Counselling Theory and Skills
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours + Blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2024 teaching periods
| Hawthorn Higher Ed. Semester 1 |
||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Prerequisites
Admission to:
Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) (MA-PSYCLP)
OR
Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) (DR-PHICP)
Aims and objectives
This unit provides knowledge and skill-training that form the foundation of an evidence-based approach to counselling/psychotherapy. It develops the students’ understanding of key theories and concepts in the provision of counselling, and of high levels of counselling and core intervention skills. Specific objectives are to provide students with theory and applied training in counselling skills, case conceptualisation and time limited interventions, so that they can work effectively with clients in counselling settings.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Critically assess and synthesise complex information, in order to facilitate a client centred interview while applying advanced counselling micro skills
2. Integrate advanced counselling skills to elicit a description of client’s concerns
3. Effectively communicate and apply appropriate treatment decisions based on clinical evidence
4. Apply a high level of knowledge and skills including the integration of client information and established theories, to produce a provisional case formulation and treatment plan
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On-campus Class | 3 | 12 | 36 |
Unspecified Activities Various | 6.5 | 12 | 78 |
Unspecified Activities Independent learning | 3 | 12 | 36 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
| Assignment 1 | Individual | Pass/Fail | 1, 2, 3 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | Pass/Fail | 3, 4 |
Content
- Evidence based practice in psychology
- Counselling micro skills (attending, questioning and empathic responding)
- Solution‐focussed approach to counselling/psychotherapy (paying attention to what the client wants, amplifying, exploring for exceptions, formulating feedback, tracking progress, coping questions in crisis situations)
- Interpersonal psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy (establishing a working alliance, resistance, internal focus for change, responding to conflicted emotions, familial and developmental factors, inflexible coping strategies, current interpersonal factors, termination)
- The Egan problem‐solving framework
- Developing an individual case formulation
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
Students are advised to check the unit outline in the relevant teaching period for appropriate textbooks and further reading.