Manchester Metropolitan University

Department Psychology and Speech Pathology

Psychological Perspectives on Counselling Psychology

MSc Modular Scheme; Short Course: 15 Level M credits 2002-2003

This course is taught by Carolyn Kagan and Carol Tindall. Some sessions may be taken by other experienced counselling psychologists.

Structure of the Course

There is an emphasis in the course on students learning from each other. You all have a wide range of differing experience and we hope to be able to tap into these. The course does not follow a standard lecture format. Instead, each week, student groups will discuss case studies brought by members of the group. Tutors will visit each group and guide some of the discussion. At the end of each session a plenary will be held wherein the tutors will draw out key psychological issues and give ideas for further reading. For student directed sessions each student will be asked to

Teaching Schedule

Oct 8th Introduction and overview CK, CT

Oct 15th Case Study Discussions - CK to provide Case study

Oct 22nd Case Study Discussions - CT to provide Case study

Oct 29th Student Case Studies - CK

Nov 5th Student Case Studies - CT

Nov 12th Student Case Studies - CK

Nov 19th Student Case Studies - CT

Nov 26th Student Case Studies - CK

Dec 3rd Student Case Studies - CT

Dec 10th Conclusion CT, CK

Reading

We advise you to read widely from the start of the course. In the past some students have not completed their assignments on time because they left their reading too late.

A key text is:

R. Wolfe and W Dryden (1995) A Handbook of Counselling Psychology Sage

See also:

J. Worrell and P. Remer (1992) Feminist Perspectives in Therapy: An empowerment model for women Wiley

G. Corey (1996) Theory and Practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy Brookes Cole

G. Corey (1990 Case approach to counselling Brookes Cole

the series In Search of a Therapist Open University Press

Assessment Requirements

It is by the assessment that you will be able to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes of the course, taking the learning outcomes of the overall postgraduate scheme into account.

You are asked to write a Critical analysis of a case study, drawing on relevant psychological perspectives, other areas of knowledge and highlighting client experience and counsellor errors (3000 words).

You should, therefore provide a case study (this may be one of your own, one of some-one else’s, or a published case study). The case study is important only insofar as it allows you to write your critical analysis. It is the analysis of the case study that we will be assessing, not the case study itself. Thus, you should not think about the case study in terms of the extent to which it demonstrates your abilities as a counselling psychologist. Instead, you should think about it in terms of the extent to which it enables you to show your critical understanding of the application of psychological perspectives to counselling psychology, addressing the different outcome criteria.

Outcome Criteria

Through your analysis of the case study, you should

General Masters’ Level Assessment Criteria

You will get a grade for both the report and the presentation, accompanied by comments. The grade will be Pass, Merit or Distinction (or Fail). You will normally be expected to achieve a Pass grade in both the Report and the Presentation. Your final unit grade will weight the report:presentation in a 75:25 proportion.

In practice this will mean that if you get the same grade in both parts, that will be the unit grade. Unequal grades in the different parts will result in a final grade as follows:

Report receives grade of:

Presentation receives grade of:

PASS

MERIT

DISTINCTION

FAIL

PASS

P

M

M**

F

MERIT

P

M

D

F

DISTINCTION

M

M

D

P***

FAIL

P*

P

P

F

*(If Presentation F is marginal, otherwise F)

** (If Report is an excell ent D, then D)

*** (if Report F is marginal, otherwise F)

 

 

Presentation date: 28th January 2003 daytime

Hand-in date: 17th February 2003

If you have any difficulty obtaining a case study please see a tutor who may be able to help. If you think you will not meet the deadline for your work, you must discuss your difficulties well in advance of the hand-in date. Extensions may only be granted for valid causes, in advance, by the Scheme Co-ordinator (Carolyn Kagan): you should put your request with reasons and any supporting evidence in writing, specifying a revised hand-in date that is acceptable to your module tutors. You are advised to try to plan your work to meet the deadline and not to request an extension. All extensions are reported to the Examination Board. All work must be handed in via the postgraduate post-box next to the staff pigeon holes. Receipts will be available in student pigeon holes, unless you leave a stamped address envelope with the assignment. Please do not leave work with a tutor or with the reception desk.

 

Manchester Metropolitan University

Department Psychology and Speech Pathology

Psychological Perspectives on Counselling Psychology

MSc Modular Scheme; Short Course: 15 Level M credits

Oral Presentations of case studies: Carolyn Kagan, Carol Tindall

The oral presentation is weighted 25% of the final grade.

Presentation date: 28th January 2003

Audience

Presentations will be made to a small group of colleagues from the course and a tutor. You are expeted to attend for the whole session in order to act a audience for your colleagues. Sometimes external tutors mark the presentations - these tutors are experienced in marking presentations from this course.

Assessment

You should present a case study which highlights:

In the time available (15 minutes) it is not possible to discuss the whole analysis of your case study - you will have to be selective.

Tutors will grade your presentation in terms of CONTENT and PROCESS. Other members of the audience ,may also be asked to offer feedback. Before marks are confirmed, tutors will standardise their marking to ensure that different marks are not given for the same quality presentation.

CONTENT: substance, clarity and structure of presentation; introduction, conclusion, balance of issues discussed; clarity of information given; handling of questions. PROCESS: quality and dynamics of delivery; voice projection; body language; eye contact; speed of delivery; use of audio-visual and other aids.

Written notes on the presentations will be made by tutors and these notes will be available to External Examiners. You will receive a copy of them. If you wish to be audio or video-taped, please let us know well in advance - it may be possible to arrange this.

Presentation Aids

You may use whatever presentation aids you wish. We can supply you with three OHP acetates and you may borrow pens. large sheets of paper and marker pens, as well as OHP equipment are available from the psychology Technicians. Please give us at least three weeks notice of any equipment requirements. You are not expected to produce handouts for your presentation.

Psychological Perspectives on Counselling Psychology

Module Evaluation 2002-2003

We would appreciate your comments on this module. They really do help us plan for any changes to the course in the future. Please write your comments below and leave the form in either tutors’ pigeon hole. Thanks.