Counselling Studies Dissertation
40 Credits
(Optional)
This tutored double module provides students with the opportunity to select an area of particular interest to them within the field of Counselling and to design, plan and execute an in-depth empirical research project in their chosen area. Students will be required to produce a brief initial research proposal, for discussion with their supervisor. The proposal is then used as a basis for developing an application for Newman University's ethical approval, which must be achieved prior to commencing data collection. The research design should include either quantitative and/or qualitative analyses and draw upon and critically evaluate a range of both classic and contemporary research findings throughout. A poster presentation detailing the research process and findings will also be assessed.
Counselling Studies Literature Review with systematic methodology and narrative synthesis
40 Credits
(Optional)
This tutored double module provides students with the opportunity to select an area of particular interest to them within the field of Counselling. Students design, plan and execute an in-depth Literature Review with a systematic search strategy and methodology and a narrative synthesis. Students will consider applications for counselling practice. Students will be required to produce a brief initial research proposal, for discussion with their supervisor. The proposal is then used as a basis for developing an application for Newman University's ethical approval, which must be achieved prior to carrying out the Systematic Literature Review. The Systematic Literature Review should draw upon and critically evaluate a range of both classic and contemporary research findings through a clearly identified systematic search strategy using the following databases: PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences and PsycARTICLES. A poster presentation detailing the review process will also be assessed.
Counselling Children and Families
20 Credits
(Optional)
This module examines child and adolescent development in the context of family, society and culture, and explores a range of issues that arise in relation to therapeutic work. The principles of multi-agency work will be explored. Students will study factors that contribute to resilience and vulnerability with reference to a basic knowledge of neurological development.
Psychological Distress and Mental Well-being
20 Credits
(Optional)
This module covers the key concepts related to psychological distress and mental well-being. The module will present different models of psychological distress including biological, psychological, and social approaches as well as integrative bio-psychosocial models. The pervasiveness of medical views will also be discussed with typical use of terms such as mental illness, disorders, abnormality and clinical psychology as well as concepts of categorical (caseness) and dimensional views of psychological distress/illness.
Health, Wellbeing and Psychological Interventions
20 Credits
(Optional)
Health psychology is an exciting field within psychology that has important contributions to make to our understanding of health, well-being and illness, from a biopsychosocial perspective. The module will explore key theoretical models (e.g., TPB HBM, SOC), which attempt to explain and predict health-related behaviour (e.g., smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity & ultraviolet radiation rays), and examine the practical applications of these models on health, wellbeing and illness. A multitude of health interventions will be reviewed and critically evaluated. Consideration will be given to the research methodology underpinning the evidence-based explored within this module. Implications of the module requirements for student employability will also be reflected.
Working with Addictions
20 Credits
(Optional)
This module will introduce theories of addictions, and ways of working therapeutically with addictions. Definitions and explanations of addiction and addictive/compulsive behaviour will be explored. It will principally focus on contemporary approaches, methods of assessment and treatment plans. A range of effective ways of working therapeutically with addictions will be introduced and critically evaluated.
Psychodynamic Counselling Theory and Skills
20 Credits
(Optional)
This module extends students’ knowledge and understanding beyond humanistic and CBT approaches to include the third major therapeutic tradition, the psychodynamic approach. Following a grounding in the historical influences of this approach on the development of counselling, students will gain an understanding of core psychodynamic theory and the associated skills, with emphasis on those that are most applicable to counselling practice. There will be a focus on understanding the counselling process from the psychodynamic perspective and an opportunity to critically reflect on the use of psychodynamic concepts within the counselling context. There will be opportunities for students to continue to develop their ethical and professional awareness, and opportunities to continue the process of self-reflection.
Advanced CBT
20 Credits
(Optional)
This module further extends students’ knowledge of applied psychology through consideration of the area of counselling psychology and the work of psychologists in the fields of mental health and mental well-being. Key psychological theories used to work with clients in well-being & mental health settings will be considered and critically evaluated. Consideration will be given to the research methodologies underpinning the evidence base in the field of counselling psychology The philosophy and professional context of the discipline will be explored through further consideration of the medical and psychosocial models of distress, and students will have the opportunity to develop a range of intra- and inter-personal skills which are appropriate for those likely to seek employment in the helping professions, thus further applying graduate employability to the module content.