Overview

PPC4004 Therapeutic Process and Context aims to provide you with an understanding of the professional autonomy and accountability of the counsellor, the professional relationship developed with the client, and the therapeutic framework for practice. You will be guided through the important stages of the therapeutic process; from initial assessment and contracting with the client, through the intervention selected to support the client, to evaluating the outcomes for the client. These topics will be illustrated with case study examples so that you can appreciate the social, professional, and organisational context for counselling. You will be assessed on this module through some questions about your journey towards becoming a counsellor. This module will conclude with an assessed oral discussion group in which you will demonstrate your new knowledge of the therapeutic process and context.

PPC4004 Therapeutic Process and Context will provide you with an insight into the professional role and responsibilities of a counsellor. The work of a counsellor is complex and intense, as the client places a deep trust in you by sharing their inner world as they disclose their hopes, dreams, fears, and desires. It is essential that a trained counsellor can maintain a professional relationship that is warm and welcoming yet has firm boundaries to protect both therapist and client. This module explores the core foundation of counselling work, with consideration of risks, boundaries, legal requirements, diversity, and other topics essential for safe and ethical practice as a therapist. Your lectures will present the key information about the therapeutic process, and this will then be applied in practice through consideration of case studies in your oral discussion group case studies. You will have an opportunity to debate and discuss these case studies, drawing on your knowledge of professional practice, therapeutic theory, and research evidence. Your assessments will invite you to formulate your own understanding of a case in an oral discussion and review your counselling journey so far. Throughout this module, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own development as a practitioner so that you are able to apply what you have learnt in your work with clients.

Topics covered in this module include: •Defining Counselling and Psychotherapy •Counsellor and Client Roles •Boundaries and Ethics •Risks and Safeguarding •Therapeutic Process •Case Formulation •Outcome Evaluations •Appreciating Diversity •Rethinking Mental Health Narratives •Language in Therapy

Please note that these topics are subject to change dependent on staff availability, unexpected circumstances, and the assessed needs of the students.

Assessment Strategy

Assessment criteria for this module are:

Excellent (A*, A+, A, A-) •Insightful understanding of the process and context of therapeutic work •Comprehensive knowledge of the therapeutic process and context •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-) •Clear understanding of the process and context of therapeutic work •Strong knowledge of the therapeutic process and context •Clear understanding and mostly free of factual errors •Some analysis showing critical evaluation and links between ideas •Novel originality in approach, interpretation, and voice •Considerable independent research from appropriate sources •Coherent arguments with evidence for most claims •Focused and well structured •Clear presentation with accurate and appropriate expression •Mostly correct format in appropriate referencing style

Threshold (C+, C, C-) •Basic understanding of the process and context of therapeutic work •Some knowledge of the therapeutic process and context •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 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

• Critically reflect on the professional relationship between counsellor and client, with specific focus on the student as a practitioner

• Engage in the ongoing process of formulation by generating a framework for the client's presentation and creating a therapeutic strategy for intervention drawing on theory and research

• Explain and manage expectations and challenges in counselling, including working with risk, adhering to ethical guidelines, maintaining boundaries, and appreciating diversity

• Orally present critical insights into a therapeutic case study in a group supervision setting with consideration of risk, intervention, and challenges