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

Rules

Admission into BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry
AND
300 Credit Points in BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry

OR

Admission into one of the below:
BH-PSYSC Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
or
BH-PSY1 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Graduate Entry

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:

  • 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

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Lecture 12 12 weeks 1
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Specified Activities Various 30 12 weeks 2.5
Unspecified Activities Various 84 12 weeks 7
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  25%  1,2
Assignment 2 Individual 25% 4,5,6
Assignment 3 Individual  50%  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
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)

Study resources

Reading materials

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