Overview

This unit introduces students to the key theories of development across the lifespan, and demonstrates how understanding “normal” development is necessary for understanding atypical development. Students will also develop an understanding of key systemic principles and how to apply them to counselling individuals, couples and families across the lifespan. A further aim is to demonstrate how different life span issues present in a counselling context, and how these can be managed by drawing on the relevant research literature.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSC60009 Lifespan Development and Systemic Thinking

Rules

Pre-requisite
Admission into:
GC-COU Graduate Certificate of Counselling
OR
GD-COU Graduate Diploma of Counselling
OR
MA-COU Master of Counselling

Equivalent
HAYC414 - Lifespan Development and Counselling

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Analyse the major theories of development across the lifespan, and apply this analysis to a written case study and observation reports
  • Explain the critical events associated with each developmental stage across the lifespan as a means to understand atypical development
  • Apply knowledge of the major methods (e.g., observation, interviewing) used to study human behaviour to the preparation of an observation report
  • Evaluate key systemic principles and relevant research literature, and apply this knowledge to developing a case study of an individual, couple, or family

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Seminar
3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Various
2.50 12 weeks 30
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
7.00 12 weeks 84
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
AssessmentIndividual 30% 1,2,3 
Case Study ReportIndividual 40% 1,2,4 

Content

  • The infancy period and disrupted attachment/trauma during infancy
  • Toddlerhood and the impact of prematurity on development
  • Pre-school, school aged years and adolescence
  • Adulthood and midlife
  • The ageing population
  • Systemic principles and application for counselling practice across the lifespan

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.