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, effectively preparing you for work in a counselling agency delivering both face to face and online or phone therapy.

Drawing on the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's Ethical Framework, you will be asked to consider ethical issues in depth, critically exploring the decision making process and how ethical decisions are embedded in cultural and social contexts. You will be encouraged to understand how your own values, 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 apply principles of working with diversity and anti-oppressive practice to ethical decision making.

You will investigate practical aspects of working with clients in an agency setting, including assessment, managing risk, safe-guarding, outcome measures, confidentiality and using clinical supervision. You will also consider how to work within an agency team, developing your professionalism, teamwork and knowledge of organisational processes. You will experience some learning in an online environment and develop competency to deliver therapy online as well as face to face.

Your learning will be consolidated in ongoing skills practice throughout the module, and in writing a case study on early client work. You will apply your knowledge about ethical principles and practices to ensure ethical practice in skills practice, client work and case study protocols.

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 cultural, social, relational and situational context
Awareness of own identity, background and context and how these factors impact ethical and professional decision making
Awareness of various client identities, contexts and backgrounds and how ethical and professional decisions may impact differently on them
Continuing exploration of different modes for delivering counselling: online, telephone, face to face
Professional issues in practice: confidentiality, outcome measures, assessment, risk management, safe-guarding, supervision
Skills practice
Writing a case study, and understanding and following required ethical protocol around this

Learning outcomes

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

• Explain own ethical decision making process, applying 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
• Critically appraise own professional practice
• Consider practical aspects of working with clients in an agency setting

Indicative reading list

Specific reading list for the module

Interdisciplinary

Ethical values and awareness include interdisciplinary awareness.

Subject specific skills

Thorough understanding of ethical, legal and professional principles and requirements and their application.
Familiarity with and application of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework.
Ability to make and communicate ethical decisions with self-awareness.
In line with BACP Counselling skills competence framework: Professional Context;
QAA Benchmarks 3.3: Content; 3.9: Professional Development;
SCoPEd Framework Theme 1: Professional Framework.

Ability to deliver therapy face to face, online or by telephone.
Client assessment.
Risk management and safeguarding.
Use of clinical supervision.
Use of outcome measures.
Managing confidentiality, including limits to confidentiality.
Ability to work in a counselling agency as part of a professional team.
In line with BACP Counselling skills competence framework: Professional Context;
QAA Benchmark 3.7: Professional Skills Practice;
SCoPEd Framework Theme 1: Professional Framework.

Transferable skills

This course highlights specifically Warwick Award core skills of:
Ethical Values,
Problem Solving,
Teamwork,
Organisational Awareness,
Digital Literacy.