Goal: To develop critical and reflective thinking on material presented in Weeks 2-12 of lectures and tutorials, and to acquire self-awareness and personal growth necessary for the counselling professional. Product: Essay clearly presenting reflections from the Theories of Counselling covered throughout the semester. Format: Part A: * Formative Assessment: Students will be requested to keep a weekly journal of reflections on course material and the activities explored in tutorials. Please consult the Reflection Sheet and helpful note on Blackboard about Reflective Learning Journals. You will draw from these reflections when developing your essay for the first assessment. Part B: Summative Assessment: Students will develop a Reflective Essay that will: Be written in the first person. Provide evidence of critical examination of two therapies / approaches introduced in the course. ? One that attracted or appealed to you, and ? One that confronted or challenged you Each approach chosen must be from a different family of therapies/ approaches as discussed in lectures and listed in your textbook. o i.e. Select one approach to examine and reflect on from the Psychodynamic Approaches, and/or one from the Existential Approaches; Humanistic Approaches; Cognitive/Behavioural Approaches; Feminist Approaches; Postmodern Approaches, and/or one from the Integrative/Pluralistic Approaches. Include a description of your chosen therapeutic approaches. Include responses to the reflection questions below. Be structured as recommended below. (see Recommended Essay Structure) Be referenced where appropriate using correct APA6 format. (See APA Guidelines on BB) *Not graded but assists in your learning and helps you to complete your graded assessment tasks Criteria The summary essay will be assessed on (see rubric for details): Content that is relevant, analytical and reflective 10 marks Evidence of personal learning through use of the reflection questions 10 marks Capacity to highlight links between counselling theory, research and practice 10 marks Clarity and fluency of expression, and correct APA6 format – 5 marks Recommended Essay Structure: Suggested structure of essay: Introduction approximately 150 words Reflection on appealing approach approximately 400 words Reflection on challenging approach approximately 400 words Comment on the Pluralistic approach in your emerging therapeutic style/preferences approx. 450 words Conclusion approximately 100 words (Note: 10% over or under the recommended word limit is acceptable) Reflection Questions: For the theory/approach that appealed to you: What drew you to this approach? Briefly discuss reasons for this. As you reflect on this theory/approach, in what ways do you think it leads to more positive outcomes for a client? Do you think there are any specific situations in which this approach should not be used because it may be harmful to the person? Did your position in relation to this approach shift following deeper reflection upon it? For the theory/approach that challenged you: What challenged you about this approach? Briefly discuss reasons for this. As you reflect on this theory/approach, in what ways do you think it leads to more positive outcomes for a client? Do you think there are any specific situations in which this approach should not be used because it may be harmful to the person? Did your position in relation to this approach shift following deeper reflection upon it? From an Integrative/Pluralistic perspective, critically reflect and discuss how you would incorporate the two (2) perspectives you have written about from the semester (i.e. 1 appealing and 1 challenging approaches), into your therapeutic framework? What aspects of each theory are most useful to you? Why? How would you tailor your techniques to the needs of your clients? How could you combine your approaches to give a broader, deeper, and more useful way of working therapeutically with your clients? 1. Content: (a) Evidence of critical analysis of course material on two approaches – from readings, lectures and tutorial activities; and ability to support your argument. (b) Demonstrates relevant course content knowledge and understanding; (c) Evidence of ability to reflect on learning materials e.g. comparisons, strengths and limitations of approaches. Very high level of understanding of material presented in lectures, tutorial activities and readings from the literature. Demonstrates an exceptionally high level of critical analysis and synthesis of the key issues presented in readings, coursework and activities. Clear and supported arguments. Exeptional ability to link professional learning to original personal insights. Exceptionally clear reflection on content to relevant contemporary literature. High level of understanding of material presented in lectures, tutorial activities and readings from the literature. Demonstrates well-developed content knowledge, understanding and application, gained from readings, coursework and activities. Clear arguments. Clear ability to link professional learning to original personal insights. Clearly able to refer to readings and relevant contemporary literature to support statements made. Moderate level of understanding of material presented in lectures, tutorial activities and readings from the literature. Demonstrates some content knowledge, understanding and application gained from readings, coursework and activities. Moderately clear arguments. Moderate ability to link professional learning to original personal insights. Moderate use of relevant contemporary literature to support statements made. Low level of understanding of material presented in lectures, tutorial activities and readings from the literature. Demonstrates a low level of content knowledge, understanding and application gained from readings, coursework and activities. Unclear arguments. Adequate ability to link professional learning to original personal insights Adequate use of relevant contemporary literature to support statements made. Very limited understanding of material presented in lectures, tutorial activities and readings from the literature. Demonstrates inadequate content knowledge, understanding and application. Very unclear arguments. No evidence of ability to reflect on course content Limited use of relevant contemporary literature to support statements made. 10 2. Self-Reflective Practice: (a) Evidence of personal learning through use of reflection questions provided. (b) Reflection on your own emerging therapeutic style and future professional use of the two counselling approaches. Exceptional level of self-awareness and evidence of personal learning and growth. Clear evidence of thoughtful weekly reflective practice throughout essay, using all of the provided reflection questions. Commendable outline of a professional framework through rigorous personal evaluation of a variety of approaches. Exceptional capacity to link personal insight and development of professional awareness High level of self-awareness and evidence of personal learning and growth. Good evidence of thoughtful weekly reflective practice throughout essay, using most of the provided reflection questions Well-developed beginnings of a professional framework through personal evaluation of a variety of approaches. Very good capacity to link personal insight and development of professional awareness Moderate level of self-awareness and evidence of personal learning and growth. Evidence provided of weekly reflective practice throughout essay, based on a few of the provided reflection questions Evidence of beginnings of a professional framework through personal evaluation of several approaches. Moderate capacity to link personal insight and development of professional awareness Adequate level of self-awareness and evidence of personal learning and growth. Little evidence of weekly reflective practice throughout essay, using only one or two of the provided reflection questions. Little evidence of beginnings of a professional framework through evaluation of approaches. Adequate capacity to link personal insight and development of professional awareness Inadequate level of self-awareness and evidence of personal learning and growth. Inadequate or no evidence of weekly reflective practice throughout essay. Use of the provided reflection questions is too limited. Inadequate or no evidence of developing a professional framework through evaluation of approaches. Inadequate capacity to link personal insight and development of professional awareness 10 3. Links between theory and research: (a) Capacity to highlight links between counselling theory and research. (b) Capacity to identify links between theory and application or outcomes of approaches in practice. Demonstrates an exceptionally high ability to link theory and research of the key approaches presented in the course. Exeptional understanding of links between counselling theories. Evidence of citing relevant outcomes research. Clear ability to synthesise research related to therapeutic theories and approaches. Very high level of critical thinking ability in relation to the claims of the therapeutic approaches covered in the course. Demonstrates an advanced ability to link theory and research of the key approaches presented in the course. Clear understanding of counselling theories. Some evidence of citing relevant outcomes research. Good ability to synthesise research related to therapeutic theories and approaches. High level of critical thinking ability in relation to the claims of the therapeutic approaches covered in the course. Demonstrates some ability to link theory and research of the key approaches presented in the course. Some understanding of counselling theories. A moderate amount of relevant outcomes research cited. Moderate reference to research related to therapeutic theories and approaches. Some level of critical thinking ability in relation to the claims of the therapeutic approaches covered in the course. Rudimentary ability to link theory and research of the key approaches presented in the course. Limited understanding of counselling theories. A need for citing relevant outcomes research. Adequate reference to research related to therapeutic theories and approaches mentioned. Low ability of critical thinking in relation to the claims of the therapeutic approaches covered in the course. Theory and research of the key approaches presented in the course are not linked. Unsatisfactory understanding of counselling theories. Relevant outcomes research not cited. Research related to therapeutic theories and approaches not mentioned. Unsatisfactory level of critical thinking in relation to the claims of the therapeutic approaches covered in the course. 10 4. Written Expression and Referencing: (a) Clarity and fluency of expression; (b) Accuracy of grammar, punctuation and spelling. (c) Accuracy of APA6 referencing style and essay formatting. (d) Word limit adhered to. Demonstrates exceptional written clarity. Accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling as required for academic writing. Highly suitable and insightful use of references. Highly accurate use of APA6 essay formatting and reference style. Very effective use of word limit – concise and relevant content. Demonstrates well-developed written clarity. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling as required for academic writing. Suitable and insightful use of references. Predominantly accurate use of APA6 formatting and reference style. Effective use of word limit a good level of concise and relevant content. Satisfactory written clarity. Use of grammar, punctuation and spelling satisfactory for academic writing. Some use of references. Use of APA6 formatting and reference style may need upgrading. Within word limit writing could be more concise and relevant. Written clarity could be improved. Use of grammar, punctuation and spelling needs improving for academic writing. Some use of references. Use of APA6 formatting and reference style needs significant upgrading. Within word limit needs more attention paid to writing that is concise and relevant. Lacks clarity, writing is not coherent. Grammar, punctuation and spelling needs improving to a level suitable for academic writing. Use of references lacking. The student needs skills in the use of APA6 formatting and reference style. Word limit needs consideration. Writing is not concise and relevant. 5 TOTALS 35 GRADE APA Formatting Quick Guide The information contained in this document is based on American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual (6th ed.); all page numbers below refer to this edition. If in doubt, refer to the APA Publication manual. You are also advised to consult with your tutors and/or Unit Guide regarding any specific expectations for your work. Title () Occupies a separate page Number the page 1 Title is no more than 12 words Font = Times New Roman, choose font size Capital letter for each word Centred On upper half of page Include other details (. course code, lecturer) as required on lower half of page Record title (abbreviated where necessary) and page number (top right) in the header so that it appears on every page () Abstract () Occupies a separate page Number the page 2 Title: centred, Times New Roman 12 (use Heading 1-see below) Text: Times New Roman 12 Left justified (no indent) Double line spacing Standard margins Type as a single paragraph 150-200 words Leave the remainder of the page blank To what degree does your acceptance or rejection of a particular theory indicate your own biases?
