Exploring Perspectives in Psychology — SEG Awards End-Point Assessment Health & Social Care Revision
This subtopic equips learners with foundational knowledge of major psychological perspectives—such as psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, and
Topic Synopsis
This subtopic equips learners with foundational knowledge of major psychological perspectives—such as psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, and biological—and their relevance to counselling practice. It critically examines the core assumptions, strengths, and limitations of each perspective, fostering the ability to compare, contrast, and apply them to real-world counselling scenarios and contemporary mental health issues.
Key Concepts & Core Principles
- Person-centred approach: A humanistic theory developed by Carl Rogers, focusing on the client's innate capacity for growth, with the counsellor providing empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence.
- Active listening: A skill involving full attention to the client's verbal and non-verbal messages, including paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, and summarising to demonstrate understanding.
- Ethical framework: Guidelines from bodies like the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) covering confidentiality, boundaries, informed consent, and duty of care.
- The therapeutic relationship: The collaborative bond between counsellor and client, built on trust and respect, which is considered the key to effective counselling outcomes.
- Self-awareness: The counsellor's ability to recognise their own feelings, biases, and limitations, ensuring they do not impose their values on the client and maintain professional boundaries.
Exam Tips & Revision Strategies
- When comparing perspectives, use a structured table or paragraph-by-paragraph approach: state the criterion, then compare each perspective against it
- For application questions, explicitly name the perspective, define its key concepts, and then map them step-by-step onto the contemporary issue or case study
- Use counselling terminology precisely—for example, distinguish between ‘defence mechanisms’ (psychodynamic) and ‘cognitive distortions’ (cognitive-behavioural)
- Support your arguments with practical examples from counselling settings, such as how a perspective would inform a first session with a client
Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing ‘unconditional positive regard’ (a humanistic concept) with general counselling skills like active listening or empathy
- Treating perspectives as mutually exclusive rather than recognising that many counsellors integrate approaches
- Describing perspectives only superficially without linking them to specific counselling techniques or client issues
- Assuming that all perspectives are equally evidence-based or applicable to all mental health conditions without critical justification
Examiner Marking Points
- Award credit for accurately describing the key assumptions of each psychological perspective with reference to established theorists
- Credit for clearly identifying at least two similarities and two differences between perspectives, supported by examples
- Expect evidence of critical evaluation, such as discussing limitations or cultural considerations when applying a perspective
- For application tasks, award marks for demonstrating how a perspective’s concepts directly inform counselling strategies or interventions
- In comparison questions, reward structured answers that address one criterion at a time (e.g., view of human nature, therapeutic goals)