Counselling Theory and Skills
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours plus two 3 hour workshops per teaching period
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Prerequisites
Admission to DR-CFPSY Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology)Corequisites
NilAims 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)
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
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
5. Extend and define existing knowledge as applied to an area of Clinical and Forensic therapy
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 |
On-campus Workshop | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Unspecified Activities Various | 6.5 | 12 | 78 |
Unspecified Activities Independent learning | 2.5 | 12 | 30 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 3 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 40% | 3, 4 |
| Case Review | Individual | 20% | 3, 4, 5 |
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
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.