Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PSY2641

 
TITLE Psychology of Helping

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Psychology

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit introduces students to the basic skills and attitudes psychologists use to facilitate communication and foster a good helping relationship. It also introduces students to the skills of basic help on a problem solving level and the inner dynamics of a helping relationship.

The theoretical underpinnings of this study-unit are the helping theory of Carl Rogers and the 3-stage model of Gerald Egan. The students will also have the chance to practice the skills of listening, responding empathically, confronting, working with immediacy and goal setting through group-work. This study-unit lays basic groundwork for students to advance to the study of psychotherapeutic methods and advanced helping skills.

Study-unit Aims:

The aims of this unit are:
- To teach students the basic theory about helping in psychology;
- To offer students the opportunity to practice and acquire appropriate helping skills and stances;
- To provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, attitude and skill of empathy that is crucial for the psychotherapeutic aspect of psychology since without this skill one cannot practice psychological helping.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be familiar with the basics of:
- Psychological helping and Rogerian client centred theory;
- Characteristics of the helper/helpee relationship;
- The Egan model of Helping;
- The initial stage of psychological helping: establishing the relationship and identifying treatment issues;
- The second stage: deeper exploration and analysis;
- Transference, Countertransference and Resistance;
- The third stage: goal setting and behavioural shaping;
- Termination issues and endings.

In addition students will be able to practice active listening, empathic responding and will have some hands on exposure to confrontation, immediacy and goal setting.

Skills:
- Know the basic theory and skills of psychological helping;
- Be adept at using these skills at a basic level;
- Understand the values and attitudes behind psychological helping.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text:
- Patterson, L.E. & Welfel, E.R. (1977) The counseling process. CA: Brooks and Cole.
- Egan, G. (2002) The skilled helper (7th Edition) USA: CA, Brooks/Cole.
- Brammer, L.M. & Macdonald, G. (1996) The helping relationship: process and skills. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
- Brammer, L.M., & Shostrom, E. L. (1960). Therapeutic Psychology. USA: Prentice-Hall.
- Capuzzi Darmanin, A. (1992) Developing leaderships skills, a training manual for leaders. Malta: Media Center Productions.
- Mearns, D. & Thorne, B. (1999) Person-centered counselling in action.USA: Sage Rogers, C., & Webb, D. (2013). Significant Aspects of Client Centred Therapy. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Rogers, C. & Kramer, P. D. (1995). On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy. Mariner Books.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU ARE ADVISED TO TAKE PSY1610

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in each assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Oral Examination [See Add. Notes] SEM1 Yes 50%
Multiple Choice Questions Examination [See Add. Notes] SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Deborah Francalanza
Justin Mangion
Kurt Abela
Daniel Abela
Gabrielle Bartoli
Nicolette Cachia
Gabriella Cassar
Daniel Liam Cutajar
Georgina Debattista
William Hayman
Josef Mizzi
Ryan Portelli
Marlis Scicluna

 

 
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.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit