| CODE | COU5126 | ||||||
| TITLE | Introduction to Counselling and the Counselling Profession | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Counselling | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit is designed to introduce counselling as a profession It will enable trainee counsellors to discuss critically the central issues in counselling, which include definitions, skills, theoretical approaches, cross cultural approaches and philosophies. It is also designed to help students to reflect and understand the personal and professional identities of the counsellor. Students will also be introduced to the different fields where counselling is practised. Study-unit Aims: - To define counselling and the counselling profession; - To discuss similarities and differences between counselling and different forms of support; - To introduce the counselling process and helping alliance; - To introduce the core conditions in helping relationships, including empathic understanding; - To introduce professional issues, including supervision, personal therapy, association membership, continuous professional development, and warranting; - To introduce reflexivity, including the counsellor’s personal and professional identity; - To expose students to the skills and qualities of the effective counsellor; - To introduce basic ethical issues in counselling practice and counselling and the law. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically evaluate the origins, history, philosophy and growth of the counselling profession; - Define the counsellor's role in issues around advocacy, social justice and conflict resolution; - Recognise the ethical standards and requirements, including warranting and accreditation, professional and ethical requirements, and work within counselling professional bodies; - Appraise the ethical standards of MACP and related and international entities, including the application of ethical and legal considerations in professional counselling; - Define the concepts of counselling supervision. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Debate whether counselling is the right career path and understand personal motivations for pursuing a helping career; - Distinguish the behaviours and attitudes of an effective helper; - Describe individual, couple, group and community approaches; - Compare and contrast counselling skills, approaches and techniques. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Required Texts: - Bond, T. (2010). Standards and ethics for counselling in action (3rd ed.). London: Sage Publications. - Bor, R. & Watts, M. (2011). The trainee handbook: A guide for counseling and psychotherapy trainees (3rd ed.). London: Sage Publications. - Freire, P. (1972). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. - Gladding S. T. (2009). Counseling: A comprehensive profession (6th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson - MACP Code of Ethics - http://www.macpmalta.org/web/macp.nsf/0/117499C5EB53A813C125793300468D88/$FILE/Code%20of%20Ethics.pdf - McLeod, J. (2009). An introduction to counselling (4th ed.) New York: Open University Press. - Proctor, B. and Inskipp, F. (2001). Making the most of supervision (2nd ed.) Twickenham: Cascade Publications. Reading List: - Culley, S. & Bond, T. (2004). Integrative counselling skills in action. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. - McLeod, J. (2007). Counselling skills. New York: Open University Press. - McLeod, J. (2004). The counsellor’s workbook - Developing a personal approach. New York: Open University Press, McGraw-Hill Education. - Nelson-Jones, R. (2006). Human relationship skills. London: Routledge. - Nelson-Jones, R. (2000). Introduction to counselling skills: Text and activities. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Dione Mifsud |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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