module specification

This module introduces students to psychopathology in counselling practice to support the development of students’ skills in working with clients with complex needs. The module aims to critically appraise key perspectives and approaches to the use of counselling in mental health as well as to evaluate diagnoses, explanations and treatments in the develop of a case formulation. Students will have the opportunity to investigate the role played by physiological, psychological and social mechanisms in the causation and treatment of physical illness and psychological disorders.

Students will gain experience in constructing case reports thus providing an additional transferable skill for future employment.

Psychopathology, mental health, case formulation, complex needs, team working, supporting clients.

Delivery and discussion of the module syllabi will be via interactive lectures and workshops. In addition to the weekly workshops which will provide a forum for the application of theory to practical problems, students are expected to work in groups to learn from each other and learn how to independently use other resources available, e.g. library, the internet, WebLearn and own organisation. The module will also have its own dedicated Web Learn site to enables staff and students to readily contact each other and offers an on-line support/learning.

Workshops:

Information and materials relating to the workshop will be circulated once the course has commenced.   The seminars and workshops will familiarize students with various aspect of the course.  All workshops will relate to lecture topics and may be tested in the examination.   Hence, each student is expected to do the prior reading and consult few recommended texts and be actively involved in the seminar activities and group discussion.

The usual programme each week will comprise of a lecture followed by workshop activities and group discussion. The workshops will use the content of the lecture and pre-circulated material for class discussion and group work. 

Students will gain core knowledge and understanding of the topics through lectures, but deeper understanding, evaluation and skill development will be promoted through directed study of recommended reading material, and online resources.

On successful completion of this module, students will:

1)Have a critical awareness of a range of core topic areas and related research in counselling and psychopathology
2) Critically appreciate the principles of diagnosis, assessment, formulation and treatment planning for a range of mental disorders.
3) Be able to demonstrate the ability to work as a team in case formulation and in supporting clients with mental health problems and to develop critical reflexive skills in team working activities.
4) Be able to respect differences in pleural society and cultural values of minority groups and those from varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

An assessment based on a group examination (50%) and the submission of a case formulation and reflexive overview (50%) based on the group examination.

A group recorded activity based on a clinical presentation of a psychopathological case study will focus on support through a counselling perspective. In groups of approximately 4, students will aim to work as a team to devise and discuss best practice to support a clinical case study.  This will be video-recorded.

Based on the first assessment component students will develop a case formulation (based on the 5 Ps) and provide a critical overview of their involvement in the group along with mention of the group dynamics involved. The case study will be presented on the day of the assessment.

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