Overview

This unit extends students’ knowledge of counselling theory and practice; familiarising students with counselling micro-skills, assessment, problem formulation and treatment. The unit also aims to develop students’ awareness of the impact of attitudes, beliefs, and values on client treatment, as well as ethical, professional, and cultural issues that arise in counselling and intervention. The unit provides opportunities for students to practice counselling micro-skills that can be applied to help people experiencing personal issues, and equips students to begin working under the supervision of appropriately qualified senior psychologist.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY40008 Counselling Psychology

Rules

Pre-requisite
300 Credit Points and Admission into BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry
OR
Admission into BH-PSYSC Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
OR
Admission into BH-PSY1 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Graduate Entry

Equivalent
HAY458 - Counselling Psychology; PSC40001 - Counselling Psychology

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Undertake and evaluate a client-centred counselling interview
  • Apply basic counselling micro-skills
  • Critically evaluate major therapeutic perspectives: cognitive; behavioural; affective; and, systemic
  • Clearly articulate the issues in managing clients through their counselling program
  • Analyse client case material through the application of the major counselling perspectives
  • Explain the application of psychological interventions to different clients and situations

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Tutorial
2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Various
2.50 12 weeks 30
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
7.00 12 weeks 84
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 40% 1,2,3 
ExaminationIndividual 60% 3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Introduction to the history and development of counselling psychology
  • Counselling microskills and their application e.g.; attending; listening; questioning; empathy, cultural responsiveness
  • Major perspectives in counselling and intervention: affective; behavioural; cognitive; and systemic
  • Intervention planning
  • Managing clients through treatment
  • Risk assessment and client crisis management
  • Working with other health professionals

Study resources

Reading materials

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