Students studying counselling at Monash enrol in a skills-based course that investigates evidence-based theories and frameworks related to counselling and psychotherapy. Students learn to relate various counselling approaches and strategies across developmental stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age) while developing a deeper understanding of themselves, their personal values and preferred styles of counselling. The ethical practice of counselling and skills to write case notes and make appropriate referrals are covered. Counselling prepares professionals to work in a wide variety of fields including careers counselling, education, child and family services, child protection services, child psychology, health policy, counselling, family counselling, health services management and rehabilitation counselling. Students are taught by academics with extensive experience working as professional counsellors and/or psychologists. In addition to their academic study, students undertake a minimum of 300 hours of clinical counselling experience.
Professional counselling studies provides knowledge and skills for professionals working in a range of education, community, industrial and service-related settings. The Professional counselling specialisation covers major approaches to counselling, provides training in counselling practice and research, and introduces the study of ethical and professional issues in undertaking counselling as a profession.