Availabilities:

2021 unit offering information will be available in September 2020

Unit description

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: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1discuss the role and professional identity of the counsellorKnowledge of a discipline
2outline the major issues for ethical counselling practice in an Australian contextEthical practice
3critique issues of self-awareness for the counsellorEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
4demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and humanistic-existential counsellingKnowledge of a discipline
5successfully demonstrate beginning counselling skillsCommunication and social skills
6reflect upon and evaluate their own values and beginning skill development.Ethical practiceCommunication and social skills

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

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

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2021 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1

Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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