Level 2 Counselling Skills Course (minimum of 75 contact hours and not distance learning) Level 4 – Certificate in Advanced Counselling studies Some students may be able to progress directly from the Level 2 to the Level 5 Diploma and this is considered on individual merit and a minimum of 120 UCAS points Application process: Formal Interview Personal Statement (see below) Written task Attendance at an information session Satisfactory DBS The following will be assessed through a personal statement and interview: Self-awareness, maturity and stability Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of the programme Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements Ability to form a helping relationship characterised by empathy, acceptance and genuineness Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression Awareness of issues of difference and equality Ability to recognise the need for personal and professional support Commitment to self-development Preparedness to undertake personal therapy whilst completing the course PS11. Academic Standards and Quality Enhancement The Programme Leader/Manager (or the descriptor) leads the Programme Committee in the Plymouth University’s annual programme monitoring process (APM), as titled at the time of approval. APM culminates in the production, maintenance and employment of a programme level Action Plan, which evidences appropriate management of the programme in terms of quality and
QAA - SUBJECT BENCHMARK STATEMENTS FOR COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHRAPY BACP – CORE CURRICULUM Teaching and Learning Strategy / Methods Module Prog Aims Prog intended Learning Outcomes Range of Assessments Related Core Modules Professional autonomy and accountability and Professional relationships By the end of this level of this programme the students will be able to demonstrate for a threshold pass: maintain the ethical principles that underpin counselling and psychotherapy integrate into practice legal, professional and organisational requirements pertaining to equal opportunities, diversity and recognise the social and cultural context of their practice recognise potential limitations of preferred theoretical model or models in work with specific clients ensure a consistent commitment to continuing professional and personal development, including self-awareness and fitness to practice The professional role and responsibility of the therapist The practitioner will have relevant knowledge to inform his or her ability to: Show a commitment to personal and professional development including and an awareness of fitness to practice in relation to clients. Reflect on personal development including ways in life experiences affect self and relationships with peers, clients and other professionals. Demonstrate the psychological and emotional robustness necessary to work with intense feelings and uncertainties. Engage in rigorous self-examination, monitoring thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour in the therapeutic relationship. Recognise personal and professional limitations and identify ways of addressing these. awareness Lectures and tutorials Directed independent study Enquiry based learning Workshop group tasks Seminar Use of Virtual Learning Environ (VLE) Group tutorials Reading – both directed and self-directed Personal self-directed study Personal and Professional Development CORC 2171 3,5,6 5,6,7, 8 Assessed seminar professional practice portfolio Self and peer assessment
recognise their own professional strengths and limitations that may affect therapeutic practice, and develop appropriate self-support and self-care strategies recognise the need for, and engage with, their own personal support and/or therapy as appropriate recognise and cope with uncertainty, responding therapeutically while maintaining firm boundaries recognise responsibilities to the client, employers, the counselling and psychotherapy professions and to society at large Professional relationships (QAA) recognise and respect and multi-agency approaches to mental health recognise their own professional limitations, making referrals where appropriate respect the role of supervision as an essential aspect of clinical practice Recognise and maintain appropriate professional boundaries even when these are challenged by the client or others. Understand the values underpinning the profession, as exemplified in the Ethical Framework. Demonstrate the capacity for reflexivity as applied in therapeutic practice. Understand the importance of supervision, contract for supervision and use it to address professional and developmental Understand the importance of professional development activities. Understand and use a relevant ethical framework to make critical decisions the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Manage counselling practice efficiently, including record and note keeping; provision of an appropriate environment; liaison with other services; reviewing of caseloads and evaluation of practice.
make informed decisions referral to appropriate agencies negotiate an appropriate therapeutic contract using all available information recognise the implicit imbalance in the counselling/psychotherapy relationship openly and freely discuss sexual matters when appropriate, whatever the client's sexual orientation or the nature of the client's problem recognise and make appropriate decisions in response to ethical dilemmas be aware of psychopharmacological interventions commonly used in the treatment of mental health problems and be sensitive to the impact that prescribed medication may have on the therapeutic relationship and process of counselling/psychotherapy Use all available information including information; client presentation; therapist response to the client and quantitative or qualitative measures or assessment tools to make a collaborative decision with clients regarding an appropriate therapeutic contract. Reflect on, and synthesise complex and sometimes contradictory information in order to facilitate an understanding of underlying psychological difficulties. Access and interpret research evidence and organisational guidance about appropriate and effective interventions for particular presentations of personal difficulties. Demonstrate awareness of diversity and the rights and responsibilities of all clients, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, culture, class, ability, sexuality, religion and belief. Openly and freely discuss sexual matters, when appropriate with a client, whatever Use of Virtual Learning Environ (VLE) Group tutorials Reading – both directed and self-directed Personal self-directed study
These are: Knowledge based learning Therapeutic competencies Development of self-awareness Professional development Skills work Practice placements The teaching, learning and assessment strategies are designed to enable achievement of intended learning outcomes A range of approaches are therefore employed to ensure that: Students with different learning styles experience a diversity of learning methods Students experience learning methods appropriate to the learning outcomes There is parity in the students’ experiences of learning methods Students learn to maximise their own learning even when the method is not their favoured one. The therapeutic process (QAA) By the end of this level of this programme the students will be able to demonstrate for a threshold pass: demonstrate familiarity with a model of assessment compatible with their core theoretical model in The therapeutic process (BACP) The practitioner will have relevant knowledge to inform his or her ability to: Establish and maintain an effective, collaborative therapeutic alliance with the client, with due regard to the physical, contractual and ethical framework. Lectures and tutorials Directed independent study Learning from work experience Enquiry based learning including Counselling Practice CORC 2216 Counselling psychology CORC 2218 1,2,6,7 1,2,3,7 DVD and critique Essay
practice of counselling and psychotherapy appraise the interrelatedness of claims, belief and ideology, and their influence on professional practice interpret and apply relevant policies and codes of the employing organisation, including equal opportunities statements, disability statements and widening participation strategies appraise the of psychological services and interventions available to clients recognise the potential importance of diversity in the therapeutic relationship reflect on the role and function of counselling and psychotherapy in society recognise ways in government policies and recommendations such as those in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (N.I.C.E.) guidelines may impact on the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Identify and critique the philosophical assumptions underpinning the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Understand the inter-relatedness of truth claims, belief and ideology and their influence on professional practice. Interpret and apply relevant policies and codes of the employing organisation, including equal opportunities statements, disability statements and widening participation strategies. Explore sensitively and respectfully with clients their culture and associated values recognising cultural differences, for example, in terms of predispositions to individualism and collectivism, emotional involvement and detachment. Reflect on the role and function of counselling and psychotherapy in society and understand national politics in relation to mental health service provision and client wellbeing. group tasks Seminar Use of Virtual Learning Environ (VLE) tutorials Reading – both directed and self-directed Personal self-directed study
mental health service provision and client well-being recognise that relationships and dynamics within groups and organisations have the potential to impact on therapy critically appraise published research on counselling and psychotherapy and integrate relevant research findings into practice implement methodologies to and evaluate the process and outcome of therapy be familiar with the legal and ethical framework in which the therapy takes place deliver the counselling/psychotherapy services with due regard to the practice setting. . Demonstrate a clear commitment to best practice and work within an ethical framework for professional practice. Demonstrate understanding of the relevant legislation that affects the practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Make a contract with the appropriate organisation for the provision of therapy, including the extent of the provision with regard to time, place and resources. Demonstrate an awareness of power relationships and dynamics within groups and organisations and their potential impact on therapy. Work in multidisciplinary teams with other professionals and participate effectively to maximise therapeutic outcomes as appropriate. Critically appraise published research on counselling and psychotherapy and integrate relevant research findings into practice. Understand methodologies to evaluate the process and outcome of therapy.