| CODE | COU5301 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Applied Counselling Skills for Health Professionals | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Counselling | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will be made up of two parts. The first part will present major theories and approaches used in counselling: Psychodynamic, Adlerian, Gestalt, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Systematic Family Therapy. The aim is to enable participants to gain an understanding of the basic concepts of some of the most influential approaches and techniques used in counselling. The aim of the study-unit is to build on basic counselling skills previously acquired during the first degree. The second part will offer professionals the opportunity to explore their personality, others' personality and their manner of relating in some depth the second part of this study-unit and understanding oneself allows health professionals to be more effective with their clients and patients. This part is formative in that it also helps them to understand their personal resources and deficits and learn how to be understanding and supportive of others in a manner that promotes safety and growth. This second part allows for a group experience whereby, through self-disclosure and feedback, participant-professionals experience and will learn what it means to be self-aware, and sensitive to themselves and towards others. Study-unit Aims: This individual study-unit has three main aims which are are formative, cognitive and behavioural. On a formative level, the course aims at offering participant-professionals the opportunity to communicate about themselves in a meaningful environment. This experience usually results in important personal experiences of validation, deep understanding, examination of life goals, exploration of the relating self. On a cognitive level the course aims at demonstrating reflexivity and basic communication and self reflective skills in practice. It also aims at imparting theoretical knowledge of the major theories and approaches used in counselling: psychodynamic, Adlerian, gestalt, cognitive behaviour therapy and systematic family therapy. On a behavioural level, the study-unit aims at providing a deeper grasp of understanding and exploratory behaviours through feedback, self-disclosure, modelling and unconditional positive regard. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate understanding of themselves; 2. Demonstrate understanding of others at a deeper level; 3. Describe and discuss the complexity and sensitive nature of interpersonal relationships; 4. Apply skills learned in a more accomplished and sophisticated manner; 5. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of the major theoritcal approaches in Counselling, namely psychodynamic, Adlerian, gestalt, cognitive behavioural therapy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate understanding and applicability of major counselling theories and concepts; 2. Demonstrate awareness, sensitivity to, and understanding of underlying emotional realities of persons, as well as own self-confidence and self-assurance; 3. Demonstrate appropriate communication, understanding and support of others; 4. Demonstrate appropriate confrontation of others using a more sophisticated manner; 5. Demonstrate learning on how to use their self as an instrument of understanding and growth; 6. Discuss and reflect on how the study-unit experience has enabled them to understand themselves better. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Required Texts: Corey, G. (2008) Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (8th ed.). UK: Brooks/Cole. Joyce, P. & Sills, C. (2001). Skills in Gestalt counselling & psychotherapy. London: Sage Publications. Jacobs, M. (2010) Psychodynamic counselling in action (4th ed.). London: SAGE Publications. Singer, J. (1994). Boundaries of the soul. USA: Rev Up Su edition. Brammer, L.M & Macdonald, G. (1996). The helping relationship: Process and skills. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Capuzzi, D & Gross, D.R (1997). Introduction to the counselling profession. London: Allyn & Bacon. Chaplin, J. (1988). 'Feminist Therapy'. In: Rowan, & Dryden, W (eds) Innovative therapy in Britain. New York: Open University Press. Clarkson, P. (1999). Gestalt counselling in action. London: Sage. Compas, B.E. & Gotlib, I.H. (2002). Introduction to clinical psychology. New York: McGraw Hill. Crough A. (1997). Inside counselling. London: Sage. Eagle, M. (1984). Recent developments in psychoanalysis, a critical evaluation. New York: McGraw Hill. Egan, G. (all editions) The skilled helper. USA:ITP Publications. Frankl, V. E. (1992). (5th imp.). Man's search for meaning. UK: Hodder & Staunton. Hedges,L.E.(1983). Listening perspectives in psychotherapy. New York:Jason Aronson. Houston, G. (2003). Brief Gestalt Therapy. London: Sage Publications. Mitchell, S. A. (1988). Relational concepts in psychoanalysis. USA: Harvard University Press. Hycner, R. & Jacobs, L (1995). The healing relationship in Gestalt Therapy. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Publications. Mckewn, J. (1997) Developing Gestalt counselling. London: Sage Publications. Mearns D. & Thorne B. 1999, Person-centered counselling in action. London: Sage Publications. Patterson, L.E., & Welfel, E.R. (1977) The counselling process. CA: Brooks and Cole. Perls, F.S. Hefferline, R. and Goodaman, P (1951/1969). Gestalt therapy: excitement and growth in the human personality. New York: Julian Press. Polster, E. & Polster, M. (!974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of theory and practice. New York: Vintage Books. Roth, A & Fonagy, P. (1996). The relationship between outcome and therapist training, experience, and technique.. London: Guildford. St Clair, M. (1996). Object relations and self psychology. USA: Brooks/Cole ITP Publications. Symington, N. (1988). The analytic experience. USA: Free Association Books. West, J, & Spinks, P. (1988). Clinical psychology in action. London: Butterworth. Woolfe, R & Dryden, W (1996). Handbook of counselling psychology. London: Sage Publications. Yalom, I. (1992). When Nietzsche wept. New York: Harper Perennial. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar and Workshop | |||||||||
| 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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