Theories and Foundations of Counselling
Duration
- 1 Semester
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Prerequisites
Admission to:
GC-SSCPC Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling) OR
GD-SSCPC Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Professional Counselling) OR
MA-SSCPC Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling) or
GC-SSCPC Graduate Certificate of Social Science (Professional Counselling) OR
GD-SSCPC Graduate Diploma of Social Science (Professional Counselling) OR
MA-SSCPC Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling) or
MA-COUADV Master of Counselling (Advanced), or
GD-COU Graduate Diploma of Counselling or
GC-COU Graduate Certificate of Counselling
Corequisites
NilAims and objectives
This unit provides an overview of the theoretical fundamentals of counselling. There will be an emphasis on understanding personality, developmental processes, multi-cultural counselling, the role of identity formation, and foundational counselling theories.
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe and evaluate the theories of personality, development and identity formation, including the implications for counselling practice.
2. Apply counselling theories and practices to client presentations in multicultural demographics.
3. Identify and analyse common issues of maladjustment that might present in counselling practice.
Courses with unit
MA-COUADV Master of Counselling (Advanced), or
GD-COU Graduate Diploma of Counselling or
GC-COU Graduate Certificate of Counselling
GD-COU Graduate Diploma of Counselling or
GC-COU Graduate Certificate of Counselling
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
This unit will involve up to 150 hours of work including:
| Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
| Face to Face Contact Lectures | 3 | 12 | 36 |
| Online Contact | N/A |
|
|
| Specified Learning Activities Reading recommended material Personal Journal | 4 | 12 | 48 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities Independent learning Preparation for assessments Revision of lecture material Informal group discussions | Recommended |
| 66 |
| TOTAL |
|
| 150 hours/12.5cp |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Essay | Individual | 50% | 1, 3 |
| Essay | Individual | 50% | 2, 3 |
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
• Analysis Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
• Analysis Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Overview of major counselling theories
• Personality theories
• Developmental theories
• Multi-cultural counselling theories
• Person-centred therapy
• Theories of psychological adjustments
• Personality theories
• Developmental theories
• Multi-cultural counselling theories
• Person-centred therapy
• Theories of psychological adjustments
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials will be made available in the Unit Outline.