| CODE | COU5133 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Counselling Theory and Techniques | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Counselling | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The purpose of this study-unit is to provide a comprehensive overview of the major counselling theories and techniques. Emphasis will be placed upon enabling students to develop a solid theoretical foundation and respective techniques. Additionally, the study-unit will provide an introduction to the skills and attitudes required to conduct case-study analysis, the use of case studies in professional practice, and the generation of practice - based evidence. This includes the philosophical, methodological, ethical and professional issues involved in writing a case-study.The study-unit will cover the following key counselling approaches: Psychodynamic, Adlerian, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt, and Emotion Focused Therapy. This study-unit consists of three parts: Part 1: Counselling Theory This element of the study-unit will introduce counselling theories, and help the student conceptualise client issues. It will also help students to critically examine theoretical models of counselling that are consistent with current professional research and practice in the field. Part 2: Counselling Techniques Techniques are specific procedures, skills and exercises employed by counsellors in aiding the client to reach counselling goals or objectives. The aim of this component is to enable trainee counsellors to gain a thorough understanding of the basic techniques of some of the most influential approaches used to inform counselling practice and to be able to apply them successfully. This part of the study-unit will be taught in a workshop fashion, whereby classes will include a) role plays and practice; b) minimal lecture and more discussion of the reading for that class; c) small group discussions and experiential exercises; d) video demonstrations of skills; and e) homework in the form of reflections on readings and class exercises. Part 3: Case Study Analysis This part of the study-unit aims at equipping trainees with the knowledge and skills to write a case study within their own professional practice and setting. Trainees will be encouraged to analyse the skills and techniques used whilst working with a particular client. Active participation in discussion and skills practice will be expected of all trainees in this class. Trainees will be encouraged to become aware of and reflect upon their own strengths and growing edges in terms of their motivation and ability to apply these techniques to the therapeutic relationship. Acquiring skills is an integral component of this unit, within the role plays and practice components, there is a possibility that a trainee will gain knowledge of confidential information, such as information of another trainee's personal life. It is essential and the responsibility of each trainee in the course to respect and maintain every other trainee's right to confidentiality. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to equip the trainees with the knowledge of the different counselling approaches and techniques for effective counselling practice. Additionally, it will equip trainees with the skills to write a case study within their professional practice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss prominent approaches in counselling and psychotherapy; - Illustrate how to apply counselling theories to practice; - Discuss the philosophical, methodological, ethical and professional issues involved in writing a case-study; - Discuss the role of case studies in professional practice; - Discuss and argue the importance of practice-based evidence; - Reflect and criticise own strengths and growing edges in relation to counselling techniques; - Identify how and when to apply these techniques to the therapeutic relationship; - Demonstrate an awareness of the strengths and limitations of each technique. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse the nature of theory; - Critically assess the appropriate application of counselling theories to practice; - Discuss the application of theory to the counselling process; - Carry out a case study within their own professional practice and setting; - Negotiate the practical and logistical issues involved in conducting a case study; - Successfully apply specific procedures, skills and exercises outlined above in counselling situations; - Appropriately use each technique in helping the client move towards awareness and insight or set goals as applicable to the client's individual personality, aptitude, motivation and situation. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Feltham, C., Hanley, T., & Winter, L.A. (2017). The Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy 4th Ed. Sage Publications Limited. - Fall, K., Miner Holden, J., & Marquis, A. (2017). Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy 3rd ed. Routledge. Supplementary Readings: - Hart, M. (2019). Processing Emotional Pain Using Emotion Focused Therapy. Australian Academic Press Group. - Johnson, S.M. (2019). Attachment Theory in Practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with Individuals, Couples, and Families. The Guilford Press. - Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (2015). Mind over Mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think (2nd ed.). London: The Guilford Press. - Howard, I. (2010). Skills in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. Sage. - Joyce, P. & Sills, C. (2014). Skills in Gestalt Counselling and Psychotherapy (3rded.). Sage. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Students are expected to attend all the lectures and prepare themselves by completing assigned readings prior to the respective lecture. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Melanie Demarco |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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