Counselling and Interventions
Overview
This unit provides an introduction to counselling and intervention techniques for professional psychology. The unit includes a critical survey of the most influential and evidenced-based approaches and integrates this with a consideration of the impact of beliefs, values, culture, and ethical issues on the therapeutic process. Students receive instruction in counselling theory, process, and research and facilitative and influencing communication skills. The activities and assessment provide opportunities for students to apply counselling theory to the therapeutic process.
Requisites
Rule
Enrolment in GD-PSYADS Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced)
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically evaluate major counselling perspectives: cognitive; behavioural; affective; systemic
- Demonstrate basic micro-skills and client-centred interview techniques in synchronous and asynchronous counselling settings
- Analyse client case material from different counselling perspectves
- Identify key issues and explain principles for working with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons
- Outline intervention strategies and explain key issues in managing clients through a counselling program
Teaching methods
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 11.50 | 12 weeks | 138 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Individual | 50% | 1,3,4,5 |
| Interview Assignment | Individual | 30% | 2 |
| Online Assignment | Individual | 20% | 2,3,4 |
Content
- Major therapeutic approaches to counselling: behavioural, cognitive, systemic, client-centred
- Ethical and research issues
- Counselling microskills and their application in different modalities
- Understanding client diversity, and working with persons from different cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.
- Managing clients through treatment
- Risk assessment and client crisis management
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.