EDF5542 - Counselling skills: Individuals and couples - 2019

This unit offers an introduction to family and couple therapy and the counselling issues that typically affect these groups. Students are introduced to key concepts of counselling couples and families, and their application to clinical practice. Students become familiar with the role of the family therapist, family structure and functioning, healthy and dysfunctional characteristics of families, and the range of therapeutic and assessment available. Students also have opportunities to reflect on their own attributes and personal development in relation to being an effective family counsellor, especially working with culturally diverse families in Malaysia.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. differentiate and critically evaluate approaches to counselling couples and families
2. understand the role of being a family therapist
3. cultivate sensitivity to other people's cultural and personal ways and preferences in family life
4. explain their own values and style and their influence on counselling practice, and critically appraise their performance as a family counsellor
5. apply family counselling skills and produce treatment plans and practice notes for couples and families.

20 hours of face to face client contact

Critical analysis of two different models of couples counselling or family therapy (2400 words, 60%)

Self-appraisal of therapeutic practice of an individual client (1600 words, 40%)

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • Equivalent to 36 hours of engagement in online, face-to-face or blended platforms
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • Independent study to make up the required minimum hours during the semester.

See also Unit timetable information

Counselling