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Location Domestic International
Gold Coast Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 Session 2

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Introductory

Unit aim

Overviews the role of the counsellor within an Australian context, and shows how research, personal self-awareness and skill development contribute to the development of the therapeutic relationship in counselling.

Unit content

Topic 1 What is counselling?
Topic 2 The therapeutic relationship
Topic 3 Self-awareness for the counsellor
Topic 4 Theories in counselling - psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic-existential
Topic 5 Micro skills 1 - attending skills and observation
Topic 6 Micro skills 2 - questioning
Topic 7 Micro skills 3 - responding
Topic 8 Micro skills 4 - reflection of feeling
Topic 9 The process of counselling
Topic 10 Multicultural issues
Topic 11 Ethical issues
Topic 12 Counselling as professional practice (including unit summary)

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 discuss the role and professional identity of the counsellor
2 outline the major issues for ethical counselling practice in an Australian context
3 critique issues of self-awareness for the counsellor
4 demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic-existential counselling
5 successfully demonstrate beginning counselling skills
6 reflect upon and evaluate their own values and beginning skill development.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. discuss the role and professional identity of the counsellor
    • GA4:
  2. outline the major issues for ethical counselling practice in an Australian context
    • GA3:
  3. critique issues of self-awareness for the counsellor
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic-existential counselling
    • GA4:
  5. successfully demonstrate beginning counselling skills
    • GA6:
  6. reflect upon and evaluate their own values and beginning skill development.
    • GA3:
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Geldard, D & Geldard, K, 2012, Basic Personal Counselling: a Training Manual for Counsellors, 7th edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.