Couple and Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy: Skills

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenors: Amanda Hughes, Ruth Shane
• Assessment: a 15-minute process recording and 2000-word recorded session analysis and evaluation (100%), plus clinical progression role plays and feedback, interview feedback and a student review report (pass/fail)

In this module we offer you a foundation in core therapeutic skills in theory and practice. Topics covered include the stages and the components of the therapeutic process, as well as how to assess clients' difficulties and which interventions can facilitate change. The development of self-awareness and self-evaluation skills prepares you to become a reflective practitioner in your work with couples and individuals.

Indicative syllabus

• Practical therapeutic skills
• The nature of the therapeutic relationship
• Stages of the therapeutic process
• The therapeutic frame
• The therapeutic alliance
• Developing observational skills
• Working in threesomes
• Self-appraisal and reflexivity
• Assessment of core presenting problem
• Cultural awareness
• Genograms
• Working with individuals from a relationship perspective
• Working with different emotional states
• Talking about sex
• Working with unconscious communication
• Transference and counter transference

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

• assess the core issue that can be presented by clients
• understand counselling and psychotherapy skills
• demonstrate principles of working psychodynamically (with focus on unconscious processes and transference)
• identify common steps and stages in the therapeutic process
• identify and justify the choice of a particular style and approach for particular clients and presenting problems
• plan and prepare work with clients
• represent the couple and family of origin in a genogram.