Overview

This unit provides an introduction to counselling and intervention techniques for professional psychology. The unit includes a critical survey of the most influential and evidenced-based approaches and integrates this with a consideration of the impact of beliefs, values, culture, and ethical issues on the therapeutic process. Students receive instruction in counselling theory, process, and research and facilitative and influencing communication skills. The activities and assessment provide opportunities for students to apply counselling theory to the therapeutic process.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY80115 Counselling and Interventions

Rule

Enrolment in GD-PSYADS Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 2
Location
Online
Start and end dates
08-July-2024
06-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
21-July-2024
Census date
02-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
23-August-2024
Results released date
29-October-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate major counselling perspectives: cognitive; behavioural; affective; systemic
  • Demonstrate basic micro-skills and client-centred interview techniques in synchronous and asynchronous counselling settings
  • Analyse client case material from different counselling perspectves
  • Identify key issues and explain principles for working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons
  • Outline intervention strategies and explain key issues in managing clients through a counselling program

Teaching methods

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
11.50 12 weeks 138
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
ExaminationIndividual 50% 1,3,4,5 
Interview AssignmentIndividual 30% 
Online AssignmentIndividual 20% 2,3,4 

Content

  • Major therapeutic approaches to counselling: behavioural, cognitive, systemic, client-centred
  • Ethical and research issues
  • Counselling microskills and their application in different modalities
  • Understanding client diversity, and working with persons from different cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.
  • Managing clients through treatment
  • Risk assessment and client crisis management

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.