This course provides a comprehensive theoretical introduction to counselling psychology for final year psychology students considering further training in counselling or clinical psychology and related disciplines such as social care and support work. Students will gain a sound basis for decision making around further training and career paths through understanding the ontological underpinnings of the major approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. They will also develop a clear insight to the process of evaluating the evidence base for different approaches to counselling and psychotherapy mediated by client issue or client group.

There will be 5 timetabled teaching sessions in total, each lasting 2 hours, throughout the second teaching block of Semester 1. 

None

Each student will produce an individual written assignment comprising two components which align with the course ILOs. This written assignment will include:

1. A comparison of the ontological assumptions of two different approaches to counselling (ILO1).

2. A linked annotated bibliography including two full references (ILO2) which match the counselling approaches discussed in the comparison.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical introduction to counselling psychology for students considering further training in counselling/clinical psychology and related disciplines. It will prepare students for the ontological and epistemological shifts necessary to integrate psychology and counselling and meet the standards set by the British Psychological Society for Counselling Psychology trainees, which are rooted in humanistic and relational values. The course aims to encourage intellectual curiosity, and critical judgement in evaluating sources of information and constructing meaning. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Integrate the ontological assumptions associated with different approaches to counselling and psychotherapy.

■ Critically evaluate the application of different counselling approaches with reference to recent research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.