As a counsellor, it is important you have a thorough understanding of the different theories and the skills involved in each theory. Therefore, in the next three essay questions you will be asked to look at each of the major theories in turn and to write a detailed critique of each, identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of each therapeutic model.
It is expected that you must carry out further reading and research to learn further the theorist counselling on top of what you have learnt in the course. This research of yours will inform part of your learning and ultimately your written work, each essay needs to be seven hundred and fifty words (+/- one hundred words) per essay.
Activity Fourteen: Person-Centred Essay
Your written piece will analyse the core concepts and principles of the PersonCentred therapeutic model. For example, you will be able to describe in detail the core conditions. You will identify both the strengths and weaknesses of working within the Person-Centred model. You will be able to critically evaluate how the model differs from other models and be able to relate theory to yourself.
You will think about the range of skills and interventions that are appropriate to use within person-centred counselling; for example, rapport building, active listening, immediacy, paraphrasing, and summarising or reflecting.
You should be able to cite other well-known humanistic therapies that emphasise selfdevelopment, growth and responsibility, for example Gestalt therapy or transactional analysis, and to briefly write some details about these ways of working.
Activity Fifteen: Psychodynamic Essay
Your written piece will critically evaluate the core concepts and principles of the Freudian ideas which make up the basis of Psychodynamic theory. You will be able to describe in detail the id, ego and superego, and how personality is developed by the psychosexual stages.
You will identify both the strengths and weaknesses of working within the psychodynamic approach. You will be able to distinguish the difference between transference and counter-transference.
You will be able to analyse how the model differs from other models and be able to relate the theory to yourself. For example, if you were working as a PersonCentred counsellor, critically evaluate how your approach would differ to that of a Psychodynamic therapist? What interventions might you use as a Psychodynamic therapist that you would not use as a Person-Centred therapist?
You should be able to summarise, briefly, the work of other theorists; for example, those of Jung and Erikson.
Activity Sixteen: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Essay
Your written piece will set out the core concepts and principles of CBT. You will be able to describe in detail, for example, the ABC model of working.
You will analyse both the strengths and weaknesses of working within the CBT theory.
You will be able to critically evaluate how the model differs from other models and be able to relate theory to yourself. For example, if you were working as a PersonCentred counsellor or Psychodynamic counsellor, how would your approach differ from that of a CBT therapist? What interventions would you use within CBT? How are these different from those used within Psychodynamic or Person-Centred therapy?
Activity Seventeen: Reflective Journal
Entry five: Please evaluate your personal and professional development whilst completing unit five. You will keep a reflective journal throughout this course which should be around 500 words (+/-10%).
