Introduction

This continuing professional development (CPD) course has been jointly developed by The Open University (OU) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the course is to offer a primer on working online as a counsellor or psychotherapist at a time when face-to-face therapy is neither possible nor safe. Course completion will boost your knowledge and confidence, and will support counsellors and psychotherapists to offer technology-based counselling safely and effectively.

Activity 1: Welcome to the course

Timing: Allow approximately 5 minutes

In the following video Fiona Ballantine-Dykes, Deputy CEO and Chief Professional Standards Officer of BACP, talks about why BACP has worked with the OU to produce this CPD unit.

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Transcript

FIONA BALLANTINE-DYKES:
The aim of this CPD is to support counsellors and psychotherapists to support their clients in these very extraordinary times. BACP recognises that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us need to work differently. And we’ve put this training together to help you adapt your practice so that you can continue the hugely important work that you’re doing with your clients.
For some people, working online is new; others are more used to it. The key question we all need to ask is about our competence to work in this new way. Remember, the ethical framework asks that we adhere to the ethical principles and values, and maintain these irrespective of whether you’re working face-to-face or using another medium.
What it really means is balancing the potential risks. So this means working out what’s right for you as a therapist and for your clients.
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Pause for reflection

What are your key reasons for taking this course? Are there things about doing counselling online that you are particularly worried about? Or are looking forward to?

Record your answer in the space below.

Throughout this course you will be asked to write activity answers and reflections in the spaces below. Anything you write here will be saved and will be available to you if you return to this page of the course at a later date. It will be visible only to you, and will not be shared with anyone else.

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What does this course involve and who is it for?