Theme 4: Knowledge and skills
| A. Qualified counsellor, advanced qualified counsellor and psychotherapist | B. Advanced qualified counsellor | C. Psychotherapist |
| 4.1. Ability to demonstrate understanding, and be able to articulate the rationale and philosophy underpinning therapeutic practice | ||
| 4.2. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the theory and practice of therapy from assessment to ending including knowledge of: • a model of person and mind • a model of gendered and culturally influenced human development • a model of human change and ways in which change can be facilitated • a model of therapeutic relationship • a set of clinical concepts to relate theory to practice |
4.2.a. Ability to critically appraise a range of theories underpinning the practice of counselling and psychotherapy | 4.2.b. Ability to critically appraise the history of psychological ideas, the cultural context, and relevant social and political theories to inform and evaluate ongoing practice |
| 4.3. Ability to apply understanding of self-harming and suicidal behaviours, to work collaboratively with the client or patient | 4.3.a. Ability to work with suicidal risk and other self-harming behaviours and associated conscious and unconscious processes including the conflictual and paradoxical nature of suicidal ideation | |
| 4.4. Ability to understand the process of change within a core, coherent theoretical framework and adopt a stance as therapist in accordance with it | ||
| 4.5. Ability to understand and respond appropriately to the emotional content of sessions | ||
| 4.6. Ability to select and use appropriate therapeutic interventions | 4.6.a. Ability to demonstrate the capacity, knowledge and understanding of how to select or modify approaches to respond appropriately to the needs of the client or patient | |
| 4.7. Ability to demonstrate coherent use of skills and interventions for the benefit of the client or patient, that is consistent with underlying theoretical knowledge | 4.7.a. Ability to reflect upon complex and sometimes contradictory information elicited from clients or patients to clearly articulate their core difficulties and possible origins | 4.7.b. Ability to demonstrate an understanding and application of the nature and purpose of psychotherapy with a focus on how internal and external worlds impact the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship. This includes an advanced awareness of how unconscious processes (eg transference and countertransference) affect therapy |
| 4.8. Ability to reflect upon own cultural background and history and have the capacity to work authentically in a non-discriminatory manner | 4.8.a. Ability to describe the philosophical assumptions that underpin theoretical understanding of culture 4.8.b. Ability to define difference and explore effects of stigmatisation, stereotyping, discrimination and oppression |
4.8.c. Ability to integrate relevant theory and research in the areas of diversity and equality into clinical practice |
| 4.9. Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the use of audit and evaluation tools to review own counselling work | 4.9.a. Ability to utilise audit and evaluation tools to monitor and maintain standards within practice settings | 4.9.b. Ability to utilise audit and evaluation methodologies to contribute to improving the process and outcomes of therapy |
| 4.10. Ability to understand, assess and apply research evidence to own practice | 4.10.a. Ability to critically appraise published research on counselling and psychotherapy and integrate relevant research findings into practice | 4.10.b. Ability to successfully complete a substantial empirical research project, systematic review or systematic case study informed by wide current understandings of the discipline |
| 4.11. Ability to communicate clearly with clients or patients, colleagues and other professionals both in writing and verbally |