Systemic Approaches to Attachment and Development
Overview
This unit provides students with an understanding of attachment theory and family, societal and cultural systems theories. This unit will also discuss the application of these theories to counselling for families, couples and individuals. Students will analyse and practice a range of attachment-informed and systemic counselling approaches. They will also engage in self-reflection to develop their professional identity as a counsellor, with an emphasis on how they can apply systemic approaches in their work. Students will work collaboratively to develop effective therapeutic resources, and gain skills for counselling families, couples and individuals with diverse and complex issues.
Requisites
NIL
31-May-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Analyse theoretical approaches focused on family, societal and cultural systems and attachment processes, and apply this knowledge to work with families, couples and individuals
- Create case formulations and counselling treatment plans for families, couples and/or individuals, presenting with complex psychological issues
- Critically apply counselling skills across diverse client groups in order to develop a therapeutic self-identity
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Class | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 |
| Specified Activities | Various | 48 | 12 weeks | 4 |
| Unspecified Activities | Independent Learning | 66 | 12 weeks | 5.5 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective Essay | Individual | 50% | 1,3 |
| Case Studies | Individual | 50% | 1,2 |
Content
- Attachment theory and how it applies to counselling with families, couples and/or individuals.
- Family, societal and cultural systems, and the impact on individuals, couples, and families from a counselling perspective.
- Therapeutic interventions that use an attachment and/or a systems theoretical lens.
- Working therapeutically with the narratives of families, couples, and individuals.
- Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
- Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.