Understanding Therapeutic Practice

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Convenor: Dr Esther Ramsay-Jones
• Assessment: a group presentation to a mental health organisation (100%)

It can be difficult to make sense of the therapeutic landscape, with the many counselling approaches and modalities on offer. How do they differ and where do they overlap?

In this module you will develop a good understanding of the key values, assumptions and practices of a range of modalities, from psychodynamic to humanistic and somatic approaches. You will learn how to evaluate different therapeutic interventions, and begin to reflect upon the impact of traumatic experience on the individual, and be able to appraise models of trauma recovery.

Each seminar will consist of a theoretical lecture followed by a collaborative project with other students to create a therapeutic intervention suitable to a particular client group. You will also have the chance to practise your listening and responding skills throughout.

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

• understand different counselling approaches and their application to a broad range of emotional experience
• differentiate between each modality and evaluate related features
• demonstrate self-awareness and reflexivity
• demonstrate a knowledge of trauma
• recognise the importance of ethical conduct
• use counselling skills through ongoing role play and triad work
• work with boundaries and the counselling frame.