Counselling Practitioner

To further your understanding of the professional role and responsibility of the therapist, as well as the social, professional and organisational context for therapy, in this module, you will consider the application of guidance and legislation to counselling practice. This will include the examination of issues such as safeguarding, record keeping, consent, confidentiality, boundaries, contracting, client assessment (including risk-assessment), and diversity and equality of opportunity. You will be encouraged to identify and critically reflect on the tensions between legal, ethical and professional responsibilities that can lead to challenges and dilemmas for practicing counsellors. Alongside an examination of government policies and recommendations, such as those in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, you will be supported in the critical consideration and application of the BACP ethical framework and current legislation on practice, the client and the counsellor. Themes to be considered will include working with clients prescribed common medications, ethical boundaries and managing dual relationships. You will be assisted in an exploration of your own values and belief systems in the light of these legal, ethical and professional Issues.

A key aspect of the professional role and responsibility of the therapist is to engage in rigorous self-examination, monitoring thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour in the therapeutic relationship. As part of your personal development, you will explore your own patterns of interpersonal relating and emotional intelligence through personal development groups. This module is designed to support your development as a reflective counselling practitioner to ensure sound counselling practice as you undertake counselling work with clients. The module will give you the opportunity to develop and practice professional skills gained at Level 4, as you begin to engage with the nuanced complexities of the therapeutic relationship. Alongside personal development and the deepening of competencies in therapeutic practice, themes may include exploring transference and countertransference; working with imagery, metaphor and dreams; and the use of the self in therapy (e.g., transparency, immediacy, self-disclosure and resonance). In addition, the module will include a review of the you placement experience and practice hours to ensure you are on target to meet BACP requirements for counselling practitioners for by the end of Level 6.

This module is designed to be an introduction to counselling children and young people. The module provides a theoretical and practical introduction to a range of research-informed therapeutic responses, strategies and interventions, which therapists may employ in their work with children and young people of a variety of ages and development levels. These may include the use of: story telling as a therapeutic tool; metaphor and puppets; arts and creative activities; and emotional literacy cards. You will also be encouraged to develop an awareness of specific ethical issues associated with working with children and young people, including an understanding of professional responsibilities in relation to safeguarding. You should note that completing this module alone does not provide you with the necessary skills to counsel children and young people. Rather, this is a ‘taster’ module to help you consider if this is an area you would like to investigate further post-graduation.

Engagement with a range of theoretical perspectives is key to understanding people and their experiences. To this end, this module will explore a range of theories of human development. You will engage critically with these theories, in the light of an awareness of their philosophical origins. Influential theorists such as Bowlby and Erikson will be considered alongside perspectives on human development within wider frameworks informing humanistic counselling (person-centred theory, Gestalt theory, transactional analysis and existential theory). You will consider how theories of human development theories may apply to yourself and your clients, and subsequently reflect on implications you may have within humanistic counselling practice.

This module comprises an introduction to three humanistic approaches: existential therapy, transactional analysis, and Gestalt therapy. The work of key exponents of each approach will be examined, alongside associated theory and research evidence. There will be an examination of how ideas such as the therapeutic relationship, psychological distress and models of change are conceptualised in each approach. You will also consider potential limitations of these three approaches.

This module provides you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge of and skills in research in the field of counselling. This will include a critical consideration of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and their associated methods, as well as philosophical positioning in research. 
 

You will be supported in the identification of a research topic and the articulation of a research question. Key aspects of design will be considered, and you will be taught how to develop and write a research proposal. Ultimately, the module will prepare for applying this learning to a dissertation research project at Level 6.
 

You will be taught how to conduct a literature review in a systematised way and you will be taught how the development of a rationale for a research project must be underpinned by the literature. Research ethics and integrity will be explored, with a focus on the particular complexities and challenges associated with research in counselling.

This module will focus on ways in which counsellors enable clients to find their voice by articulating their views, issues and experiences within the therapeutic relationship. You will examine the limitations of talking therapy and will explore potential mitigation of such limitations via a range of techniques and creative therapeutic approaches for example creative artwork, sand tray, clay, expressive writing, empty chair techniques and music therapy. You will engage with both the theoretical and practical aspects of creative approaches in counselling. With reference to relevant ethical codes of practice, you will be encouraged to consider how to use the techniques in a sensitive and ethical way maintaining the client's autonomy and safeguarding their wellbeing.

This module offers an experiential learning environment within a therapeutic group setting. By integrating research and group work theory, you will cultivate a critical understanding of your current and ongoing group experiences, including your levels participation. 
 

The module also has a focus on group leadership, prompting you to evaluate various approaches and critically analyse the theory and practice of group facilitation. You will enhance your group facilitation skills by designing and facilitating a workshop for your peers.

This module aims to enhance your theoretical and practical understanding through the discussion of various counselling situations and dilemmas. 
 

You will delve into the challenges experienced by counsellors, such as ethical dilemmas. By examining these you will apply a diverse theoretical knowledge and participate in experiential exercises to gain insight into therapeutic practice in different contexts. You will be required to engage in group discussions as part of this module.

This module examines ways of working with clients who present with a range of issues that affect their everyday living to such an extent that help is sought to address them. You will learn to recognise the signs and symptoms associated with mental distress. You will engage with a range of research-informed therapeutic responses to work with clients who present with challenges such as anxiety; depression; bereavement; loss; and suicidal ideation or intent. Particular consideration will be given to the use of supervision when working with this latter population, as well as legal and ethical implications; when to refer on to more specialist services; and local and national support services that are available. More generally, you will think about referral and the compatibility of counselling/psychotherapy and psychopharmacological interventions in conjunction with other professionals. you will consider client assessment (in relation to a range of presentations) against a backdrop of critical awareness of different perspectives on assessment, diagnosis and case conceptualisation. You will reflect on client assessment as it pertains to risk management, especially where there may be additional considerations concerning client competence, capacity, understanding, awareness and decision making. You will also critically engage with the concept of measuring outcomes and how we conceptualise progress and success in therapy.

The module provides an opportunity for you to build upon and apply the key intellectual, transferable and practical skills gained at Levels 4 and 5 of the programme, in order to design an appropriate research project for their counselling dissertation.
 

Throughout the module, a series of lectures, seminars and workshops will further develop students research design skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods. 
 

In addition, you will develop a critical understanding of ethical challenges associated with carrying out counselling research leading to the development of a research project that adheres to the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018) and BGU’s Research Ethics Committee standards.

The aim of this module is to enable you to undertake a small-scale research project on a topic of your choice in the field of counselling practice. It will build on the methods and skills developed in the module Research skills and methods.
 

This dissertation module includes obtaining ethical approval, collecting data, analysing data, and reporting and discussing findings. 
 

The module will enable you to demonstrate ethical awareness when undertaking a research project; problem solving; project planning and organisational skills; reasoning and the development of an argument through familiarity with the literature; the ability to present data and information; use of analysis, synthesis and evaluation skills; and the ability to apply theory to practice.

In this module, you will consider the theory and practice of contemporary and emerging counselling approaches in the world of therapy. For example, these may include, feminist approaches, ecotherapy, holistic and social prescribing and the influence of neuroscience in counselling practice. You will critically consider online delivery of therapy, with an emphasis on the development of a strong therapeutic alliance and the creation of a safe space for clients’ discussion of your experience. Ethics, boundaries and contracting in relation to online working will also be considered. You should note that the content of this module alone will not equip you to deliver therapy online, and that if you should wish to offer this service to clients further training will be required post-graduation.

This is a non-credit bearing pass or fail module. To align with the PRSB guidelines for BACP Gold book for the accreditation of training courses, you are required to complete 100 hours counselling placement as an integral part of the programme. You are able to begin your placements at Level 5 and accumulate these hours through Levels 5 and 6 of the programme. You must also engage in clinical supervision for your counselling practice in alignment with the PRSB required hours. Additionally, you are required to undertake 40 hours of personal counselling at any point across the duration of the overall programme. This supports your personal development and self-care during the programme. It also provides experiential learning on the process of counselling from participating in the role of clients as providing counselling during your placement. This learning is assessed and supported continuously within modules across Levels 5 and 6. As such, this module is designed to provide a formal opportunity to submit pro-forma evidence via your e-portfolio, of completion of the required hours for these activities, and confirmed in a written report in the e-portfolio by your counselling placement provider, clinical supervisor and counsellor.