PSS4712 - Principles of Counselling

Leader: Dr Catherine Haigh

Offered

Gippsland Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit will help students to acquire relevant skills in Psychological Studies to complement the knowledge-based units that they have already completed. It will include consideration of the theoretical perspectives used as explanatory frameworks in the counselling arena, each of which will be explored in a seminar series. It will also involve an overview of the major contemporary approaches e.g., psychodynamic, humanistic, Psychological, cognitive-Psychological, that will be outlined and demonstrated to students. Students will be given an opportunity to apply counselling techniques in mock therapeutic sessions that will be video-taped and assessed.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. outline the major theoretical perspectives relevant to counselling practice;
2. interview potential clients;
3. assess client needs;
4. apply counselling skills within the context of contemporary approaches;
5. prepare and maintain case notes that effectively communicate relevant information.

Assessment

Presentation (2000 words): 20%
Two video-taped counselling sessions (5000 words) 60%
Case notes (2000 words): 20%

Contact hours

Two hour seminar per week

Prerequisites

Undergraduate degree with Psychological Studies, Psychology or related major