Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102364

Coordinator Amanda Webb Opens in new window

Description This subject builds on the experiential learning from Foundations of Psychotherapy and Counselling 1 by offering further practice in interpersonal counselling skills in dyadic and group contexts. Students will consolidate and expand the range of skills appropriate to the unfolding counselling relationship through continued skills practice. Students will develop capacity to analyse their own responses in depth and respond reflexively in their work with clients, within an increased understanding of the therapeutic relationship and of what makes counselling effective. Students will continue to participate in small group experiential training, thereby increasing their awareness of interpersonal and group processes.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Counselling

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Pre-requisite(s) WELF 7004 OR
WELF 7009

Equivalent Subjects WELF 7005 - Counselling 2

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in 1817 Master of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 4595 Master of Art Therapy or 1770 Master of Social Science.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate advancing skills in listening, empathic responding, use of silence, and exploratory questioning.
2. Practice beginning skills in immediacy and other 'skills of encounter' such as providing feedback, and consider the ethical issues and dilemmas encountered in the 'responsible use of self' in counselling and therapy.
3. Facilitate the stages of a short-term counselling relationship.
4. Apply skills in engaging in a therapeutic relationship with clients.
5. Identify how to assess the effectiveness of counselling with and for clients, and how to work constructively toward closure.
6. Critically analyse and make comparisons between individual and group counselling as experienced by both client and counsellor.

Subject Content

Continuing counselling skills practice including triadic work eight practice sessions with an advanced counselling student in their second year of studies.
Further development of existing and new skills in listening, empathic responding, use of silence and exploratory questioning, immediacy, highlighting of conflicts, providing feedback, and interpretation.
Consideration of concepts of transference and countertransference, and the 'use of self' within the counselling/therapy process.
Exploration of the use of psychoeducational and experiential groups within professional counselling practice, including the development of group facilitation skills.
Critical consideration of how change occurs, inside and outside of the counselling relationship, and of how counsellors know when clients are 'better'.
Exploration of when and how to end therapy - the concept of 'termination' as mature, premature or delayed.