Unit information: Approaches to Counselling in Learning in 2014/15

Unit name	Approaches to Counselling in Learning
Unit code	EDUCM5101
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Mrs. Knowler
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Education
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides students with the opportunity to engage with the psychological and philosophical concepts that have informed the development of the three major theoretical approaches to counselling - psychodynamic, person-centred and cognitive-behavioural. Students will also be introduced to multicultural counselling theory (MCT) and to the debate concerning theoretical and technical integration and eclecticism. The cultural, historical and social factors that have influenced the development of each theoretical position will be embedded throughout the curriculum. Topics include: The psychodynamic approach to counselling - influences of Freud and the post-Freudians; Humanistic psychology and the person-centred philosophy and approach of Carl Rogers; Cognitive and behavioural psychology - the rational-emotive behavioural therapeutic approach of Albert Ellis; Integration and eclecticism - exploration of core integrating factors including the 'relationship multiplicity' framework of Petrushka Clarkson, Gerard Egan's use of problem-solving, postmodern challenges to the concept of integration; Multicultural Counselling Theory (MCT) - the work of Paul Pederson.

Aims:

• To develop an understanding of the core concepts of the psychodynamic, person-centred, cognitive-behavioural approaches to counselling –and of Multicultural Counselling Theory (MCT)

• To explore the implications of the application of each theoretical approach to the personal and academic support of learners

• To differentiate between the use of a single approach and the integration of elements from each in the effective personal and academic support of learners

• To examine the relationship between the development of counselling in the Western world and the psychological theories that have informed it

• To develop a critical awareness of the ways in which the mainstream approaches to counselling are culturally conceptualised and the implications for their application in a range of different cultures.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate that they:

• Have considered critically the psychological and philosophical underpinnings of the major theoretical approaches to counselling and are able to differentiate between them

• Have explored the social and cultural influences on counselling and critiqued their relevance in their own professional context

• Are able to differentiate between integrationism and eclecticism

• Are able to critically interrogate current counselling research

Teaching Information

A variety of approaches to learning and teaching will be used including: small group discussion, experiential work, case studies, student led seminars and presentations, critical analysis of key readings and the critical analysis of counselling vignettes.

The needs of a wide range of students, including those with disabilities, international students and those from ethnic minority backgrounds have been considered. It is not anticipated that the teaching and assessment methods used will cause disadvantage to any person taking the unit. The Graduate School of Education is happy to address individual support requests as necessary.

Assessment Information

An essay of 3000 words that provides students with the opportunity to critically evaluate at least one of the major theoretical approaches to counselling, an integrative approach or MCT, and to consider its relevance in their own context. Students will also be required to maintain a reflective journal in which to record their experiences of learning during the unit conceptualising this experience within the theoretical perspectives encountered. A 1000 word summary of this reflective journal will be submitted as part of the assessment.

Reading and References

JACOBS, Michael (3rd ed.) (2004) Psychodynamic counselling in action. London, Sage

McLEOD, John (3rd ed.) (2003) An introduction to counselling. Buckingham, Open University Press

MEARNS, Dave (2nd ed.) (2003) Developing person-centred counselling. London, Sage

PALMER, S. & LAUNGANI, P. (eds.) (2000) Counselling in a multicultural society. London, Sage

PALMER, S. & WOOLFE, R. (eds.) (2000) Integrative and eclectic counselling and psychotherapy. London, Sage

PROCHASKA, James & NORCROSS, John C. (5th ed.) (2003) Systems of psychotherapy: a transtheoretical analysis. Pacific Grove, Ca., Brooks-Cole