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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title Professional Practice Portfolio 2
Module Code NS5031
School 38
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Ray B O'Neill
Semester 2: Ray B O'Neill
Autumn: Ray B O'Neill
Module TeachersGerry Moore
Ray B O'Neill
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Repeat the module
Description

The Professional Practice Portfolio (PPP2) module builds on the module in year 1 of the MSc in Psychotherapy. The purpose of this module is to expand students’ knowledge, skills, and awareness of psychotherapy practice, supervision, and the therapeutic use of self, in order to facilitate integration of their professional and personal development as trainee psychotherapists. The module provides guidance on professional practice issues and clinical presentations, on issues that enhance and constrain the therapeutic use of self, and on ethics and reflexivity. It encourages exploration, critique and self-awareness regarding psychotherapy theory and practice. It facilitates students to develop an integrative psychotherapy perspective in their clinical work. Students are expected to attend personal therapy and group awareness/personal development sessions, engage in direct clinical practice, attend clinical supervision on an individual and group basis, and participate in class-based discussion, reading and on-line directed learning activities. The course work will be maintained in students' portfolios which will provide evidence and a record of their personal and professional development over the duration of the course.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop and further explore therapeutic uses and senses of self, particularly through their different clinical encounters in personal therapy, supervision, and clinical work.
2. Demonstrate a proficiency in personal / professional reflexivity and engagement.
3. Explore and engage with integrative psychotherapy theories and practices, in relation to a range of personal and client presenting issues.
4. Develop understanding and apply relevant core clinical competences as defined in the European Association of Psychotherapy Core Competences guide (2013).
5. Appropriately utilise individual and group supervision for professional and personal development purposes.
6. Evidence active reciprocity and learnings through both their personal therapy work and from their engagement with Personal Awareness groups to enhance their professional formation and personal development.
7. Model the psychotherapeutic dynamic in being open, mindful, respectful, and responsible to and for all dyadic and group dynamics, holding a balance between and attendance to both internal responses and external responsibilities.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Seminars20Tutor led seminars
Group work50Group discussion; Group supervision; Personal awareness groups; Personal development activities; Psychotherapeutic skills practice.
Clinical placement100Direct client work in an approved placement setting
Clinical placement25Individual Supervision
Directed learning20Personal therapy
Fieldwork27.5Maintaining personal / professional reflection journals and reflective assignments.
Online activity7.5Self-directed learning – preparation for and review of case work and supervision, maintaining personal / professional reflection journal and assignment, portfolio building
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Professional & Personal Development
Through personal and interpersonal experiential enquiry the student will develop reflexive awareness of self-other relationships, identify the possibilities and constraints of their personal values, and understand the use of self in the therapeutic process. The student will also demonstrate an understanding of the need for self-care. The student will be supported to understand a range of integrative and generic psychotherapy competencies (EAP 2013) and to actively reflect on and discuss his/her progress and developmental challenges. Indicative learning activities include discussion and exploration of common client presentations such as bereavement, grief/ loss, suicidality and working with diversity.

Clinical Practice
The student will engage in direct work with clients presenting with a range of emotional and psychological problems in at least one practice setting. This work will entail critically engaging with a range of integrative psychotherapeutic models in relation to client needs and will be carried out in approved clinical placement contexts that are student orientated.

Clinical Supervision
The student will engage in formal supervision of their clinical practice in individual supervision and group supervision formats. This will involve presentation of case work and integration of theory and practice, which can involve retrospective reflection on the student’s work in a range of ways, such as written reflective notes and audio / video recordings. Supervision will be conducted with accredited supervisors who are clinically competent in the particular area of work in which the student is engaged.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Practical/skills evaluationSession analysis – audio recording, transcription, and reflective commentary30%Week 19
AssignmentReflective Essays25%Once per semester
Reflective journalA PAG invitation and a yearend audio reflection on PAG work across the year, making specific reference to their responses to their previous PAG peer appraisal and invitation and what they made of it, did with it, or indeed not.20%Sem 2 End
Practical/skills evaluation1) In-Class Clinical Case Study and 2) End of Year Group Supervision Report20%As required
Professional PortfolioConfirmed clinical and personal development logs - Clinical practice logs and reports; clinical supervision logs and reports; and personal therapy and personal development logs and reports.5%Sem 2 End
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Ababio, B. ed.: 2023, Intercultural Supervision in Therapeutic Practice, Dialogues, Perspectives and Reflections., Routledge, London,
  • Bager-Charleson, Sofie: 2010, Reflective Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy,
  • Bolton, G.: 2014, Reflective practice: Writing and professional development., 4th ed., Sage, London,
  • Casement, Patrick: 1985, On Learning from the Patient, Psychology Press, 0415025532
  • Comas-Díaz, L., & Torres Rivera, E. (Eds.).: 2020, Liberation psychology: Theory, method, practice, and social justice. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000198-000, 0000198-000
  • Creaner, M.: 2014, Getting the Best Out of Supervision in Counselling and Psychotherapy- Guide for the Supervisee., Sage, London,
  • Feltham, C. & Horton, I. (eds.): 2012, The Sage handbook of psychotherapy and counselling, 3rd ed., Sage, London,
  • Grover, Naveen Lakhani, Sheetal Emran, Ashti: 2021, Reflective practice in action: an account of psychotherapists’ experiences in group-work training Routledge, 14623943.2021
  • Hartman et al: 2023, The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach,
  • Hawkins, P. & Shohet, R.: 2012, Supervision in the helping professions, 4th ed., Open University Press, Milton Keynes,
  • Kahn, Michael: 1997, Between Therapist and Client, Macmillan, 0805071008
  • Kaur, Rupi: 2022, Healing Through Words., Simon and Schuster,, UK,
  • Kearney, Anne: 2018, Counselling, Class And Politics: Undeclared Influences In Therapy, 2nd edition,
  • Mc Kenzie-Mavinga, Isha et al: 2023, Therapy in Colour: Intersectional, Anti-Racist and Intercultural Approaches by Therapists of Colour,
  • Mahon, Daryl.: 2023, Evidence Based Counseling and Psychotherapy for the 21st Century Practitioner.,
  • Maroda, Karen J.: 2004, The Power of Countertransference, Routledge, 088163414X
  • Neves, Silva and Davies, Dominic: 2023, Relationally Queer: A Pink Therapy Guide for Practitioners,
  • Wosket, V: 1999, The Therapeutic Use of Self: Counselling Practice, Research & Supervision, Routledge, London,
  • 0: European Association of Psychotherapy’s (EAP: 2013) framework of core competencies in practising psychotherapy.(http://www.europsyche.org/download/cms/100510/Final-Core-Competencies-v-3-3_July2013.pdf), 288010
  • 2015: Ethical Framework, BACP, Rugby, England, 288011
  • 0: Ethical Framework, IACP, Dublin, Ireland, 288013
  • 2015: Relational psychotherapy: A primer., 2nd, Routledge, New York,
Other Resources

59960, Journal, 0, Clinical Case Studies, 59961, Recommended Journal, 0, Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, 59962, Recommended Journal, 0, In Session, 59963, Recommended Reading, 0, Other reading resources will be provided during the module,
Programme or List of Programmes
GDCOUGraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy
MCOUMasters in Psychotherapy
Date of Last Revision16-AUG-11
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