On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Effectively and empathically practice beginning skills in counselling.
2. Integrate these counselling skills effectively into professional practice, from a critical social science perspective.
3. Recognise and constructively critique the major frameworks of counselling.
4. Respond appropriately in professional situations that require counselling skills.
5. Understand the similarities and differences between different professional roles and the possibilities and limits of their own role and expertise.
6. Establish a �eholding environment�f with people in distress, in order to continue to offer therapeutic/ relational support or refer on.

Reflection on the development of the self as practitioner.
In-class practice of foundational counselling skills.
Reflexive analysis of the experience of counselling practice from the position of trainee practitioner, participant and observer, including close analysis of recordings of practice sessions.
Critical consideration of the major theoretical frameworks of counselling.
Exploration of the connections and tensions between the values, beliefs and practices of the student?fs chosen profession and the values, beliefs and practices of professional counselling.