Counselling Psychology
Overview
This unit develops students' knowledge of counselling theory and practice, familiarising students with counselling micro-skills, evidence-based therapeutic approaches, problem formulation, and treatment planning. The unit develops students' awareness of the impact of attitudes, beliefs, values, and cultural context on client treatment, as well as the ethical and professional issues that arise in counselling and intervention, including the use of digital technologies in contemporary practice. The unit provides opportunities to practise counselling micro-skills that can be applied to help people experiencing personal issues and introduce critical skills students need to begin working under the supervision of appropriately qualified senior psychologists.
Requisites
Rules
Admission into BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry
AND
300 Credit Points in BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry
OR
Admission into one of the below:
BH-PSYSC Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
or
BH-PSY1 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Graduate Entry
30-May-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply counselling micro-skills in a client-centred counselling interview, and critically evaluate the conduct and outcomes of a counselling session
- Critically evaluate different therapeutic perspectives and apply them to the analysis of client case material
- Explain the application and management of psychological interventions to different types of clients and situations
- Explain the principles of humility and reflexivity for working in a culturally responsive manner with diverse clients and other health professionals
- Critically evaluate the use of digital technologies in counselling psychology
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online | Lecture | 12 | 12 weeks | 1 |
| On-campus | Class | 24 | 12 weeks | 2 |
| Specified Activities | Various | 30 | 12 weeks | 2.5 |
| Unspecified Activities | Various | 84 | 12 weeks | 7 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Assignment | Individual | 20-40% | 1,2 |
| Assignment | Individual | 20-40% | 2,3,4 |
| Test | Individual | 30-50% | 2,3,4,5 |
Content
• Counselling micro-skills and their application e.g., attending; listening; questioning; empathy, cultural responsiveness
• Major perspectives in counselling and intervention, e.g., affective; behavioural; cognitive; and systemic
• Intervention planning
• Managing clients through treatment
• Risk assessment and client crisis management
• Cultural responsiveness and reflexivity for working with diverse client types including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and neurodivergent clients
• Working respectfully with other health professionals
• Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
• Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
• Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.