Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

This course provides an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited fifth and sixth-year sequence in psychology and prepares graduates to practise as counselling psychologists in a range of settings including hospitals, community centres, schools, tertiary institutions, private practices, industry, health-oriented facilities and other similar places. For more detailed information regarding the role and employment prospects of counselling psychologists, students should consult the College of Counselling Psychologists, Australian Psychological Society.

This course trains selected psychology graduates in advanced psychotherapeutic and research skills for registration and practise in the specialism of counselling psychology across the lifespan.

At the completion of the degree, students will have been trained in:

• knowledge and application of a range of evidence based psychotherapies
• application of sound practice principles concerning the psychotherapeutic relationship and interventions with couples, families and groups
• practice and application of evidence based research in psychotherapy
• administration and interpretation of a wide range of psychological tests and assessment instruments
• the ability to liaise and work effectively with other mental health and allied health professionals in a range of organisational contexts

In undertaking their minor research thesis, students will increase their ability to function as scientist-practitioners, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods to investigate an applied topic relevant to counselling psychology.

Clinical practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus clinical placements. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Clinical expenses

Students are responsible for all uniform and equipment, travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement and will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Off-campus students' compulsory residentials

Students enrolled in off-campus mode will be required to attend a compulsory one-week (35 hour) residential school at the Clayton campus for each of the four core units.

On commencing the program and prior to commencing their placement, students must submit proof of provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and a satisfactory Victorian government Working with Children Check (details available at http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren).

Graduates qualify for registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and meet most requirements for membership of the College of Counselling Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society.

The course comprises: advanced coursework, supervised practica and a research thesis.

Research supervision will be by telephone, email and/or residential workshop.

Note: Coursework units are only offered in alternate years.

Coursework

Core units

• EDF6501 Psychotherapies: Theory and practice
• EDF6502 Clinical assessment and psychopathology
• EDF6503 Advanced professional counselling psychology: Clinical, research and ethical issues
• EDF6517 Research and therapeutic interventions in counselling psychology

Practica and research thesis

In the second year (full-time) or third and fourth years (part-time), students undertake supervised practica and complete a research thesis on a topic relevant to the discipline of counselling psychology.

• EDF6507 Clinical placement in psychology 1
• EDF6508 Clinical placement in psychology 2
• EDF6509 Clinical placement in psychology 3
• EDF6535 Psychology thesis part 1
• EDF6536 Psychology thesis part 2

NOTE: Unit availability may change. Students should consult http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/timetables and talk with their course adviser to assist in planning their program.

To satisfy entry requirements for doctoral-level studies (PhD), applicants need to have completed research at either masters or honours level. Master of Psychology by coursework candidates who wish to proceed to a doctoral course must achieve a grade of distinction or higher for the research thesis and an average of distinction or higher in the coursework units for doctoral-level eligibility. Students enrolled in the MPsych(Couns) who achieve a higher distinction average in two units (one of which must be the research project unit) and a minimum overall average of distinction over all four units will be eligible to apply for articulation to the combined Master of Psychology (Counselling) and Doctor of Philosophy program.

Master of Psychology (Counselling)