Unit 4
Personal Development for Users of Counselling Skills
Criteria 1
Understand how the study of Counselling theory can inform personal development and growth.
1.1. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of self.
Through the study of Counselling theory, particularly through the lens of Person-Centred Theory
(PCT) and my Self Perceptions, I began to unravel my internal and external feelings as detailed in my
journal (Evidence 1). I was able to share some new insight I gained though PCT, including switching
between differing sets of external feelings, in an act of “survival”. This insight sparked a deeper will-
ingness to further explore myself as the course progressed. The Organismic Self is described as
“that part of one’s identity felt or considered to be authentic … The term implies that there is a
quality of authenticity beneath the persona, or habitual self as presented to the world.”
(Counselling Tutor, Online, 2024) and I realised I had denied my Organismic Self for many years,
leading to psychological tension and issues with alcohol; “I’ve denied my authentic self by working
so hard in a job and it’s attached lifestyle that just wasn’t me.” (Evidence 2).
In addition, whilst attending an ‘Explorations and Reflections’ workshop in November 2023, I pre-
sented to the class ‘My Life Story’ (Evidence 3), which included many pivotal points and life events
that I have experienced. As I progressed throughout the course, I was able to apply Psychodynamic
theory’s importance of Early Childhood Experiences (Evidence 3) and the Psychosexual Stages to my
own persona. According to Freud, “Early childhood experiences shape adult personality” (Explore
Psychology, Online, 2024) and so I wanted to analyse at what point past anxieties may have arisen
and I noted “I used to suck my thumb, bite my nails, etc.” (Evidence 3) which suggests fixation dur-
ing the Psychosexual Oral Stage (0-18 months), which coincides with my parents’ divorce. And this
engagement and connection to theory, predominantly PCT and elements of Psychodynamics, al-
lowed me to understand experiences and anxieties that have shaped me.
Reflecting on PCT, I recognised a past denial of my authentic self, leading to psychological tension
and struggles with alcohol. Through the lens of Psychodynamic theory, I was able to analyse my
early childhood experiences and the impact of my parents' divorce, leading to acknowledgment of
the origins of past anxieties. This newfound, yet ongoing, self-understanding has developed a sense
of peace and fulfilment, empowering me to move forward with a deeper connection to my true
self.
1.2. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of life events and their responses to them.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was left with mixed feelings from an unchartered life event which
had a significant impact on me, as highlighted in my Life Story (Evidence 3). I was relieved to have
been furloughed, but as I sat alone during the lockdowns, I began drinking even more which re-
sulted in a dangerous dependency.
I had thought this response was due to loneliness or the anxiety I had previously been diagnosed
with. However, through studying Person-Centred Theory, I was able to reflect on the deeper-rooted
issues (Evidence 4), which led to alcohol dependency as an overall response to the Pandemic. Con-
necting with Carl Rogers’ 19 propositions, particularly “When I disconnect from my own self, I will
, deny my awareness of my own experience, so it will be very difficult for me to make sense of the
world and other people. This causes unease and tension…” (Counselling Tutor, Online, 2024). I re-
flected “I had denied myself of who I truly am” and “I had wasted my life” in doing so (Evidence 4); I
couldn’t cope with the realisation that I was to blame for continuing with a demanding career and
the associated lifestyle, when deep down, it was a far cry from who I truly am. I hadn’t listened to
my true self for so many years “and it’s for those reasons I was drinking myself to death.”.
Through the study of Person-Centred theory, I concluded the pandemic acted as a catalyst, expos-
ing underlying issues I had been grappling with for years. Furlough, while initially a relief, quickly
became a trigger for increased alcohol consumption, masking the deeper-rooted feelings of self-
denial and dissatisfaction with my life. It was through Counselling theory, particularly Person Cen-
tred, that I began to unravel the connection between my response to the pandemic and the sup-
pression of my true self. The realisation that I had neglected my Organismic self for so long, choos-
ing instead to conform to societal expectations, was a painful yet necessary awakening. The journey
towards sobriety and self-discovery through Counselling theory has been transformative, allowing
me to reconnect with my authentic self and experience a newfound sense of freedom and peace.
1.3. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of their relationships, and the way they form, develop, maintain and end them.
Through analysing my Early Childhood Experiences (Psychodynamic Theory) and those which influ-
ence me now (Evidence 5), I delved in to the relationship, or lack of, with my Dad. I reflected not
wanting “to be around him, but cried when he wasn’t there” as a response to my parent’s divorce,
and which may now influence my romantic relationships. I reflected on seeking “nurture and sup-
port emotionally, always from older men.”. I compared this to my behaviours within romantic rela-
tionships, I “couldn’t handle being around them, but missed them when I wasn’t around them!”.
“Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychoanalytic theory and method of therapy developed by Eric
Berne during the 1950s. Transactions refer to the communication exchanges between people.”
(Simply Psychology, Online, 2024). In a journal entry (Evidence 6), I reflected on studying TA, and
the unconscious pathway (Life Script) I may have created during childhood. Berne defined Life
Scripts as “an ongoing program, developed in early childhood under parental influence, that directs
the individual's behaviour in the most important parts of their life and is based on archaic decisions
and conclusions.” (Institue for Integrative Psychotherapy, Online, 2024). I analysed my self-ap-
pointed “Jester” role within my family dynamic which consisted of Mum (“The Queen”), Brother
(“The Prince”) and myself (“The Jester”) and how my role may have formed to break down “the
parent-child relationship.” (Evidence 6) This, combined with my Mum’s mantra of “we don’t need
anybody else”, I feel, fed into my life script.
From the reflections within Evidence 5 and 6, I applied both Psychodynamic and TA theories to
identify incongruence within ways in which I form, develop, maintain and end relationships:
Forming Relationships:
Influenced by potential fixation during oral stage, seeking emotional support and connection pri-
marily from older men. Further influenced by unconsciously recreating familiar dynamics from
childhood, potentially due to the "Jester" role and the "we don't need anybody else" mantra.
Developing Relationships:
Personal Development for Users of Counselling Skills
Criteria 1
Understand how the study of Counselling theory can inform personal development and growth.
1.1. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of self.
Through the study of Counselling theory, particularly through the lens of Person-Centred Theory
(PCT) and my Self Perceptions, I began to unravel my internal and external feelings as detailed in my
journal (Evidence 1). I was able to share some new insight I gained though PCT, including switching
between differing sets of external feelings, in an act of “survival”. This insight sparked a deeper will-
ingness to further explore myself as the course progressed. The Organismic Self is described as
“that part of one’s identity felt or considered to be authentic … The term implies that there is a
quality of authenticity beneath the persona, or habitual self as presented to the world.”
(Counselling Tutor, Online, 2024) and I realised I had denied my Organismic Self for many years,
leading to psychological tension and issues with alcohol; “I’ve denied my authentic self by working
so hard in a job and it’s attached lifestyle that just wasn’t me.” (Evidence 2).
In addition, whilst attending an ‘Explorations and Reflections’ workshop in November 2023, I pre-
sented to the class ‘My Life Story’ (Evidence 3), which included many pivotal points and life events
that I have experienced. As I progressed throughout the course, I was able to apply Psychodynamic
theory’s importance of Early Childhood Experiences (Evidence 3) and the Psychosexual Stages to my
own persona. According to Freud, “Early childhood experiences shape adult personality” (Explore
Psychology, Online, 2024) and so I wanted to analyse at what point past anxieties may have arisen
and I noted “I used to suck my thumb, bite my nails, etc.” (Evidence 3) which suggests fixation dur-
ing the Psychosexual Oral Stage (0-18 months), which coincides with my parents’ divorce. And this
engagement and connection to theory, predominantly PCT and elements of Psychodynamics, al-
lowed me to understand experiences and anxieties that have shaped me.
Reflecting on PCT, I recognised a past denial of my authentic self, leading to psychological tension
and struggles with alcohol. Through the lens of Psychodynamic theory, I was able to analyse my
early childhood experiences and the impact of my parents' divorce, leading to acknowledgment of
the origins of past anxieties. This newfound, yet ongoing, self-understanding has developed a sense
of peace and fulfilment, empowering me to move forward with a deeper connection to my true
self.
1.2. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of life events and their responses to them.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I was left with mixed feelings from an unchartered life event which
had a significant impact on me, as highlighted in my Life Story (Evidence 3). I was relieved to have
been furloughed, but as I sat alone during the lockdowns, I began drinking even more which re-
sulted in a dangerous dependency.
I had thought this response was due to loneliness or the anxiety I had previously been diagnosed
with. However, through studying Person-Centred Theory, I was able to reflect on the deeper-rooted
issues (Evidence 4), which led to alcohol dependency as an overall response to the Pandemic. Con-
necting with Carl Rogers’ 19 propositions, particularly “When I disconnect from my own self, I will
, deny my awareness of my own experience, so it will be very difficult for me to make sense of the
world and other people. This causes unease and tension…” (Counselling Tutor, Online, 2024). I re-
flected “I had denied myself of who I truly am” and “I had wasted my life” in doing so (Evidence 4); I
couldn’t cope with the realisation that I was to blame for continuing with a demanding career and
the associated lifestyle, when deep down, it was a far cry from who I truly am. I hadn’t listened to
my true self for so many years “and it’s for those reasons I was drinking myself to death.”.
Through the study of Person-Centred theory, I concluded the pandemic acted as a catalyst, expos-
ing underlying issues I had been grappling with for years. Furlough, while initially a relief, quickly
became a trigger for increased alcohol consumption, masking the deeper-rooted feelings of self-
denial and dissatisfaction with my life. It was through Counselling theory, particularly Person Cen-
tred, that I began to unravel the connection between my response to the pandemic and the sup-
pression of my true self. The realisation that I had neglected my Organismic self for so long, choos-
ing instead to conform to societal expectations, was a painful yet necessary awakening. The journey
towards sobriety and self-discovery through Counselling theory has been transformative, allowing
me to reconnect with my authentic self and experience a newfound sense of freedom and peace.
1.3. Reflect on ways in which the study of Counselling theory has developed their understand-
ing of their relationships, and the way they form, develop, maintain and end them.
Through analysing my Early Childhood Experiences (Psychodynamic Theory) and those which influ-
ence me now (Evidence 5), I delved in to the relationship, or lack of, with my Dad. I reflected not
wanting “to be around him, but cried when he wasn’t there” as a response to my parent’s divorce,
and which may now influence my romantic relationships. I reflected on seeking “nurture and sup-
port emotionally, always from older men.”. I compared this to my behaviours within romantic rela-
tionships, I “couldn’t handle being around them, but missed them when I wasn’t around them!”.
“Transactional Analysis (TA) is a psychoanalytic theory and method of therapy developed by Eric
Berne during the 1950s. Transactions refer to the communication exchanges between people.”
(Simply Psychology, Online, 2024). In a journal entry (Evidence 6), I reflected on studying TA, and
the unconscious pathway (Life Script) I may have created during childhood. Berne defined Life
Scripts as “an ongoing program, developed in early childhood under parental influence, that directs
the individual's behaviour in the most important parts of their life and is based on archaic decisions
and conclusions.” (Institue for Integrative Psychotherapy, Online, 2024). I analysed my self-ap-
pointed “Jester” role within my family dynamic which consisted of Mum (“The Queen”), Brother
(“The Prince”) and myself (“The Jester”) and how my role may have formed to break down “the
parent-child relationship.” (Evidence 6) This, combined with my Mum’s mantra of “we don’t need
anybody else”, I feel, fed into my life script.
From the reflections within Evidence 5 and 6, I applied both Psychodynamic and TA theories to
identify incongruence within ways in which I form, develop, maintain and end relationships:
Forming Relationships:
Influenced by potential fixation during oral stage, seeking emotional support and connection pri-
marily from older men. Further influenced by unconsciously recreating familiar dynamics from
childhood, potentially due to the "Jester" role and the "we don't need anybody else" mantra.
Developing Relationships:
