| CODE | COU5103 | ||||||
| TITLE | Counselling Theory and Approaches | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Counselling | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The purpose of this study-unit is to provide a comprehensive overview of the major counselling theories and practices. Emphasis will be placed upon enabling students to develop a theoretical foundation upon which to base a personal counselling approach. The study-unit will cover the following key counselling theories: Psychodynamic, Adlerian, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Humanistic, Gestalt, and Systemic Therapy. Study-unit Aims: - Present counselling approaches and help the student conceptualise client issues; - Help the student learn how to select appropriate counselling interventions; - Help students to critically examine theoretical models of counselling that are consistent with current professional research and practice in the field so that they can begin to develop a personal approach to counselling. Learning Outcomes: 1.Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss prominent approaches in counselling and psychotherapy; - Illustrate how to apply counselling theories to practice; - Explain their own theoretical framework for counselling, based on the study of existing theories and an examination of their own values, beliefs, behaviours, needs, and feelings. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse the nature of theory; - Critically assess the common variables of counselling theories, including: theoretical foundation, purpose or goal, change strategy, internal versus external factors, counselling process, and evaluating of effectiveness; - Engage in a critical analysis of the appropriate application of counselling theories as related to human growth and development and wellbeing; - Discuss the application of theory to the counselling process; - Critically assess their own tentative theoretical framework for counselling that is based on the study of existing theories and examination of their own values, beliefs, behaviours, needs, and feelings. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Corey, G. (2013a). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. - Corey, G. (2013b). Manual for theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Supplementary Readings: - Dallos, R. & Draper, R. (2010). An Introduction to Family Therapy: Systemic Theory and Practice (3rd ed.). Open University Press. - Greenberger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (2015). Mind over Mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think (2nd ed.). London: The Guilford Press. - Howard, I. (2010). Skills in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage. - Joyce, P. & Sills, C. (2014). Skills in Gestalt Counselling and Psychotherapy (3rded.). London: Sage. - Mearns, D. & Thorne, B. (2013). Person-Centred Counselling in Action. London: Sage. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Students are expected to attend all the lectures and prepare themselves by completing assigned readings prior to the respective lecture. | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Marlene Cauchi Melanie Demarco |
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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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