling is offered |
|||
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
|||
| Self-Directed Research Group Assignment | 50% | 50 hours | Yes (extension) |
|
Describe your learning from your involvement in your SDRG project, a formative presentation exploring ethics in practice. The essay should address both your theoretical learning around ethical decision making, and your reflections on the group process. |
|||
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Written tutor feedback on assignments. Written and verbal feedback on formative presentation. Peer feedback on formative presentation.
Post-requisite modules
If you pass this module, you can take:
- CE358-30 Working with Mental Health and Different Client Groups
- CE292-30 Ethics of Helping and the Therapeutic Relationship
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of UCEA-X1GB Undergraduate Counselling and the Psychotherapeutic Relationship