This document should be completed by providers of Doctoral programmes in counselling psychology undergoing Society accreditation or a partnership visit as a standalone exercise. Where education providers have invited the Society to undertake a partnership visit alongside Health and Care
Professions Council (HCPC) approval, they should only complete the HCPC Standards of Proficiency
(SoP) mapping document. Otherwise, they should complete this document, unless a recently completed
HCPC SoP document is available.
This is not intended to be an onerous document to complete, as accreditation through partnership explicitly relies upon existing sources of evidence. However, you should use it to point our reviewers towards where they can find coverage of the required competencies in one or more of the modules of which your programme is comprised. This may be as simple as providing a reference to student documentation (e.g.
‘evaluated on placement, Placement Handbook, p. 57’), a module title, or reference to your most recent internal quality assurance exercise. Please do not feel that you have to provide a very detailed commentary.
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1. Philosophy
1.
Understanding of the diverse philosophical bases which underpin those psychological theories that are of particular relevance to counselling psychology.
2.
Ability to critically evaluate the primary philosophical paradigms that inform psychological theory with particular regard to their relevance to, and impact upon, the understanding of the subjectivity and intersubjectivity of experience throughout human development.
3.
Understanding of the spiritual and cultural traditions relevant to counselling psychology.
2. Theoretical models
1. Understanding developed to postgraduate level of the philosophy, theory and practice of at least one specific model of psychological therapy
2. Ability to practise safely and competently in the same specific model(s)
3. Ability to formulate clients’ concerns within the specifically chosen therapeutic model(s)
4. Working knowledge and understanding of at least one further model of psychological therapy
5. Understanding of the therapeutic relationship and alliance as conceptualised by each model studied
6. Ability to contrast, compare and critically evaluate a range of models of therapy
7. Ability to monitor and evaluate their therapeutic practice.
3. Psychological knowledge
1.
Knowledge of theories of human, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, social and physiological functioning relevant to counselling psychology.
2.
Consider and critically evaluate theories of mind and personality.
3.
Knowledge of different theories of life-span development.
4.
Understanding of social and cultural contexts and the nature of relationships throughout the life-span.
5.
Knowledge of theories of psychopathology and of change and the ability to critically evaluate these theories.
6.
Understanding of the use and interpretation of tests and other assessment procedures.
7.
Knowledge of psychopharmacology and have the ability to evaluate critically its effects from research and practice.
4. Research and inquiry
1. Knowledge of the research evidence on process and outcomes of psychological therapy relevant to counselling psychology.
2. Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and inquiry.
3. Ability to critically analyse and evaluate published research relevant to counselling psychology.
4. Understanding of a variety of research designs.
5. Ability to devise and evaluate research questions and select an appropriate methodology.
6. Ability to design, conduct, critically evaluate and report on a research project.
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7. Understanding of research ethics and the ability to apply them.
8. Ability to reflect on their experience of being a researcher.
5. Ethics
1. Develop a commitment to best practice in the interests of their clients .
2. Strive to do no harm by recognising appropriate boundaries and the dynamics of power.
3. Undertake to maintain fitness to practise and their continuing professional development.
4. Ability to apply ethical principles in reasoning and decision making.
5. Hold self accountable to the public and the profession for their personal integrity.
6. Understanding of anti-discriminatory practice.
6. Personal development
1. Understanding of therapy from the perspective of the client.
2. Understanding through therapy of own life experience.
3. Ability for critical self-reflection on the use of self in therapeutic process.
4. Personal philosophy to include responsibility and accountability in relation to their counselling psychology practice.
5. Understanding of the dynamics present in therapeutic and other relationships.
6. Creativity and artistry in the use of language and metaphor, in the service of empathic understanding.
7. Professional issues
1. Understand the purpose and practice of receiving supervision.
2. Accept responsibility for continuing professional development by developing greater powers of awareness, and the courage to pursue deeper personal knowledge and understanding relevant to working well.
3. Ability to present and communicate professional knowledge and information.
4. Understanding of the management of professional relationships, including appropriate liaison.
5. Commitment to abide by the Society's ethical framework and professional codes of conduct (including the Division of Counselling
Psychology’s Professional Practice Guidelines ).
6. Knowledge of organisational policies and contextual and legal frameworks within which they practice.
8. Client work
1. Ability to initiate, develop, maintain and end a purposeful therapeutic alliance.
2. Understanding of explicit and implicit communications in a therapeutic relationship.
3. Ability to conduct psychological assessments and make formulations of a range of presentations.
4. Develop a personal, coherent, and ethical way of working with clients.
5. Operate safely and professionally in a range of modalities, contexts and time-frames of therapeutic practice.
6. Ability to reflect critically on their practice and consider alternative ways of working.
7. Ability to respond appropriately to the complex demands of clients.
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