Undergraduate Counselling Skills 2023-2024

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Our counselling and listening skills courses provide comprehensive training for use in many settings where effective communication is essential. This is also a suitable foundation for further training in the areas of counselling and psychotherapy. This is the first of four courses, that adhere to BACP's Counselling skills competence framework; ensuring high standards. BACP is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy the largest professional body in the UK.

Topics covered: Mental Health Awareness; UPR, Congruence and Empathy; Active Listening Skills; Contracts and Confidentiality; Beginnings, Middles and Endings; Self-awareness

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay (30%).  Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Our counselling and listening skills courses provide comprehensive training for use in many settings where effective communication is essential. This is also a suitable foundation for further training in the areas of counselling and psychotherapy. This is the first of four courses, that adhere to BACP's Counselling skills competence framework; ensuring high standards. BACP is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy the largest professional body in the UK. 

Topics covered: 

Mental Health Awareness; UPR, Congruence and Empathy; Active Listening Skills; Contracts and Confidentiality; Beginnings, Middles and Endings; Self-awareness

Theoretical Approaches: Person-Centred Approach; Pluralistic Approach; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Psychodynamic Approach; Attachment Styles; Power and Boundaries; Self as Listener

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay x 2 (30%). 

Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Our counselling and listening skills courses provide comprehensive training for use in many settings where effective communication is essential. This is also a suitable foundation for further training in the areas of counselling and psychotherapy. This is the second of four courses that adhere to BACP’s Counselling skills competence framework; ensuring high standards. BACP is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy the largest professional body in the UK.

Topics covered: 

Theoretical Approaches: Person-Centred Approach; Pluralistic Approach; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Psychodynamic Approach; Attachment Styles; Power and Boundaries; Self as Listener

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay (30%). 

Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

Students being admitted to a Counselling programme or course, should first take the Counselling Diagnostic Test. The test can be taken at any time and is completed online. You will be unable to register for Counselling Skills 1, and consequently any of the subsequent courses until you have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions in the Diagnostic Test.

Please go to www.abdn.ac.uk/mycurriculum to access the Diagnostic Test.

Having completed the test you should select the appropriate course when making your curriculum choices.

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Overview of arenas for support - what areas interest you?

Different diagnoses - Anxiety, Depression, Psychosis

Gender - Binary vs Gender Fluidity, LGBTQI

Bereavement and Suicide

Addiction

Race and Culture - immigrant; trafficking

Abuse

Children and young people - self harm, ACEs and Trauma

Safeguarding and agency policies

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay (30%). 

Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Ongoing support vs formal counselling

CPD and self-development

Mental Health Awareness – own and others

Working with groups

Self-care, support and burnout

Support through technology

Supervision

Awareness of Research

Reflection on self as a listener

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay (30%). 

Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

Due to professional body requirements for a minimum number of practice hours and the nature of the practical work entry to the course is not permitted after week one of teaching unless under exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Course Co-ordinator.

Our counselling and listening skills courses provide comprehensive training for use in many settings where effective communication is essential. This is also a suitable foundation for further training in the areas of counselling and psychotherapy. 

This is the second half course of Counselling and Listening Skills - Sustained studies. 

Topics covered: 

Different diagnoses - Anxiety, Depression, Psychosis; Gender - Binary vs Gender Fluidity, LGBTQI; Bereavement and Suicide; Addiction; Race and Culture - immigrant; trafficking; Abuse; Children and young people - self harm, ACEs and Trauma; Safeguarding and agency policies

Ongoing support vs formal counselling; CPD and self-development; Mental Health Awareness – own and others; Working with groups; Self-care, support and burnout; Support through technology; Supervision; Awareness of Research; Reflection on self as a listener

Assessment:

Candidates should note that to achieve credit for the course overall :

• a pass in each element of in course assessment is required
• attendance at 85% of the weekly seminars is required

Resit:

Essay x 2 (30%). 

Candidates should note that a resit is not permitted of the other two elements of the course.

To achieve credit for the course overall, a pass in each element is required.

An undergraduate project requiring a critical analysis on a chosen concept from the world of counselling/counselling skills theory, using primary and a secondary material.

An undergraduate project requiring a critical analysis on a chosen concept from the world of counselling/counselling skills theory, using primary and a secondary material.