DCU Home | Our Courses | Loop | Registry | Library | Search DCU
<< Back to Module List

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Therapeutic Approaches to Well-bing in Education
Module Code EDP1064 (ITS: HD3130)
Faculty DCU Institute of Education School Human Development
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Description

Teachers today are expected to demonstrate therapeutic savvy and a range of therapeutic skills when it come to the wellbeing of the school community. They may need to council someone in distress and mind their own wellbeing in the process. Through examining the major and influential theoretical approaches, this module will give an overview of the history and development of the key therapeutic principles and approaches encapsulated in the field and psychotherapy. The course also introduces students to the basic principles, skills, and practices of the field as they pertain to the challenges of well-being and illbeing. These challenges include: encountering difference, embodied relationality, dialogue as difficult, childhood and adulthood, the experience of trauma, and the pressures of the system. It examines a number of therapeutic scenarios found in the education/teaching context, along with the contrasting therapeutic responses. In addition, through using their own experiences as a primary source students will be encouraged to develop a professional ethic and to explore their personal development through the application of course content and learning. This module looks at what McLeod calls three 'forces' in the tradition of counselling: psychodynamic therapy, CBT and humanistic therapy"

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E261070-61EF-0001-36F2-1A5E15701DC4
2. Provide an overview on the general field of psychotherapy and the relational aspects of counselling
4. 7,6
5. 1
6. 1E261070-B097-0001-B6FB-D54097E31361
7. Examine and explain key themes, terminology and trends.
9. 22,12,8
10. 2
11. 1E261070-E95A-0001-404B-1CF71760EDC0
12. Explain the principles and practices of a number of major and influential theoretical approaches
14. 12,6,23,21,9,10
15. 3
16. 1E261071-6719-0001-1C47-1179FED0121F
17. Enable the student to deepen his/her knowledge of mental and emotional wellbeing, 
investigating challenging scenarios that can arise in professional settings through the lens of a therapeutic approach.
19. 20,6,19,14,11,9,10
20. 4
21. 1E261071-AA02-0001-EA49-121F38A01F42
22. Support students to increase their levels of comfort with these topics, enhance their self-awareness and self-reflection as an instrument of personal and professional development.
24. 20,18,7,12,23,19
25. 5
26. 1E261071-DC6F-0001-E34D-130013B01293
27. Drawing from the field of counselling and psychotherapy, this module will enable the student to develop practical therapeutic skills appropriate to the students personal and professional context.
29. 17,20,16,8,19,9
30. 6
31. 1E261072-3306-0001-1842-A6FE1F337390
32. Enable the student to acquire research and writing skills through reflective journaling, and essay writing
34. 22,16,15,8,21,14,9
35. 7


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture24The course involves lectures and in-class groupwork and discussion. Assessment: There will be an in-class quiz and a final essay style paper.
Total Workload: 24
Section Breakdown
CRN20280Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework100%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsN
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorAndrew O'SheaModule TeacherMaeve O'Brien
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Assignmentn/a100%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

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

Exploring therapeutic approaches and principles in educational setting
• Theoretical overview of psychological, psychodynamic and philosophical theories of self and other • Practical application in educational settings: teacher student dynamics The therapeutic relationship, wellbeing, and dialogue • Varying perspectives on the therapeutic relationship • The phenomenon of transference and counter transference • Childhood and Adulthood Cognitive behavioural therapy and self-care • General principles and methods of CBT; automaticity of thought, personal constructs and core beliefs Systemic Psychotherapy • Systemic theories and practice; • Family systems, social constructivism; narrative and dialogical therapy; Interdividual psychology Humanistic /Person Centred Psychotherapy • Theoretical frameworks and techniques • Carl Rogers-The self and human potential Jung: Analytic Psychology • Key Concepts: Personal and collective unconscious, archetypes, process of individuation; Confronting difference in myth and narrative Freudian Psychoanalysis • Key Concepts: The unconscious, the drive, transference and sublimation • Introduction to linguistic rereading of Freud, Julia Kristeva and the Other

Learning from self and other
Students will participate in small group work; journal writing; film and documentary analysis and discussion, have modelling tasks whereby there have an opportunity to develop therapeutic savvy and skills applicable in the classroom and the whole school community

Additional Reading & Resources
Kirschenbaum, H and Henderson, V.L (1990) The Carl Rogers Reader London: Constable Lusterman, P.C and McDaniel, S. H (2001) Casebook for integrating family therapy: an Eco systemic approach, Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association Reid, J.B, Patterson G.R and Snyder, J (2002) Antisocial Behaviour in Children and Adolescents, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Rogers, C (2003) Client-centred therapy: its current practice, implications and theory London: Constable. Rogers, C (2004) On becoming a person: a therapist's view of psychotherapy, London: Constabl. Rogers, C and Freiberg J.H ( 1994) Freedom to Learn, New Jersey: Merrill Prentice Hall. Foucault, M. (1997). The ethics of the concern for the self as a practice of freedom. In P. Rabinow (Ed.), Michel Foucault: Ethics, subjectivity, and truth (pp. 281–303). London: Penguin. Ryan, R. M., Curren, R. R., & Deci, E. L. (2013). What humans need: Flourishing in Aristotelian philosophy and self-determination theory. In A. S. Waterman (Ed.), The best within us: Positive psychology perspectives on eudaimonia (pp. 57–75). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14092-004 Webster-Stratton, C. (1999) How to Promote Children’s Social and Emotional cmpetence, London: Paul Chapman Publishing. Film & Documentary Monsieur Lazhar (2011) Music Box Cinema. BBC “Young Plato: The Philosophy Boys of Ardoyne”, Retrieved from: BBC One - Young Plato: The Philosophy Boys of Ardoyne.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Jacobs, M: 2006, The presenting past: the core of psychodynamic counselling and therapy, 4th, 1,5,6,7, Open University Press, Maidenhead, 263, 978-033524718
  • Carl R Rogers, Harold C Lyon, Reinhard Tausch: 2014, On Becoming an Effective Teacher Person-centered teaching, psychology, philosophy, and dialogues with Carl R. Rogers and Harold Lyon, 1st, 2,7,8,14,16,18, Routledge: Taylor Francis, England, UK, 288, 97804158
  • McLeod, John: 2003, An introduction to counselling, 43rd, 1,2,3,9,13,15,19, Open University Press, Berkshire, England, 588, 0335211895
  • Sharon Todd: 2012, Learning from the Other, 1st, intro, 1,2,3, SUNY Press, New York, 188, 9780791486290


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

<< Back to Module List View 2024/25 Module Record for EDP1064