Newcastle University M.Ed Practitioner Enquiry
Module Profile 07/08
Counselling, Communication and Culture
EDU8042 (20 credits)
Module outline
Participants will explore counselling as a form of communication with an
emphasis on the person-centred approach. The module is experiential in
approach, focussing on the counselling relationship and associated skills; and
understanding the link between theory and practice. There is an opportunity to
experience group process and sensitivity training.
Suitability
Counselling is now high on national agendas in relation to mental health and
well-being. This module is suitable for all teachers who wish to have a greater
awareness of how counselling theory, practice and skills may be helpful to
interpersonal relationships and professional and personal development. The
focus will be on counselling as a form of communicating, across and within
culturally different communities and the relationship-building skills inherent in
this.
07 / 08 teaching schedule
There will be 10 twilight sessions, all on a Tuesday evening from 5-8pm on
the following dates:- 2nd Oct; 9th Oct; 16th Oct; 30th Oct; 6th Nov; 13th Nov; 20th
Nov; 27th Nov; 4th Dec; 8th January.
Preparation task
Read around counselling generally. Introduction to Counselling by John
McLeod is a good start. An overview of what counselling is and what it can do
is useful. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is also a
useful resource. www.bacp.co.uk
Assignment outline
This module is assessed through a 4,500-5000 word assignment with the
following brief:- ‘Critically examine person-centred counselling and ONE other
approach to counselling. Relate these approaches to your own work and/or
cultural context.’
Assignment submission date
4pm Friday 25th Jan – end of semester 2.
Development of practitioner enquiry approaches
Participants will learn through experiential processes, explorations of theory
and practice and an inquiring approach to how these may link with
personal/professional contexts. Relationship-building skills and experience will
be drawn out and built on, using the group and individuals in the group as
Newcastle University M.Ed Practitioner Enquiry
Module Profile 07/08
resources. The group will be multi-cultural in nature and facilitate learning
across cultural contexts.
Useful reading
(up to date readings will be suggested during the sessions due to the
constantly developing nature of curriculum and varied interests of students
each year)
Rogers C.R..(2003) Client-Centred Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications
and Theory, Constable and Robinson: London
Moodley R., West W. Eds (2005) Integrating Traditional Healing Practices
Into Counseling and Psychotherapy (Multicultural Aspects of Counseling And
Psychotherapy, London, Sage
Muntigl P. (2004) Narrative Counselling: Social and Linguistic Processes of
Change (Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture), London,
John Benjamins Publishing Co.
Tutors and contributors
Dr Sue Pattison is the module leader. She teaches, practices and researches
counselling nationally and in international contexts. She is currently
undertaking an evaluation of school counselling in the UK and acting as
consultant to the Welsh Assembly Government.
Ms Valerie Nossiter will be teaching the module. Valerie is an experienced
counsellor, tutor and counselling trainer.