Higher National Unit Specification Unit Title: Counselling .

Higher National Unit SpecificationGeneral informationUnit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Unit code:J00E 35Superclass:PSPublication date:May 2018Source:Scottish Qualifications AuthorityVersion:02Unit purposeThis unit is designed to provide learners with an opportunity to integrate understanding of thetherapeutic relationship and process in relation to pluralistic counselling theory andskills/practice, as well as to consider development of the contemporary pluralistic approach.The unit also provides an opportunity for learners to increase self-awareness in relation tocourse content. The content of the unit is underpinned by the British Association ofCounselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling.This unit could be taught in conjunction with the mandatory units Counselling: RelationshipCentred Counselling Skills: Stage 1 of the Three-Stage Integrative Model, Counselling:Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 2 of the Three-Stage Integrative Model andCounselling: Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 3 of the Three-Stage IntegrativeModel.OutcomesOn successful completion of the unit the learner will be able to:123Explain the development of the contemporary pluralistic approach.Evaluate own ability to integrate understanding of the therapeutic relationship andprocess within the pluralistic approach.Evaluate personal learning in relation to the contemporary pluralistic approach.Credit points and level1 HN credit at SCQF level 8: (8 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 8)J00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)1

Higher National Unit Specification: General information (cont)Unit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Recommended entry to the unitAccess to this unit is at the discretion of the centre, however learners should have goodcounselling and communication skills.Core SkillsAchievement of this Unit gives automatic certification of the following Core Skills component:Complete Core SkillNoneCore Skill componentCritical Thinking at SCQF level 6There are also opportunities to develop aspects of Core Skills which are highlighted in theSupport Notes of this Unit specification.Context for deliveryIf this unit is delivered as part of a group award, it should be taught and assessed within thesubject area of the group award to which it contributes. This unit forms part of the groupaward for the HND in Counselling.Equality and inclusionThis unit specification has been designed to ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers tolearning or assessment. The individual needs of learners should be taken into account whenplanning learning experiences, selecting assessment methods or considering alternativeevidence.Further advice can be found on our website www.sqa.org.uk/assessmentarrangements.J00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)2

Higher National Unit Specification: Statement of standardsUnit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Acceptable performance in this unit will be the satisfactory achievement of the standards setout in this part of the unit specification. All sections of the statement of standards aremandatory and cannot be altered without reference to SQA.Where evidence for outcomes is assessed on a sample basis, the whole of the content listedin the knowledge and/or skills section must be taught and available for assessment. Learnersshould not know in advance the items on which they will be assessed, and different itemsshould be sampled on each assessment occasion.Outcome 1Explain the development of the contemporary pluralistic approach.Knowledge and/or skills Development of contemporary pluralistic theoryOutcome 2Evaluate own ability to integrate understanding of the therapeutic relationship and processwithin the pluralistic approach.Knowledge and/or skills Therapeutic relationship reflecting the development of contemporary pluralisticapproachesTherapeutic process reflecting the development from classical to contemporarypluralistic approachesApplication of pluralistic counselling to client need reflecting the development fromclassical to contemporary pluralistic approachesOutcome 3Evaluate personal learning in relation to the contemporary pluralistic approach.Knowledge and/or skills Self-awareness and personal growth in relation to course contentSelf-awareness in relation to relationshipsDeveloping awareness of a pluralistic approach to counsellingJ00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)3

Higher National Unit Specification: Statement of standards (cont)Unit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Evidence requirements for this unitLearners will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills acrossall outcomes by showing that they can:Outcome 1 Explain the development of the contemporary pluralistic approachOutcome 2 Evaluate own ability to apply understanding of therapeutic relationship in contemporarypluralistic counsellingEvaluate own ability to apply understanding of the therapeutic process in contemporarypluralistic counsellingEvaluate the application of different approaches within pluralistic counselling to clientneedsOutcome 3 Reflect on and evaluate course content and describe insights about selfReflect on relationships and describe insights about self in relation to othersEvaluate the individual therapies and explain your personal integration of the pluralisticapproachActively participate in experiential learning of the unitJ00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)4

Higher National Unit Support NotesUnit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Unit support notes are offered as guidance and are not mandatory.While the exact time allocated to this unit is at the discretion of the centre, the notionaldesign length is 40 hours.Guidance on the content and context for this unitThis unit could be delivered in conjunction with Counselling: Relationship-CentredCounselling Skills: Stage 1 of the Three-Stage Integrative Model, Counselling: RelationshipCentred Counselling Skills: Stage 2 of the Three-Stage Integrative Model and Counselling:Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 3 of the Three-Stage Integrative Model. It isintended that learners should evaluate and integrate the learning by reflecting on their ownpersonal counselling skills practice and self-awareness gained from the experience ofparticipating in the learning opportunities offered. This unit acknowledges that theoryunderpins and supports practice. The process of therapeutic change within the pluralisticschool of counselling should underpin the context and delivery of this unit.‘ the concept of pluralism represents a form of theoretical integration that is not constructedaround any specific set of psychological concepts, but instead is held together by aphilosophical and ethical valuing of diversity. Theoretical integration on the basis of anypsychological concept always has the effect of privileging that idea while downplaying otherpsychological ideas. By contrast, the concept of pluralism opens a conceptual space in whichall psychological theories (and other ideas, from sociology, human ecology and otherdisciplines) can co-exist.’ McLeod and Cooper (2012:368–369)Outcome 1This outcome has a simple description but has the potential to cover a huge body of work asmuch has been built on the learning of existential philosophy and humanistic theories. Thereis an opportunity for learners to explore developments in areas of particular interest usingresearch skills.The pluralistic approach is a model which, in common with other humanistic approaches,puts emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual human experience as the guiding factorwithin the therapeutic encounter. The work of John McLeod and Mick Cooper underpins thecurrent development of this way of therapeutic working.Outcome 2Clients are viewed as not only being experts in their own lives but also as active agents whoare capable of applying their own personal skills to help improve their life. Reference toMearns and Thornes writing on ‘configurations’ is appropriate here. The focus on relationshipand the framework of goals, tasks and methods are key elements to this approach.The information sheet for clients (Cooper and McLeod, 2011:182–4), TherapyPersonalisation Form (Cooper and McLeod, 2011:185–7) and Goals Form (Cooper andMcLeod, 2011:188) are useful tools for learners to engage with.J00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)5

Higher National Unit Support Notes (cont.)Unit title:Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory(SCQF level 8)Outcome 3Development towards becoming a reflective practitioner should be evident in the learner’swork for the learning journal where clear links can be made with the units covering the threestage integrative model: Counselling: Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 1 of the Three-StageIntegrative Model F1ER 34Counselling: Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 2 of the Three-StageIntegrative Model F1ES 34Counselling: Relationship-Centred Counselling Skills: Stage 3 of the Three-StageIntegrative Model F1ET 34The differences between Gerard Egan’s more therapist-led three stage model of helping andthe client-led pluralistic model should be emphasised.Guidance on approaches to delivery of this unitThe concept of Counselling reflects the British Association for Counselling andPsychotherapy Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.Core textsCooper, M. and McLeod, J. (2011) Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage.Cooper, M. (2015) Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling. London: Sage.Cooper, M. and Dryden, W. (Eds) (2015) The Handbook of Pluralistic Counselling andPsychotherapy. London: Sage.McLeod, J. (2018) Pluralistic Therapy: Distinctive Features. Oxon: Routledge.Recommended readingMcLeod, J. and Cooper, M. (2012). A Brief Introduction to Pluralistic Counselling andPsychotherapy. In: Feltham, C. The Sage Handbook of Counselling and Psychotherapy. 3rded. London: Sage. pp.368–371.Norcross, J.C. and Goldfried, M.R. (Eds.) (2005) Handbook of Psychology Integration. NewYork: Oxford University Press.Rowan, H. and Cooper, M. (1999). The Plural Self: Multiplicity in Everyday Life. London:Sage.Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and some of these texts may have been reprintedor may be out of print but would be available through a library.Learners should be actively encouraged to make use of the internet to access professionaljournals in addition to recommended texts. As addresses change frequently it is difficult torecommend any specific sites but content of peer reviewed, published journal articles arerecommended for maintaining currency.J00E 35, Counselling: Contemporary Pluralistic Counselling Theory (SCQF level 8)6