PYC3715
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due March 2026
, Contents
1. Brief Summary of the Person’s Story ..................................................................... 3
2. Practical Steps Taken to Set Up the Interview (Beginnings: Creating Context) ....... 4
2.1 Planning and Boundaries ................................................................................. 4
2.2 Physical Space Arrangement ........................................................................... 4
2.3 Consent and Confidentiality ............................................................................. 4
2.4 Rapport Building .............................................................................................. 4
3. Challenges Experienced and How I Managed Them .............................................. 5
3.1 Urge to “Fix” the Problem ................................................................................ 5
3.2 Holding Silence ............................................................................................... 5
3.3 Ethical Anxiety About Note-Taking ................................................................... 5
4. Holding the Cracks: Establishing and Maintaining a Trusting Counselling
Relationship ............................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Counselling Micro-Skills Applied ...................................................................... 6
5. Life Story and Reflexivity (Guarding Against Bias) ................................................. 7
5.1 Interviewee’s Life Experiences ......................................................................... 7
5.2 Reflexivity and Managing Bias ......................................................................... 7
6. Social Context Impact: Surveying the Interviewee’s Experience ............................. 8
6.1 Unemployment and Economic Stress .............................................................. 8
6.2 Inequality and Family Expectations .................................................................. 8
6.3 Stigma and Help-Seeking Barriers ................................................................... 8
7. Application of Theory: Explicit Link to Counselling Principles ................................. 9
7.1 Person-Centred Approach ............................................................................... 9
, 7.2 Ecological Systems Theory .............................................................................. 9
8. Personal Experience as a Developing Ethical Counsellor (Ethics and Confidentiality
Focus) .................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Learning About Myself ................................................................................... 10
8.2 Strengths ...................................................................................................... 10
8.3 Areas for Growth ........................................................................................... 10
8.4 Observing Ethical Guidelines ......................................................................... 10
8.5 Deepened Understanding of the Counselling Role ......................................... 10
9. Reflection on PYC3715 Course Content: Strengths, Weaknesses and
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 11
9.1 Strengths ...................................................................................................... 11
9.2 Weaknesses ................................................................................................. 11
9.3 Recommendations for Improvement .............................................................. 11
10. Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 12
Reference List ........................................................................................................ 13
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due March 2026
, Contents
1. Brief Summary of the Person’s Story ..................................................................... 3
2. Practical Steps Taken to Set Up the Interview (Beginnings: Creating Context) ....... 4
2.1 Planning and Boundaries ................................................................................. 4
2.2 Physical Space Arrangement ........................................................................... 4
2.3 Consent and Confidentiality ............................................................................. 4
2.4 Rapport Building .............................................................................................. 4
3. Challenges Experienced and How I Managed Them .............................................. 5
3.1 Urge to “Fix” the Problem ................................................................................ 5
3.2 Holding Silence ............................................................................................... 5
3.3 Ethical Anxiety About Note-Taking ................................................................... 5
4. Holding the Cracks: Establishing and Maintaining a Trusting Counselling
Relationship ............................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Counselling Micro-Skills Applied ...................................................................... 6
5. Life Story and Reflexivity (Guarding Against Bias) ................................................. 7
5.1 Interviewee’s Life Experiences ......................................................................... 7
5.2 Reflexivity and Managing Bias ......................................................................... 7
6. Social Context Impact: Surveying the Interviewee’s Experience ............................. 8
6.1 Unemployment and Economic Stress .............................................................. 8
6.2 Inequality and Family Expectations .................................................................. 8
6.3 Stigma and Help-Seeking Barriers ................................................................... 8
7. Application of Theory: Explicit Link to Counselling Principles ................................. 9
7.1 Person-Centred Approach ............................................................................... 9
, 7.2 Ecological Systems Theory .............................................................................. 9
8. Personal Experience as a Developing Ethical Counsellor (Ethics and Confidentiality
Focus) .................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Learning About Myself ................................................................................... 10
8.2 Strengths ...................................................................................................... 10
8.3 Areas for Growth ........................................................................................... 10
8.4 Observing Ethical Guidelines ......................................................................... 10
8.5 Deepened Understanding of the Counselling Role ......................................... 10
9. Reflection on PYC3715 Course Content: Strengths, Weaknesses and
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 11
9.1 Strengths ...................................................................................................... 11
9.2 Weaknesses ................................................................................................. 11
9.3 Recommendations for Improvement .............................................................. 11
10. Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 12
Reference List ........................................................................................................ 13
