module specification

This module establishes the foundations of professional practice for counselling and psychotherapy. It introduces core ethical principles and professional responsibilities (including contracting, boundaries, confidentiality, consent, information sharing, data protection and record keeping) and supports you to apply them to common practice situations working in room or remotely with clients.

Alongside ethical foundations, the module develops baseline safeguarding competence. You will learn how to recognise concerns, respond to disclosures, undertake proportionate initial risk assessment, document appropriately and follow referral and escalation pathways for children, adults at risk and other vulnerable groups, in line with statutory and organisational guidance.

The module also introduces Diversity and Equality, Social Justice and Framework (ESJF) issues as a central dimension of professional capability. You will examine how power, privilege, prejudice and marginalisation shape the development and phenomenology of psychological distress, and access to care and therapeutic outcomes. You will be supported in developing cultural humility and reflexivity in relation to your own assumptions and unconscious biases. 

Attention is also given to OPT practice and framework, including contracting, safety and safeguarding in this context. 

Alongside lectures and workshops, skills practice will provide structured opportunities to translate learning into micro-skills, ethical decision making and reflective professional identity development.

The module includes a professional development reflective group, to facilitate self-awareness and reflective practice.

Available for Study Abroad? NO

On this module, you will explore professional standards and ethical frameworks, including the BACP Ethical Framework, and apply ethical reasoning models to counselling practice. You will develop skills in informed consent, contracting, boundaries, dual relationships, endings, referrals, and maintaining practitioner–client integrity. You will learn about professional communication, confidentiality and its limits, information sharing, data protection, record keeping, and note writing. You will gain an introduction to safeguarding for children and adults at risk, including thresholds, responding to disclosures, and referral and escalation pathways, and build awareness of risk and conduct initial assessments, including in technologically mediated therapy contexts. The module also examines Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and ESJF foundations, including the Equality Act, protected characteristics, intersectionality, anti-discriminatory practice, microaggressions, implicit bias, cultural humility, reflexivity, and power dynamics within therapeutic relationships. You will practice creating psychologically safe therapeutic environments and develop micro-skills for contracting, boundary conversations, responding to discrimination, and simulated safeguarding and risk scenarios. In addition, you will engage in professional development through reflective group work, reflective writing, feedback, accountability, managing emotional impact, and developing a personal professional learning plan.

This module will introduce you to the PSRB Readiness to Practise and Fitness to Practise requirements and support the development of the therapeutic, professional, and reflective practice skills needed to meet these requirements and prepare you for safe and ethical professional practice.

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops and seminars, skills practice sessions, a facilitated professional development reflective group, supplementary guided web-based learning and self-managed independent study. Teaching will be largely delivered in room with some  synchronous online lectures and workshop inputs. You will be encouraged to reflect on your learning throughout the module and maintain the high standards expected of the counselling professions. Teaching will be largely delivered in room with some synchronous online session inputs.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to: 

1. Critically evaluate and apply ethical principles, professional standards, and relevant legislation (including contracting, boundaries, confidentiality, safeguarding, and risk management) in both in-room and online counselling contexts, exercising professional accountability and ethical judgment in line with the BACP Ethical Framework.
2. Critically appraise safeguarding concerns and risk presentations, responding appropriately to disclosures and ethical dilemmas in ways that promote client safety, legal compliance, and professional responsibility.
3. Critically examine Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and ESJF-related legislation, inclusive professional practice, and the impact of power, privilege, marginalisation, and social context on client wellbeing, engagement, and access to therapeutic support.
4. Demonstrate critical self-awareness and reflexivity, evaluating how personal values, assumptions, and unconscious biases may influence therapeutic relationships, and identify strategies to address these ethically and effectively.
5. Evidence ongoing professional development and readiness to practise by managing learning autonomously, engaging in reflective learning, skills practice, feedback processes, and self-care, demonstrating commitment to ethical, resilient, and inclusive professional growth.