Counselling Studies FdA

**This course is primarily designed for face to face learning with you attending your lessons for the specified hours within the validation document. However, there may be periods of study where the government advises TEC Partnership that it is not safe to open campuses or there is limited access due to social distancing measures. If the Campus is closed TEC Partnership will continue to deliver your sessions online and offer you the necessary support and resources remotely. If there is limited access due to social distancing measures a blended model will be adopted with some lessons happening in small groups and others happening using online sessions and support.**This undergraduate Foundation Degree will provide a challenging and high-quality academic grounding for future counselling practitioners.       It focuses on personal development, enabling greater self-awareness and self-acceptance, as well as person-centred skills, to help prepare the student for client work. The course encourages students to develop the integration of academic skills and counselling skills and competencies. The course is ideal for aspiring counselling practitioners who are currently working in the healthcare sector, or applicants in search of a change in vocation; particularly those who would like to gain further insight into therapeutic intervention.      Students will develop a firm understanding of therapeutic models of counselling practice, the influence of other subject disciplines, such as psychology and mental health, an awareness of key client issues such as addictions, abuse, and eating disorders and an understanding of how culture and diversity impact on the counselling role and relationship.       It will further empower students to become future autonomous practitioners aligned with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework, taking into consideration issues such as confidentiality, record keeping, insurance, and contracting.       A particular emphasis, critical to the field of counselling, is the acknowledgement of boundaries, confidentiality, professional practice, and self-care. It is therefore mandatory that students engage in at least 20 hours of self-funded personal therapy over the two years, as an independent, self-managed process.      Upon successful completion of the degree, students will be equipped with a Foundation Degree including the confidence, knowledge, skills, and theoretical understanding to be able to put these into practice to further advance their career.    Students who achieve the FdA Counselling Studies may progress onto the BA Counselling Top Up, to qualify as practicing counsellors. Alternatively, students may choose the BA Counselling Theory Top Up, or other top up courses, to lead them on various career pathways in the field.    Specifically designed rooms are provided to recreate the counselling environment supporting the development of skills. Furthermore, the programme employs BA/MA qualified, practicing Person Centred Counsellors who hold a registered membership to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and practice in adherence to their Ethical Framework. This ensures the embedding of current knowledge/ experience into the teaching of modules and counselling skills within this degree. Students have the opportunity to engage in work- related placement during level 5 of the foundation degree. This consists of work within the community in a support, care or befriending roles. This experience will support student’s in enhancing their theoretical; communication and interpersonal skills and professional ethical standards which they have learnt by enabling them to put these into to practice. Furthermore, gaining an understanding of working with indi