Introductory description

This module builds on material covered at level 4 to deepen your understanding of the various legal and ethical implications of working professionally in counselling practice. You will be asked to consider ethical issues in depth, exploring the decision making process and critically exploring how ethical decisions are embedded in cultural and social contexts. You will be encouraged to understand how your own values and beliefs and cultural, social and political contexts contribute to the ethical decisions you might make and to consider the implications for clients from a variety of different backgrounds and contexts. You will consider and justify how you have applied your professional awareness of ethical principles to practice and explore how your ethical decisions may also be linked to your personal integrative theoretical approach.

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.

BACP Ethical Framework and ethical decision making in a cultural, social, relational and situational context
Awareness of own context and how it links to ethical and professional decision making
Awareness of various client contexts and backgrounds and of how ethical and professional decisions may impact differently on them
Anti-oppressive practice, affirmative practice
Continuing exploration of different contexts for delivering counselling - online, telephone, face to face
Professional issues in practice
Writing a case study; exploring and appraising own professional practice, exploring relational and professional process, identifying key moments

Learning outcomes

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

• Explain own ethical decision making process
• Apply to practice key principles of the BACP Ethical Framework
• Describe aspects of the impact of cultural context and norms on personal and institutional ethics and practice
• Examine how ethical principles might apply specifically to working with clients from a variety of backgrounds and groups
• Critically appraise own professional practice

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Subject specific skills

Thorough understanding of legal, ethical and professional requirements and principles and their application
Sophisticated use of contracting in the counselling relationship
Communication of legal and ethical principles for counselling
Ethical decision making and self-awareness of the process
Assessment and formulation of client needs in relation to the BACP ethical framework
Formulation of therapeutic approach in relation to the BACP ethical framework
Monitoring and evaluation of theory and professional guidance in relation to the BACP ethical framework.

Transferable skills

Consolidated capacity for ethical decision making in complex situations, sometimes with incomplete information
Capacity to understand and evaluate debates about ethical, legal and professional issues in counselling
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing - including the ability to articulate principal concepts and arguments and self-reflect on these in written communications where appropriate
Application of learning from work in small groups, with some understanding of the dynamics of such groups
Ability to work ethically and safely with others