Listening, self-reflection and the counselling framework

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Convenor: Dr Esther Ramsay-Jones
• Assessment: 300 words of notes on the unconscious and practice reference sheet (0%), a 1500-word assignment on helping professions (60%) and 1000-word self-reflective assignment (40%)

In this module we introduce you to the key concepts and basic listening skills of psychodynamic counselling. The module provides learning opportunities to develop your capacity for self-reflection and an understanding of the role of the psychodynamic counsellor.

Indicative syllabus

• Self-knowledge and self-awareness
• Key principles of psychodynamic counselling
• Understanding the self
• Human growth and development
• Establishing a therapeutic alliance
• Understanding the role of counsellor

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe key psychodynamic concepts and, where relevant, explain their relationship to developmental issues in the life-cycle
• understand how psychodynamic counselling practice differs from other forms of helping with regard to key generic and psychodynamic concepts and skills
• establish appropriate boundaries in counselling work and conduct a supportive, helping conversation using self-awareness, listening in a spontaneous and unfocused way, paraphrasing and reflection.