Introductory description

This module will prepare you to qualify and work as an independent professional counsellor, especially focusing on competencies from section 3.9 of the QAA benchmarking statement, and from BACP course accreditation criteria section B5, preparing you to take an active role as members of the professional counselling community. You will be enabled to reflect on your learning this year about specialist client presentations and to apply your knowledge and understanding to reflect on and begin to make decisions about your own interests, continuing professional development, and employment choices.
You will continue to consolidate your conceptualisation of your own developing integrative approach, examining your background, beliefs, values and interests and exploring how they contribute to and impact upon your integrative practice.
Throughout the module, we will cover the professional requirements of working independently as a counsellor, consider your next steps in the profession, including working towards BACP accreditation, and explore practical elements of working in the field, including gaining employment and working in private practice.
You will develop your professionalism, organisational awareness, and ability to work in a team.

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.

Exploration of specific client issues and contexts and how to work specifically with particular client groups
Continuing to describe and refine own personal integrative approach through a reflexive lens, synthesising knowledge of a variety of counselling theories and approaches, and understanding of own personal values and context
Applying theoretical knowledge to practical work with clients and understanding how different practitioners approach their work in various settings
Exploration of the professional and organisational settings in which counselling takes place, and the professional requirements of practising independently
Planning for practical elements of work in the future, such as building a professional support network
Continuing professional development and self care planning

Learning outcomes

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

• Define and critically appraise own integrative approach with reference to theories of counselling and psychotherapy
• Analyse personal context, values and identity in relation to own integrative approach
• Apply own integrative approach to presenting client issues and contexts
• Determine own personal learning achievements and needs
• Plan own future professional development and employment goals

Indicative reading list

Specific reading list for the module

Interdisciplinary

Universal application of employment skills, future planning.
Consideration of other job roles to which counselling qualification is relevant.

Subject specific skills

This module focuses on the BACP accredited course competencies around the professional context of counselling and psychotherapy (section B5) which enable you to take an active role as a member of the professional counselling community. You will develop skills and understanding around identifying professional development needs, creating professional support networks, and the necessary skills and knowledge for building a counselling business.

Transferable skills

This module facilitates sophisticated development of transferable and employment skills in line with the Warwick Award, focusing especially on Organisational Awareness, Professionalism, Sustainability and Teamwork as you prepare to enter the profession as a qualified practitioner.