Overview

This unit prepares couple counsellors to develop an increased understanding of their personal values, biases and histories that impact their role as a therapist. Students will learn effective methods to ensure that this personal understanding does not negatively impact on the therapeutic alliance and decision-making within the scope of situations that may arise in couple counselling practice.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSC60004 Ethics and Cultural Diversity for Counsellors
PSC60001 Foundations of Counselling
PSC70008 Advanced Counselling

Rules

Pre-requisite
PSC60002 - Foundations of Counselling 2
AND
PSC60004 Ethics and Cultural Diversity for Counsellors
OR
PSC60001 Foundations of Counselling
AND
PSC70008 - Advanced Counselling
OR
PSC60003 Introduction to Couple Counselling

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Date Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify and critically evaluate personal values, biases and histories that shape a couple counsellor’s practice
  • Demonstrate the skills required for reflective and empathic practices in their work with couples
  • Demonstrate the ability to maintain a working alliance with a couple through symmetrical rapport
  • Demonstrate the use of effective approaches for maintaining a therapeutic alliance within couple therapy, particularly in situations involving complex issues (e.g., family violence)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Seminar		5.00 12 weeks 60
Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Various		2.08 12 weeks 25
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Individual Study		5.42 12 weeks 65
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AnalysisIndividual 40% 1,2,3,4 
AssessmentGroup 20% 2,3,4 
PortfolioIndividual 40% 1,3,4 

Content

  • Developing counsellor self-awareness
  • Working with challenging issues, such as partner violence, jealousy and affairs, separation and loss.
  • Approaches to maintaining therapeutic alliance in challenging situations

Study resources

Reading materials

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