Gestalt Counselling (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

You'll develop a reflexivity through integrating further advancements in Gestalt theory development, application of theory to skills and self-awareness to maintain ethical, anti-oppressive practice. You'll further your Gestalt specific practical skills while developing specific Gestalt techniques.

This module will enable you to deepen your understanding of Gestalt theory and practice using words, art, writing, sound, movement and other creative means. You'll cover development in Gestalt theory and apply your knowledge to address major areas from cross-cultural counselling, race, sexuality and gender issues, loss and bereavement, to anxiety, depression, low self-efficacy, low self-esteem and relationship problems. You'll be able to practice your advanced Gestalt skills in a safe supervised environment in order to work with clients in your placements to help you focus on self-awareness: in the Here and Now through the increased awareness and understanding of the present, of one's immediate thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and of patterns of relating that can bring about powerful change and new perspectives.

Through studying this module, you'll be able to become a highly effective counselling practitioner who will be able to facilitate empowering change process when working with individuals, couples, groups, teams and organisations. You'll also be able to apply your Gestalt skills beyond the therapy room as the Gestalt approach is increasingly being used by people whose work relies on relationship building, particularly those in education, health and social care. It has also used by people-focused professionals in areas such as HR, Organisational Development, coaching and training. This module supports you to become a skilled, ethical and professional Gestalt practitioner.

You'll be able to demonstrate your psychological readiness for practice within your chosen counselling modality (Gestalt, Humanist or CBT), and effectively communicate your understanding of the importance of on-going personal and professional development.

Regular skills clinics through small supervision groups provide you with the opportunity to develop your practice in a safe environment and evidence your growing ability to integrate theory and practice. You'll learn to evaluate in greater depth the importance of personal development, apply underlying principles and concepts of your chosen counselling modality (Gestalt, Humanistic or CBT) into your skills practice. You'll engage in increasingly sophisticated self-awareness and reflexivity, effectively communicate feedback, assess feedback and integrate it in an increasingly sophisticated manner, understand your competency limits and your need for additional and on-going training and critically understand anti-oppressive practice and ethical considerations.

You'll be introduced to a variety of methods and approaches, which will be examined with a highly practical focus. The emphasis will be placed on the specific issues and research questions which are commonly addressed in counselling, and which might be addressed using different research approaches. You'll demonstrate your acquisition of the knowledge by writing a research proposal and carrying out a research project. You'll have a support of a specialised research mentor and will have access to the university research facilities (where necessary or required by the scope of the research project).

The principle objective in the research project is to assist you in gaining insight into the organisation, analysis and communication of research within counselling field. The approved investigation may be novel (i.e. one that has not previously been carried out) or it may repeat previously executed work for comparative or control purposes. You'll be able to synthesise new and existing knowledge to generate ideas and develop creative solutions of benefit to the counselling profession, counselling theory, your own practice or of your own interest within your specialisation (Gestalt, Humanistic or CBT). You'll be able to locate, access and critically engage with information, using current and emerging digital technologies as well as a vast amount of literature available via the university and college learning resources.