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Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

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CODE COU5142

 
TITLE Practicum 1

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Counselling

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit aims an opportunity for trainee counsellors to begin their practicum journey. Trainees will be required to engage in 125 hours of practicum, which will comprise of observations, training in online counselling, role-plays, supervision and group growth, continued personal and professional development, and reflection. Trainees will begin to observe practical, virtual and/or real counselling situations so as to familiarise themselves with the various services and gain hands-on experience of working in the field. Trainees will also have sessions in small groups to discuss, process and analyse the diverse issues that might impinge on their work as counsellors. This practical part of the study-unit also includes supervision.

Study-Unit Aims:

This is the first of a four-part practicum experience required in the master鈥檚 programme. During this unit trainees will engage in role play exercises, group growth, group and/or individual supervision, and audio/visual recording and processing of sessions. The study-unit also aims to provide direct feedback to students through thorough and constant supervision in order to help students develop their skills. Trainees will be under ongoing supervision, and supervisors may require trainee counsellors to do various exercises, including but not limited to, direct observation and reflective work, in order to aid development of skills and professional identity.

This study-unit is the onset of the student鈥檚 personal, professional and group development, an integral part of the identity of the counsellor. Students will have the opportunity to take part in group development sessions and address personal and group themes like conflict and conflict management, difference, relationships with authority, change and resistance to change. Personal and group development is vital to the formation of competent counselling professionals and helps develop a reflexive attitude in practice and research. Students will be required to keep a reflexive journal throughout the course.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Identify personal values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that can impact the counselling process, especially in diverse contexts, with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, and in relation to various counselling concerns;
- Conceptualise the counselling process;
- Gain understanding of normative and ethical aspects of counselling and how to use their skills and competencies in their counselling practice.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Demonstrate essential counselling skills to initiate the counselling process;
- Apply the three-step process of counselling;
- Use counselling skills to assess client needs;
- Evaluate group inter and intra personal skills, personal strengths, areas of growth, values, and biases that have an impact on the counselling process;
- Conduct their first counselling sessions through role play;
- Utilise supervision in preparation for direct client contact.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Practicum Handbook and Observation Guidelines
- Supervision Handbook
- Feltham, C., Hanley, T., & Winter, L.A. (2017). The Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy 4th Ed. Sage Publications Limited.- - CHAPTER 538 COUNSELLING PROFESSION ACT (1st May, 2015):
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx? app=lom&itemid=12292&l=1.
- Malta Association for the Counselling Profession Code of Ethics:
http://www.macpmalta.org/web/macp.nsf/0/117499C5EB53A813C125793300468D88/$FILE/Code%20of%20Ethics%20-%202014.pdf.
- The Data Protections Act http://www.idpc.gov.mt/dbfile.aspx/DPA_amended2012.pdf:
Chapter 464 The Healthcare Professions Act https://www.google.com.mt/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Maltese+Professions+Act.

Supplementary Readings:

- American Counselling Association Code of Ethics https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
- Brammer, L.M & Macdonald, G. (1996). The helping relationship: Process and skills. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
- Corey, G. (2008) Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (8th ed.). UK: Brooks/Cole.
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Code of Ethics: http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/
- Crough A. (1997). Inside counselling. London: Sage.
- Egan, G. (all editions) The skilled helper. USA: ITP Publications.
- Joyce, P. & Sills, C. (2001). Skills in Gestalt counselling & psychotherapy. London: Sage Publications.
- Houston, G. (2003). Brief Gestalt Therapy. London: Sage Publications.
- Hycner, R. & Jacobs, L (1995). The healing relationship in Gestalt Therapy. Highland, NY: Gestalt Journal Publications.
- Jacobs, M. (2010) Psychodynamic counselling in action (4th ed.). London: SAGE.
- Lapworth, P., & Sills, C. (2010). Integration in Counselling & Psychotherapy: developing a personal approach. Sage Publications.
- McLeod, J. (2010). Case study research in counselling and psychotherapy. Sage Publications.
- Tolan, J., & Wilkins, P. (Eds.). (2012). Client Issues in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Person-centred Practice. SAGE.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to participate in all the required supervision sessions and to familiarise themselves and adhere to the practicum and supervision handbook. Due to the nature of this study-unit and the profile of a counsellor, students must obtain an obligatory pass (55%) in each assessment component, for an overall obligatory pass mark (55%) to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Practicum

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Oral and Written Exercises [See Add. Notes] SEM2 Yes 50%
Portfolio [See Add. Notes] SEM2 No 50%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
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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