I will be maintaining effective communication with my tutor by writing my reports and other assignments, by giving evidence through my self-assessment activities, reflective writing, the web searches I have conducted and web links I use, and my independent research. I will use language which is clear and concise and identifies that I have answered the questions and addressed the learning outcomes. This will ensure that I can put across what skills I have and am learning, what knowledge I have gained and where I have gained it, and the level of understanding I have attained.
As an individual I can maintain effective communication with my tutor by expressing myself through writing. Face to face communication with my tutor and online support is not available and so I am unable to use speech, tone, inflection, eye contact, body language or gestures to express myself. I intend to use ICT methods and pathways in a proficient manner, and to identify my progress and express my thoughts and aims through clear writing.
I will also maintain personal communication with my tutor by identifying my personal strengths and opportunities outlined in my SWOT analysis, and by noting the challenges which face me through weaknesses and threats. 2. EVALUATE HOW TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS WILL HELP YOU STUDY AND ENRICH THIS EXPERIENCE Technological tools will help me study and enrich this experience initially by opening up the world of information and communication through the internet. They enable me to access College online distance study network to work on Level 5 BTEC HND Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling course.
The Term Paper on Electronic Journals And Scholarly Communication
In recent years, scholarly communication has virtually exploded into the on-line electronic world. This has brought a number of demonstrable benefits to the scholarly communication process as well as highlighting a number of inefficiencies and obstacles to the full deployment of information technology. However, the explosion has also brought a spate of credulous accounts concerning the ...
These tools mean I can communicate with my tutor for guidance and clarification and feedback. Technological tools allow me to plan study time through using an electronic study calendar. I can access information on web sites for research purposes, and this provides me with up to date information and contacts. Technological tools will enable me to communicate effectively and enhance my learning as I progress through this online distance study of Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling. Good information, communication and technology (ICT) skills are basic and essential skills for learning.
My continued use and development of ICT skills successfully on a regular basis will enhance and develop my learning process. This will encourage me to maximise study progression. In practical terms, these technological tools are represented by; computer at home (PC and laptop) and work; internet connection at home and work to access College web site; email to contact tutor and other students, and transfer work between work and home; Online Campus chat room for support and forum for information sharing and support; ePortfolio as a system of collating information.
The ePortfolio is for the storage of files including coursework, self-assessment activities, independent research notes and reflective journals. Feedback from my tutor also provides a constructive dialogue which improves and enhances my work. Technological tools provide an online classroom environment with tutor and other students and the college. These tools enable me to express core skills of counselling (empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard) through my written word. They also enrich and encourage me through contact with others to maintain my motivation and self-discipline. . EVALUATE HOW YOUR PERSONAL SWOT ANALYSIS MIGHT IDENTIFY STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO A POSITIVE study experience IN THE STUDY OF THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING (YOU WILL NEED TO PRODUCE A SWOT ANALYSIS AS PART OF YOUR REPORT) Personal SWOT analysis. Strengths (internal factors): Good self-discipline. Good motivation. Good ICT skills. Writing skills. Previous experience of studying alone (group therapy assignment following 1 week course at Bath University).
Effective Way Of Tutoring
Effective way in Tutoring Students 2004 Outline: A) Introduction B) General discussion 1) Personal Experience 2) Tips on Promoting Student Motivation 3) Advantages and Disadvantages of Tutoring) Conclusion. Foreword: Tutoring is a tool in helping the children in their academic needs. The tutor guides them in answering their assignments as well as teaching them techniques in solving problems. This ...
Experience and enjoyment of study and of education. Level of education (honours degree).
Level 3 Counselling Studies course experience and qualification. Having a clear goal to gain this qualification and work as a counsellor. Attention to detail. Ability to plan ahead and to work to a plan. Love of communication. Desire to do well. My commitment to improve myself and my prospects. Weaknesses (internal factors): Being a perfectionist. Getting stuck in detail and overcomplicating this online study process and the aims of Units. Lacking the feedback gained from face to face communication particularly with my tutor and other students. Fear of not communicating clearly with my tutor.
Opportunities (external factors): Access to ICT at home and work. Support from my employer and support from my partner. Support from College, tutor, other students, counsellors at work. Being given clients by my employer at work now for practical application of academic study in Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling. Having supervision sessions (1. 5 hours each month) with BACP registered Counsellor and Supervisor. Keeping copies of work in various locations (home PC, home laptop, work PC).
Working towards my goal of qualifying and being employed as a counsellor.
Advancing at work and the attendant benefits from that. Evidence to my employer of my motivation and discipline, and evidence of my commitment to improve myself and my prospects. Threats (external factors): Not having a paper copy of the course (insufficient finances).
Relying on technology and technological processes. Demands on my time, energy and concentration by busy home life with partner and 3 ? year old daughter, and full time employment in a taxing therapeutic environment (drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre), and social life.
Evaluation of my personal SWOT analysis. My strengths are ideal for undertaking online distance study. More specifically, my motivation and discipline have benefitted me in the past when I have had to work alone or at a distance. My attention to detail and my love of communication will enable me to maintain effective communication with my tutor, and my ICT skills have been honed over many years of working in different settings and with various ICT applications. My opportunities are many and they interact very well with the strengths I have.
The Essay on Example of a Reflective Writing
An example of good reflective writing – integration of theory with personal experience; justification and explanation of person experience using relevant theory as support; provides insight into the author’s observations of the theory; appropriate use of language; analysis of theory within the context of own experience. Organisational change and development theory suggests that models are a good ...
For example, my desire to do well, having clear goals for advancement, and my current skills and experience are enhanced by opportunities such as giving evidence of my motivation and commitment to my employer, having clients at work with whom I can improve my practical counselling skills and working towards improving myself and my prospects. I believe that my strengths and opportunities will counteract my weaker areas, and my experience of communicating with my tutor will lessen my anxiety. I also believe that the threats I have identified are largely balanced or cancelled out by the strengths and opportunities I have.
Evaluation of the contribution my personal SWOT analysis makes to a positive study experience in the study of therapeutic counselling. I refer to the course notes which explain a SWOT analysis as a tool to aid motivation in distance learning. This means I have identified at the start of this course in therapeutic counselling what internal characteristics I have to help me succeed. I can incorporate these strengths in how I plan and carry out my assignments, access resources and support, provide evidence, and balance aspects of my life to complete the course.
My weaknesses don’t mean that I won’t succeed in this course of study. They mean that I work harder to achieve the same educational goal and use my strengths and opportunities to counteract the effect of weaknesses. The opportunities I identified are external factors which I can use to aid me. Threats are the external factors which may prevent me achieving my goals or may impede my progress in successfully completing this online distance study course. My aim is to find balance between these four different areas, or two positive areas and two challenging areas, in order to complete the course.
This SWOT analysis will contribute towards my self-assessment process because I can refer to it again as time passes. I can see what has changed. I can conduct another SWOT analysis and assess what progress I have made and identify areas which still need further development. 4. EVALUATE REFLECTIVE WRITING AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFYING EXPERIENCES AND PRACTICES WHICH MAY BE RELEVANT TO FUTURE APPLICATIONS AND JOURNEYS IN THE STUDY OF THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING An evaluation of reflective writing. McLeod (1998) suggests journal or reflective writing plays an effective role as a therapeutic medium and can help in resolving issues.
The Essay on Facilitate the Counselling Process Assessment
I declare that this assessment is my own work, based on my own personal research/study . I also declare that this assessment, nor parts of it, has not been previously submitted for any other unit/module or course, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of another student and/or persons. I have read the ACAP Student Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct Policy ...
Furthermore, he views reflective writing as having psychological and health benefits although he doesn’t propose why this is the case. Perhaps the benefits of resolution of issues or challenges may provide benefits. My supervisor has recommended that I use reflective or journal writing as a means of facilitating personal learning and a way of recording how I apply my learning to practice. I do not see reflective writing as purely historical record, but rather a chance for me to allow thoughts/feelings/reflections to surface which I may not have been consciously aware of.
My use of weekly reflective writing on my Level 3 Counselling Skills became part of a process which involved the feedback of learning peers and tutors and formed part of my journey in self development. It allowed me to look back over situations which changed sometimes quite dramatically over time. I was able to reflect over how I tend to view and respond to situations. How reflective writing identifies experiences and practices. I often challenge or adjust my own behaviour in response to circumstances, events or comments which cause me to question whether I need to accept, change or adapt.
The facility of having a written record of this process of questioning and changing promotes reflection which in turn permits more questions and further change. I am a dynamic and changing social being and by my nature need to adapt to events around me. This in turn encourages me to interactively respond to life around me. This course is through online communication and therefore a written journal is part of the same technological medium. It therefore encourages reflection and recording these reflections. How these experiences and practices might be relevant to future applications and journeys.
The Homework on IB Skills Final Assessment – Anti-Procrastination
Procrastination is generally defined as the act of replacing high priority actions with those that have less priority. In psychology, procrastination is the temporal gap between intended behavior and enacted behavior. (Mind tools) This psychological behaviour is widely associated with adolescents, especially those in college where homework and projects are prominent parts of life. It is also ...
Reflection on my past or present responses informs my future choices of behaviour. Self exploration provides me an opportunity to look back over changes which may have taken place or even no change at all. My reflection on change or no change may help shape my future plans or how I choose to approach similar life circumstances in the future. My use of a reflective journal goes beyond this course itself and can help me transfer learning into future roles and situations. This transfer of learning applies to both personal and professional development.
Reflective writing is part of building my ePortfolio. My ePortfolio is a resource for my future use whether for revision, reference or as a springboard for ongoing professional development. Reflective writing allows self exploration. 5. EVALUATE SELF-ASSESSMENT AS A MEANS TO DEVELOP PERSONAL SKILLS AND SUBJECT SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN THE STUDY OF THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING How self-assessment develops personal skills. The material for this unit state that I can develop my understanding and knowledge by undertaking self-assessment activities.
Through self-assessment I communicate what I think and why I think it to my tutor and I can develop the style and structure of how I express this in my written work. It means I am actively using my skills and presenting these for feedback from my tutor. It also means that I can receive feedback from my tutor which enhances my learning experience and stimulates my effective progression through this form of online distance learning study. My tutor may be able to make suggestions or provide guidance which opens up different ways of thinking and viewing my study of
Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling. This experience would be much more limited without self-assessment activities. How self-assessment develops subject specific knowledge. I undertake self-assessment activities to prepare me for the assessment of this report by my tutor. I also undertake these activities to show what my understanding is of a given subject and what knowledge I have gained. This enables my tutor to address my current learning position and encourage further development so that I can progress through this course of study.
The Essay on Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology
Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples and show how these skills developed over time. Digital technologies were a crucial part of both of my productions; using digital technologies has also extremely developed over time and you can see a significant change in the A2 ...
For example in practical terms my self-assessment activity 1 (my understanding and knowledge of systems) enabled me to show my ability to understand how this process of online distance study works within a larger environment, such as the computer system I use and communicating within the Oxford College online network. Self-assessment activities give me the opportunity to conduct research and explore web sites relevant to this course of Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling. This opens up a breadth and depth of subject specific knowledge which I can save in my ePortfolio for reference and use.
TASK 2 CONDUCT A WEB BASED SEARCH IN ORDER TO: 6. IDENTIFY VALID RESOURCES RELEVANT TO YOUR COUNSELLING STUDIES Identify resources and show how they are valid to counselling studies. The following internet resources are currently saved in my favourites on my home PC and at work. I am looking into how to represent them in my ePortfolio and save them there. I am currently able to highlight pages, copy them, save them as a new word processing document and save this into my research folder in my ePortfolio. The websites are as follows: www. bacp. co. uk; www. therapytoday. net; www. psychotherapy. rg. uk; www. counselling-directory. org. uk; www. bapca. org. uk; and www. thecounsellorsguide. co. uk. I also have a book list which I will include here. This was the result of a web based search last year and resulted in me buying the following books; On Becoming A Person, Rogers Person-centred Counselling in Action, Mearns and Thorne Developing Person-centred Counselling, Mearns Person-centred Therapy Today, Mearns and Thorne Client-Centred Therapy, Rogers Counselling Skills and Theory, Hough A Practical Approach to Counselling, Hough Listening Helpfully, Ellin The Gift of Therapy, Yallom
A Brief Guide to Brief Therapy, O’Hanlon and Cade A Guide to Possibility Land- Solution Focussed Brief Therapy, O’Hanlon and Beadle An Introduction to Counselling, Macleod Handbook of Counselling Psychology, Woolfe, Dryden and Strawbridge Next Steps In Counselling, Frankland and Sanders Counselling and Life Span Development, Thomas The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds, Bowlby Childhood and Society, Erikson Handbook of Individual Therapy, Dryden The Trainee Handbook, Bor and Watts Individual Therapy, Dryden Confidentiality and Record Keeping in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Bond and Mitchels 7.
EVALUATE THE RESOURCES AND DESCRIBE THE ROLE THEY MIGHT PLAY IN HELPING YOU TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE COURSE IN THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING Evaluation of the resources. Web sites such as the BACP and UKCP are restricted in the amount of access given to non members however there is some useful information and guidance on regulation, accreditation and guidance. The UKCP web site has links to research articles through the web site such as Stanford University’s free research articles, Directory of Open Access Journals, and the European Centre for Psychotherapeutic Studies.
The Counselling Directory website feels more accessible to me as a student. It may lack some detail or depth compared to other sites but it provides a broad access to articles and information. I will use this site for reference. The British Association for the Person-Centred Approach has some interesting articles and links which I would like to follow up. It also has some useful information on other methods of accreditation through other bodies which are less restrictive than BACP or UKCP. The Counsellors Guide web site has useful information uidance for students and people interested in furthering their career as a counsellor. There are some interesting articles and useful links. It also has a facility for people to post a question and receive a response. How they might they help me develop knowledge and understanding throughout this course. The web sites, links to research articles on the web sites, and books which I have bought following web based book searches supply me with a library of resources which I can draw on and refer to. These sources encourage me to attribute sources in a correct academic manner.
They expand my understanding in depth of subject matter and in breadth of subjects. What I initially find useful may change over time- this indicates growth and progression. The scope or breadth of different subject resources may slow down as I start to narrow my searches, while the breadth of similar subject resources of may increase as I start to deepen my knowledge and understanding. Building such a library of resources is useful to this course, useful for personal development and useful for ongoing professional development. 8.
REFLECT ON YOUR PRECONCEPTIONS OF COUNSELLING STUDIES, AND BRIEFLY DISCUSS YOUR VIEWS NOW, HAVING CONDUCTED SOME INDEPENDENT RESEARCH Reflection on my preconceptions. I had an early experience of counselling as a client and this experience influenced my preconceptions of counselling studies for a long time. My experience was with a psychodynamic counsellor. They had an office with dark wood furniture and a large desk, walls of books and certificates. Their surroundings appeared to assert their authority and I felt intimidated as a 20 year old.
This view began to change as I began to meet counsellors in a social (non client) environment over the course of my life. I saw counsellors as ordinary people who undertook a specific role. Some of these counsellors appeared to carry their skills into personal interactions (warm, genuine and non-judgemental), however some did not. This gave me a view that not all counsellors appear to be well developed and mature people. Consequently my preconception of counselling studies was that anyone can engage in this study and not all will develop well.
I undertook a Level 3 Counselling Skills course and understood that there is an important interaction and balance between the study of theory, the application in practice, the development of skills and developing personally. Overarching these areas is the need for feedback from tutors, peers and supervisors. This started to change my preconceptions. What my views are now. I understand that counselling studies are in synthesis with life around me. Counselling studies and skills cannot be separated from practical day to day life.
It is how I approach studies and skills, how I respond to feedback, how I reflect on my journey, and how I develop as a person which will dictate what kind of counsellor I will be. I believe that the current balance I have: home versus work; online distance academic study versus practical client work; working alone with clients versus having a mentor and supervisor; studying alone versus having a tutor and other students and individuals; all of this provides a full and rounded approach to this course of study in Therapeutic Person-centred Counselling.
I believe that the tutorial support, the course materials, the presentation of learning outcomes, and the self-assessment activities balanced with my strengths and support network will encourage an effective and enriching learning experience from which I will develop as a person and as someone who wishes to qualify as a Counsellor. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rainer, T, 1978, The New Diary- how to use a journal for self guidance and expanded creativity, New York, Tarcher/Putnam Frankland, A and Sanders, P, 2006, Next steps in Counselling- a students’ companion for certificate and counselling skills courses, Ross-on-Wye, PCCS Books McLeod, J, 1998, An Introduction to Counselling (2nd ed. ), Open University Press, Buckingham & Philadelphia Hammond, M, ‘SWOT analysis and Distance Education’(online), http://www. smallbusiness. chron. com/swot-analysis-distance-education-23555. html, (Accessed 12/9/2012)
