Counselling FdA

This module is an introduction to the principles and practices of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as applied to practice in counselling settings. The module formulates mental distress and disturbances within the CBT framework and draws on current evidence-based practice through reference to the NICE guidelines. You explore psychological formulation and intervention skills of CBT practice.

An important feature of the module is the emphasis on collaborative working with clients.

This module develops your counselling skills to prepare and support you for external supervised work experience with a counselling agency, and to continually develop your counselling skills and personal qualities.

This module develops your knowledge and understanding of the BACP Ethical Framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy, which outlines the values, principles and personal moral qualities which underpin ethical practice. You then begin to practice counselling skills working with peers to develop a professional framework for practice.

This module introduces you to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy so you are better informed when you have to make important decisions that can affect the possibility of achieving your career goals.

In addition, you are introduced to personal development planning and a range of study and transferable skills that are relevant to your foundation degree programme.

This module develops your personal understanding of self in relation to the core theoretical model.

It provides an unstructured group similar to Rogerian encounter groups, which promote congruent communication, empathic understanding and acceptance of self and others.

You learn to manage and cope with situations that vary in complexity and predictability and develop the personal moral qualities inherent in the BACP ethical framework, including:
- humility (the ability to assess accurately ones’ own strengths and weaknesses)
- resilience (the capacity to work with clients' concerns without being personally diminished)
- integrity (commitment to being moral in dealing with others)
- sincerity (a personal commitment to consistency between what is professed and what is done).

You develop your knowledge, understanding and application of a core theoretical model – the person-centred approach developed by Carl R Rogers and part of the Humanistic School of Therapy.
You focus on the qualities of the therapeutic relationship as the primary vehicle for therapeutic change and the key concepts of Rogers’ theory of personality and practice with particular emphasis on the self-concept, organismic self, ‘necessary and sufficient’ conditions, the therapeutic process, ethical practice and professional issues.

This module assists you to develop as ethical, accountable and reflective practitioners. It also assesses your skills competence to practice.

This module will support you as practitioners who can apply a coherent theoretical base to respond to clients psychological distress, work within an ethical framework and monitor fitness to practice.

You are introduced to the principles and practices of working from an integrative perspective as applied to practice in counselling settings. The module formulates mental distress and disturbances within an Integrative framework and draws on current evidence based practice through reference to NICE guidelines. You will explore psychological formulation and the skills of Integrative practice. An important feature of the module is the emphasis on collaborative working with clients.

This module introduces you to the concept of a continuum of mental wellbeing through to severe psychological and emotional distress.

You will be made aware of the influence of social and cultural factors on mental health and the interrelatedness of psychological and physical symptoms.

You learn about the types of medication commonly used in treatment of various psychological states and their effects and possible side effects, including the potential impact on the therapeutic process.

You also develop an understanding of the work and roles of other professionals in the mental health field.

This module prepares you to take an active role as a member of the professional counselling/psychotherapy community.

You consider the wider political, social, legal and organisational framework for therapeutic practice to ensure that you are able to work appropriately in different counselling and psychotherapy contexts.

The module highlights the importance of making a commitment to on-going personal and professional development after qualification and throughout your career as a qualified practitioner.

This module introduces you to key concepts in Psychodynamic theory. The fundamental principles of psychodynamic theories lie in the concept of unconscious processes and the transferential relationship existing between the counsellor and their client.

You gain an understanding of child development and attachment, the nature of the therapeutic relationship, the therapeutic process and human sexuality.

A psychodynamic understanding of mental health will be introduced through exploring splitting, projection and projective identification in the therapeutic context.

This module develops your critical awareness of research findings in counselling, psychotherapy and related areas through study of the relevant literature, and through reflection on how these inform evidence-based practice.

You gain an awareness and working knowledge of research methodology to enable you to develop basic competences in small scale research projects.