Master of Counselling (Advanced)

Overview

The Master of Counselling provides students with a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings, client types and cultural groups. Students specialise in human services counselling, couple counselling or forensic counselling. The course is designed to meet the needs of those employed in the human services sector.

Aims and objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• exercise independent judgement relevant to counselling theory and practice in the field of human services counselling, couple counselling and forensic counselling
• initiate, plan, implement and evaluate basic counselling interventions with a range of client groups and presentations across the lifespan
• apply basic and more advanced skills to work therapeutically with a range of clients in human services and couple counselling contexts using counselling methods and techniques that are drawn from different evidence-based approaches, all of which emphasise the important role of assessment, empathy, the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision-making and professional supervision
• reflect on, and take responsibility for, their own learning and self-management processes in relation to counselling work with clients that promotes self-reflection and the development as a professional counsellor in a human services, couple counselling or forensic counselling context
• demonstrate competence in assessment (including risk assessment and mental state examinations) case formulation and treatment planning, implementation and evaluation for clients presenting with a range of complex issues in a human services and couple counselling context
• use written and oral communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of basic and advanced theoretical concepts and methods relevant to trauma, loss and grief counselling, addiction counselling, couple counselling and forensic counselling; and to transfer this knowledge to different client groups, including individuals, couples and families
• critically apply research principles, skills and methods to inform evidence-based practice, that include a broad and specialist understanding of the treatment literature for individuals, couples and groups presenting in a human services, couple counselling or forensic counselling context

Career opportunities

Counselling in mental and/or community health, educational counselling and guidance.

Professional recognition

The Singapore Association of Counselling recognizes the nested suite of courses as appropriate training in professional counselling. The course has been approved by the Singapore Government’s Council for Private Education, May be eligible for Australian Counselling Association, PACFA, and the Australian Association for Relationship Counsellors.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Counselling (Advanced) is 50 credit points (normally four units) .