This module aims at helping students put more effectively into practice their psychodynamic understanding of work with children, adolescents or adults. While this module cannot provide a counselling qualification, students will be learning to use counselling and communication skills in their normal working roles or on placement.
You will study the nature of the counselling relationship, consider how to develop a therapeutic alliance and the overall process of counselling. You will explore issues of assessment and formulation, and develop a more subtle understanding of both verbal and non-verbal communication. You will learn how to apply skills and techniques, using art and play, and look at how all these work within the psychodynamic framework.
The module balances academic study and discussion of the issues along with active participation in weekly workshops and the chance to undertake an on-going observation, or piece of direct work, with a child, adolescent or adult. The observation or direct work is written up and presented within seminars providing an opportunity to enhance observational skills and the capacity to develop a psychodynamic formulation.

Aims:
• To observe or work with a single person over 10 weeks
• To apply psychodynamic thinking to the therapeutic relationship in placement or work
• To deepen your understanding of therapeutic communication and counselling skills
• To practice therapeutic communication and counselling skills

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module students should be able to:
• Recognise what factors support the development of a therapeutic alliance
• Understand how to utilise a range of counselling and communication skills effectively in a therapeutic or supportive role
• Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the dynamics of relationships and interactions between people in professional settings, especially between those providing the service and those receiving it
• Appreciate the depth and richness of the inner world of a single person and the factors which contribute to their state of mind and behaviour
• Demonstrate the acquisition of the skills and knowledge required to make a psychodynamic assessment of a single person