Advanced Counselling
36 hours
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn
Overview
This unit builds on earlier studies by introducing traditional and contemporary counselling theories and skills required for more advanced interventions with clients. Students will be required to apply their knowledge in counselling practice.
Requisites
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
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply high-level counselling skills and processes, including: forming; holding; tracking the therapeutic alliance; advanced empathy; congruence and unconditional positive regard; clarification of issues and creating the counselling contract
- Identify an appropriate model or process map of counselling so that students can accurately "orient themselves" within the counselling role to meet desired outcomes for a range of client groups
- Identify the process of change within the human psyche and apply the knowledge effectively to themselves and their counselling activity
- Analyse and apply the evidence that supports the primacy of the quality of the client/counsellor relationship in therapeutic practice
- Apply theoretical principles from evidence-based therapies (including psychodynamic, CBT and interpersonal) to different client presentations
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 | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Assessment | Group | 20% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Reflective Journal | Individual | 40% | 2,3,4 |
Content
- Theory and Practice: Psychodynamic
- Theory and Practice: Humanistic
- Theory and Practice: CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
- Theory and Practice: Interpersonal
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.