Introductory description

In this module you will be facilitated to reflect deeply on your counselling practice in placement and to move towards qualification with a strong understanding of your strengths and development needs as a professional counsellor. In line with QAA benchmark 3.7 and BACP guidance for accredited courses section 4, you'll be asked to apply your learning from the whole course to an evaluation of your own practice work. We'll consolidate our learning about relational integrative practice by looking at a range of ways that this is conceptualised theoretically and exploring how we might reflect these in our work with clients. New learning this year about working with various specific client groups and presenting issues will add to your understanding of how to devise an accurate working formulation of a client and respond appropriately to their needs. You will attend peer supervision groups in the classroom in order to reflect on your practice with your colleagues. We will discuss ways of deepening our relational processes with clients and explore understandings of what relational depth might look like in practice, and we'll continue to work in professional development groups to explore our interpersonal processes.
The learning on this module will also consolidate your learning in previous years about working online and on the telephone with clients, ensuring that you have the required competencies and that you can work safely in a variety of contexts.
This module enables you to move towards your own independent practice, developing your confidence to work at depth with clients and your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of presenting issues.

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.

Working with specific client groups and in specific contexts, developing awareness of specialist work with a variety of presenting issues
Relational depth - working collaboratively and empathically with clients
Theoretical concepts of relational integrative practice
Working online and on the telephone with clients, understanding ethical and contractual requirements and meeting BACP competencies
Reflecting on own counselling practice in supervision groups and through written work
Identifying own learning and development needs in readiness for professional qualification

Learning outcomes

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

• Create a clear and collaborative contract for safe and professional counselling work with a client online or on the telephone
• Analyse the impact of own identities on relational processes in counselling
• Critically analyse key moments in a counselling relationship
• Demonstrate ability to work at relational depth with clients
• Apply counselling theory and assessment techniques to create an appropriate client case formulation
• Demonstrate ability to respond sensitively to the specific relational implications of working with a client online or on the telephone

Indicative reading list

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Exploring the application of research findings to own practice

Interdisciplinary

Reference to various interdisciplinary concepts from areas across the social sciences, in the understanding of cultural conceptualisations of client experiences around topics such as bereavement, addiction, delusion and death.

Subject specific skills

In line with QAA subject benchmark sections 3.7 and 3.8, and BACP guidance for accredited courses section B4, this module enables you to develop your practical and reflective skills including:
Sophisticated selection and use of appropriate counselling skills and application of counselling theory;
Ability to work ethically and safely with clients in a variety of contexts including online and on the telephone;
Refined ability to reflect on own self in relationship and to understand conscious and unconscious processes in relationships;
Deep understanding of the experiences and needs of clients with a variety of particular presenting issues.

Transferable skills

This module enables you to develop to a high level core skills in the Warwick Award as you refine your ability to work with clients and reflect on your practice. You will develop your competence in Communication, Ethical Values, Intercultural Awareness, Organisational Awareness, Professionalism and Self Awareness.