Overview

This Unit of Study is designed to provide an advanced understanding of different theoretical frameworks and their application to working with couples. Emphasis is given to integrating the theory with the clinical work through shared clinical experience.

Requisites

Prerequisites

50 Credit Points in:
GD-COU Graduate Diploma of Counselling, or
MA-COU Master of Counselling, or
PSC60003 Introduction to Couple Counselling

Equivalent
HAYR451 - Couple Counselling theory

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply advanced and specialised knowledge of the major theories and methods that are applied to couple counselling, including psychodynamic couple therapy, object relations theory, attachment theory and systems theory
  • Identify and evaluate at an advanced level how the core theoretical concepts are applied to clinical work with couples
  • Compare and contrast the different theoretical models and approaches as applied to couple therapy, and critically evaluate their relative effectiveness when working with couples in a clinical context
  • Critically reflect on how the theoretical knowledge relevant to couple counselling influences personal and professional growth as a couple counsellor

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Class 58 18 weeks 3.22
Specified Activities Various 80 18 weeks 4.44
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 12 14 weeks 0.86
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 8.52

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Reflective Journal Individual  20%  4 
Assessment Individual  50%  1,2,3 
Assessment Individual  30%  1,2,3 

Content

  • Neurobiologically Informed Integrative Couple Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Couple Therapy
  • Childhood and Couples’ Attachment
  • Transference/Countertransference 
  • Systems Theory 
  • Attachment and Emotion Focused Couple Therapy
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

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