CO2003: A PERSON CENTRED APPROACH TO HELPING RELATIONSHIPS (2015-2016)

The course brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds to learn experientially together in a group setting. Participants will be able to explore the connection of self-awareness and self-acceptance to practice in the process of the person-centred approach.  The content of the course includes:

• An overview of the key concepts of the person-centred approach: therapist attitudes, the therapeutic conditions, theory of self.
• Rogers Personality Theory: self-awareness and developing more effective personal and social relationships.
• The need for the person-centred core conditions as the basis of the helping relationship: empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence. What difference do these qualities make and how can they be developed?
• Encounter: experiencing and reflecting on the process of awareness of self and others in the group setting.
• Transition theory: a historical overview. Change and self-acceptance. How can we relate the theory to personal life experience?
• Ethical considerations: relating difficult moral questions that arise for the practitioner of counselling skills/helper to an ethical framework.
• Different dimensions within a person-centred approach: working at relational depth, focusing on the spiritual dimension, how these may be relevant to individual working contexts.

This course may not be suitable for anyone who is currently receiving counselling or has faced a serious emotional issue in the last six months.
Class size is limited to 15. Students must be able to attend the same class at the same time over 10 weeks. There is a strict attendance requirement of at least 85%.  Students who miss than two 3 hour classes, for any reason, cannot pass the course.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View CO2003 Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt: 2000 word Case Study (25%), Weekly learning log/reflective journal 200 words(25%), Oral participation (25%), Oral Practice (25%).

A reflective personal learning log, will be completed by all students and submitted to tutors after week 2 on a weekly basis. The log is an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences of learning in the class, how they relate theory to practice and their own personal awareness, growth and development. Skills practice is included in each class. Tutors provide feedback on practical skills on a group or individual basis as appropriate in each of the 10 classes. Oral participation is assessed in the whole class group and with all class members.

Weekly: A reflective learning log: will be read by tutors on weekly submission and any necessary feedback or concerns communicated to students.

Oral practice: Tutors give verbal feedback to the group and individuals in each of the 10 classes.

Oral participation: Tutors will give individual feedback as necessary during the course.

None.