Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
AIM Awards Level 3 Counselling
Counselling Theory
Marking Scheme
No.
Question
Accepted Responses*
Marks Available
a
State which of the three main
approaches most likely to use this
concept.
Conditions of worth
“Humanistic” and/or “Person-Centred”
1 mark
b
Negative Automatic Thoughts
“Cognitive-Behavioural”
1 mark
c
Drive Theory
“Psychodynamic”
1 mark
2
Give an example of a theorist well
known for developing this approach.
a
Cognitive-Behavioural
‘(Aaron) Beck or ‘(Albert) Ellis
1 mark
b
Humanistic
‘(Carl) Rogers’ or ‘(Abraham)Maslow’
1 mark
c
Psychodynamic
‘(Sigmund) Freud’ or ‘(Carl) Jung’ or
‘(Melanie) Klein’
1 mark
3
For each definition state the key
theoretical concept you believe is
being defined.
1 “To sense the client’s private world
as if it were your own, but without
ever losing the “as if” quality…”
1
Version
Final
Assessment Criterion
covered by this question
1.1, 1.3
1.2
1.2, 1.3
‘Empathy’ or ‘Empathetic
understanding’
1 mark
Level 3
4
5
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
2 “The phenomenon in counselling
and therapy whereby the client
unconsciously relates to the
counsellor/therapist as if to a
significant person… from the past”
3 “the client’s self-obstruction in
relation to change through discovery
of painful or unconscious material”
4 “client and counsellor examining
evidence together about the client’s
beliefs”
For each of the definitions provided
previously, state which of the main
three approaches to counselling is
most likely to use the concept of
being defined
1
Transference
1 mark
Resistance
1 mark
Collaborative empiricism
1 mark
Humanistic
1 mark
2
Psychodynamic
1 mark
3
Psychodynamic
1 mark
4
Cognitive-Behavioural
1 mark
State which of the three main
approaches to counselling is most
likely to use the intervention being
described
1 Interpretation of the transference
2 Communication of empathetic
understanding
Version
Final
1.3
1.3
Psychodynamic
1 mark
Humanistic
1 mark
Level 3
Counselling Theory
3 Identifying dysfunctional thinking
6
a
Carl Rogers once said that for
constructive personality change to
occur during counselling, it is
necessary that certain conditions exist
and continue over a period of time.
He also said that no other conditions
are necessary.
State and briefly describe the
conditions to which Rogers was
referring.
Version
Final
Series: Sample
Cognitive-Behavioural
1 mark
2.1, 2.2
Accept the following:
 Counsellor and client are in
psychological contact.
 Client is in a state of
incongruence/vulnerable/
anxious
 Counsellor is
congruent/integrated/genuine
in the relationship
 Counsellor experiences
unconditional positive regard
for the client
 Counsellor experiences
empathetic understanding of
the client’s internal frame of
reference and tries to
communicate this experience
to the client
 The communication to the
client of the therapist’s
empathetic understanding and
unconditional positive regard is
to a minimal degree achieved.
Up to 6 marks.
1 mark for each
condition accurately
defined.
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
For each condition, accept any clear
description in which words in bold
appear. Use professional judgment and
accept other responses which show
understanding of relevant concept.
Reject if incoherent or unconvincing
Version
Final
Level 3
b
Counselling Theory
Discuss the idea that no other
conditions are necessary, giving
reasons to support your view.
Version
Final
Series: Sample
Discussion of idea provided.
Up to 4 marks available
4 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
discussion. 3 or more
convincing reasons given
3 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
discussion. 2 convincing
reasons given
2 marks Some
discussion. Clear
understanding shown,
able to defend one side
of argument. 2
convincing reasons given
1 mark Some discussion.
Clear understanding
shown, able to defend
one side of argument. 1
convincing reason given
0 marks Responses
which are merely
descriptive or show very
limited or ambiguous
understanding
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
7
A phobia could be described as a
persistent irrational fear and
avoidance of certain situations.
a
Which of the three main approaches
to counselling (Cognitive-Behavioural,
Humanistic, Psychodynamic) is often
said to be most effective in helping
clients with phobias?
Cognitive-Behavioural
1 mark
b
Discuss and give reasons for and
against the idea that this approach is
the most effective with phobias.
Discussion of idea provided.
Up to 4 marks available
4 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
discussion. 3 or more
convincing reasons given
3 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
discussion. 2 convincing
reasons given
2 marks Some
discussion. Clear
understanding shown,
able to defend one side
of argument. 2
convincing reasons given
1 mark Some discussion.
Version
Final
2.1, 2.2
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
Clear understanding
shown, able to defend
one side of argument. 1
convincing reason given
0 marks Responses
which are merely
descriptive or show very
limited or ambiguous
understanding
8
a
As she listens to one particular client
over the course of a number of
sessions, a counsellor repeatedly feels
very angry. As soon as the session is
over, the feeling of anger disappears.
She is puzzled by this reaction, since
she is not aware of any obvious
reason for it. Nothing this client says
or does seems likely to provoke this
reaction. She takes this issue to her
supervisor, who favours a
psychodynamic approach.
Which theoretical concept might this
counsellor’s supervisor suggest as
helpful in understanding this
experience?
2.1, 2.2
Accept:
‘Counter-transference or ‘Projective
Identification’
1 mark
Reject:
‘Transference’
b
Discuss and give reasons why the
supervisor might say this, and why it
might or might not assist the
counsellor.
Version
Final
Discussion of reasons provided.
Up to 4 marks available
4 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
discussion. 3 or more
convincing reasons given
3 marks Evaluative.
Substantial and
convincing
understanding shown,
discussing both the pros
and cons of idea under
discussion. 2 convincing
reasons given
2 marks Some
discussion. Clear
understanding shown,
able to defend one side
of argument. 2
convincing reasons given
1 mark Some discussion.
Clear understanding
shown, able to defend
one side of argument. 1
convincing reason given
0 marks Responses
which are merely
descriptive or show very
limited or ambiguous
understanding
*The accepted responses are not exclusive, examiners are expected to use their professional judgement to give credit to other equally
acceptable responses that address the question.
Version
Final
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Distribution of marks:
Question
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Total
Version
Number of
marks
3
3
4
4
3
10
5
5
37
Final
Criteria
Covered
1.2, 1.3
1.2
1.2, 1.3
1.3
1.3
2.1, 2.2
2.1, 2.2
2.1, 2.2
Weighting
(%)
8%
8%
11.5%
11.5%
8%
27%
13%
13%
Series: Sample
Level 3
Counselling Theory
Series: Sample
This assessment is designed to assess the indicated assessment criteria indicated in the unit below.
Writers will ensure:
 All assessment criteria are covered in the assessment
 There is balancing of the distribution of marks across the assessment criteria (marks do not
have to be evenly split across all questions, but there should be a reasonable balance, some
criteria may carry more weight than others)
Shaded assessment criteria are not assessed by this examination
Unit Credit Value:
Unit Level:
Unit Guided Learning Hours:
Ofqual Unit Reference Number:
9
Three
45
F/506/3053
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learner will:
1. Understand the key concepts in the
main approaches to counselling
2. Understand the strengths and
limitations of the main approaches to
counselling
3. Understand the strengths and
limitations of an integrative approach
to counselling
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The learner can:
1.1. Explain the view taken of the
development and perpetuation of
psychological problems as seen by
each of the approaches
1.2. Distinguish between the nature and
process of therapeutic change as
seen by each of the approaches
1.3. Summarise the key therapeutic
interventions typical of each of the
approaches
2.1. Explain the key strengths for each of
the approaches
2.2. Explain the key limitations for each of
the approaches
3.1. Describe an integrative approach to
counselling
3.2. Discuss the potential advantages for
practice of an integrative approach to
counselling
3.3. Discuss the potential disadvantages
for practice of an integrative
approach to counselling
The qualification specification contains full information on the qualification.
Version
Final