Overview

Curriculum for this module is divided into Research and Counselling Practice.

Counselling Practice: You will complete a supervised placement of 100hrs face-to-face counselling and 50hrs work-based learning. You must also receive the required number of hours of supervision in accordance with your practice. As part of your 50hrs of work-based learning, you will complete training in coaching and mentoring in order to work for 10hrs as a mentor for a first-year counselling student in the second semester. You must also complete 15hrs of personal counselling and assume the role of client for at least two sessions with trainee. To support your counselling practice, you will attend regular PPD groups throughout the semesters and you will need to show active engagement in all of these sessions over the year. In addition, you will attend regular placement review sessions to guide you through your placement and support you in compiling your placement evidence and producing your placement assessments.

Research: You will complete a research project addressing a therapeutic question. This project may be conducted in your research group, but the final dissertation and presentation must be written independently. Your research will consist of an experimental study, systematic review, or systematic case study. To support your research, you will attend regular research workshops and these will provide guidance through the dissertation writing process.

Please note the following indicative content for the 2023-2024 syllabus (subject to change depending on situational factors and assessed student need):

Professional Coaching and Mentoring in Counselling Employability Workshop

PPD+: Reflection and Storytime

Practice Review: Mid-Placement Practice Assessment 3 Professional Competencies Reflective Journal Administration and File Management Supervision and Self-Care Progress Report End of Placement Practice Assessment 4 Work-Based Learning Practice Evidence Portfolio Professional Competencies Assessment Reflective Journal Assessment Progress Update Extension Request Process Practice Evidence Portfolio

Research Workshop: Testing Review Testing Update Dissertation Review Introduction Review Draft Introduction Method Review Draft Method Research Conference Data Analysis Results Review Draft Results Discussion Review Draft Discussion Dissertation Overview Dissertation Final Review Presentations Future Planning

Research Conference

In addition to the above classes, please note the following open office drop-in sessions for research and practice support: • Weeks 1-5 and 7-12 each semester Mondays 5-6 Wheldon Counselling Office • Weeks 1-14 each semester Wednesdays 9-12 TEAMS

Assessment Strategy

The assessment criteria for this module is as follows:

Excellent (A*, A+, A, A-) • Completed placement of 100hrs of supervised face-to-face counselling, 30hrs of work-based learning, 10-20hrs mentoring, and 15hrs of personal counselling • Insightful empirical research into counselling practice • Safe reflective practice of counselling • Comprehensive knowledge of counselling • Detailed understanding with no factual errors • Critical analysis showing evaluation and synthesis of ideas • Novel and innovative originality in approach, interpretation, and voice • Extensive and comprehensive independent research • Logically defended arguments with evidence for all claims • Highly focused and well structured • Excellent presentation with accurate and appropriate expression • Correct format in appropriate referencing style

Good (B+, B, B-) • Completed placement of 100hrs of supervised face-to-face counselling, 30hrs of work-based learning, 10-20hrs mentoring, and 15hrs of personal counselling • Considered empirical research into counselling practice • Safe reflective practice of counselling • Strong knowledge of counselling • Clear understanding and mostly free of factual errors • Some analysis showing critical evaluation and links between ideas • Novel originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice • Comprehensive independent research from appropriate sources • Coherent arguments with evidence for most claims • Focused and well structured • Good presentation with accurate and appropriate expression • Mostly correct format in appropriate referencing style

Threshold (C+, C, C-) • Completed placement of 100hrs of supervised face-to-face counselling, 30hrs of work-based learning, 10-20hrs mentoring, and 15hrs of personal counselling • Basic empirical research into counselling practice • Safe reflective practice of counselling • Some knowledge of counselling • Understanding of the main concepts with no major factual errors • Basic analysis showing obvious points of evaluation and links between ideas • Some originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice for part of the work • Some evidence of independent research from appropriate sources • Arguments presented with evidence for the most important claims • Readable structure showing focus at times • Acceptable presentation with appropriate expression • Attempt at correct format in appropriate referencing style with no major errors

If you do not meet the threshold then your work will be graded as a Fail. Fail grades vary from Poor (D+, D, D-, E+, E, E-) to Very Poor (F).

Learning Outcomes

• Adopt the role of an effective counsellor, including supervised practice and associated work in a counselling context.

• Critically self-reflect drawing on current research in counselling to develop own therapeutic skills in client work.

• Critically understand and apply a therapeutic philosophy in counselling practice.

• Disseminate the findings of a substantial empirical research project, systematic review, or systematic case study to provide a general audience with applied knowledge.

• Successfully conduct and report a substantial empirical research project, systematic review, or systematic case study using appropriate methodology and informed by current understandings in the discipline.