Module PPC-4002:
Approaches and Therapies 1
Approaches and Therapies 1 2026-27
PPC-4002
2026-27
School of Psychology
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Fay Short
Overview
PPC4002 Approaches and Therapies 1 aims to provide you with an understanding of humanistic and psychodynamic psychology alongside the associated person-centred therapy and psychoanalytic therapy. You will gain an insight into the theories of human nature adopted within these areas of psychology and then develop an applied appreciation of how this psychological knowledge can be used to enhance and develop the therapeutic relationship. These topics will be illustrated with video demonstrations and case study discussions so that you can appreciate counselling in action. You will be assessed on this module through an essay that requires you to analyse and integrate these two approaches and therapies. The module will conclude with an assessed oral discussion group exam in which you will demonstrate your new knowledge of person-centred therapy and psychoanalytic therapy in an applied context.
PPC4002 Approaches and Therapies 1 will provide you with a deeper understanding of the psychological and therapeutic foundations for two of the most renowned and well-established therapeutic orientations in the counselling world. Carl Rogers鈥� person-centred therapy and Sigmund Freud鈥檚 psychoanalytic therapy inspired our modern understanding of counselling theory and practice. This module will give you a deep insight into the concepts underpinning these therapies and an opportunity to consider it in action in work with clients. You will learn how the humanistic and psychodynamic psychological approaches are used to understand human nature, with an appreciation of the social and historical development of these approaches. You will then use this knowledge to understand how to manage the therapeutic relationship and apply therapeutic techniques as a person-centred therapist and psychoanalytic therapist. This theoretical knowledge will be illustrated with video and case examples to demonstrate counselling in action, and you will be assessed in your ability to critically analyse this process in practice. Finally, you will be asked to apply these therapeutic methods to a counselling case and discuss your ideas with your peers.
Topics covered in this module include:
- Approaches, Therapies, and Models in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- History of the Humanistic Approach with focus on Rogers
- Humanistic Theories of Human Nature and Personality
- Therapeutic Relationship in Person-Centred Therapy
- Therapeutic Techniques in Person-Centred Therapy
- History of the Psychodynamic Approach with focus on Freud
- Psychodynamic Theories of Human Nature and Personality
- Therapeutic Relationship in Psychoanalytic Therapy
- Therapeutic Techniques in Psychoanalytic Therapy
- Compare, Contrast, Critique, and Apply
- Skilled Helper Model
Please note that these topics are subject to change dependent on staff availability, unexpected circumstances, and the assessed needs of the students.
Assessment Strategy
Assessment criteria for this module are:
Excellent (A*, A+, A, A-) 鈥nsightful and critical consideration of the interplay between different approaches, therapies, and models 鈥omprehensive knowledge of humanistic and psychodynamic approaches and person-centred and psychoanalytic therapies 鈥etailed understanding with no factual errors 鈥ritical analysis showing evaluation and synthesis of ideas 鈥ovel and innovative originality in approach, interpretation, and voice 鈥xtensive and comprehensive independent research 鈥ogically defended arguments with evidence for all claims 鈥ighly focused and well structured 鈥lear and thoughtful presentation with accurate and appropriate expression 鈥orrect format in appropriate referencing style
Good (B+, B, B-) 鈥ome insight into the interplay between different approaches, therapies, and models 鈥trong knowledge of humanistic and psychodynamic approaches and person-centred and psychoanalytic therapies 鈥lear understanding and mostly free of factual errors 鈥ome analysis showing critical evaluation and links between ideas 鈥ovel originality in approach, interpretation, and voice 鈥onsiderable independent research from appropriate sources 鈥oherent arguments with evidence for most claims 鈥ocused and well structured 鈥lear presentation with accurate and appropriate expression 鈥ostly correct format in appropriate referencing style
Satisfactory (C+, C, C-) 鈥ome understanding the interplay between different approaches, therapies, and models 鈥asic knowledge of humanistic and psychodynamic approaches and person-centred and psychoanalytic therapies 鈥nderstanding of the main concepts with no major factual errors 鈥asic analysis showing obvious points of evaluation and links between ideas 鈥ome originality in approach, interpretation, and/or voice for part of the work 鈥ome independent research from appropriate sources 鈥rguments presented with evidence for the most important claims 鈥eadable structure showing focus at times 鈥cceptable presentation with appropriate expression 鈥ttempt at correct format in appropriate referencing style with no major errors
If you do not meet the threshold for Satisfactory, then your work will be graded as a Fail. Fail grades vary from Poor (D+, D, D-, E+, E, E-) to Very Poor (F).
Learning Outcomes
- Compare, contrast, critique, and apply different approaches, therapies, and models, with an understanding of purism, integration, and eclecticism
- Describe and critically analyse the social context and theories of human nature from the humanistic approach then apply this in practice to evaluate the client-therapist relationship and therapeutic techniques of person-centred therapy
- Describe and critically analyse the social context and theories of human nature from the psychodynamic approach then apply this in practice to evaluate the client-therapist relationship and therapeutic techniques of psychanalytic therapy
- Research and discuss academic theories and empirical research into an original counselling and psychotherapy case study.
Assessment method
Essay
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Analysis and Integration: PCT and PAT (70%) Essay of 1500wds critically describing and evaluating person-centred therapy and psychoanalytic therapy in a real-world counselling context.
Weighting
70%
Due date
14-12-2026
Assessment method
Individual Presentation
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Oral Discussion Group Exam (30%) Fifteen-minute mock group supervision discussing an unseen case study. Session notes submitted after the exam (within 24hrs).
Weighting
30%
Due date
11-01-2027