OVERVIEW - DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING SKILLS

This course is designed to provide comprehensive counselling skills and covers additional educational requirements of The Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists (ASCH).

The Course consists of four terms, with each term containing ten lectures.

Lectures are conducted part time one evening per week commencing at 7.00pm and concluding at approximately 10.00pm.

In addition students must undertake 2 three day and 2 two day Practical Counselling Skills Workshops.

On successful completion of all four terms, examinations and participation at workshops with a minimum attendance of at least 90% of lectures, graduates are awarded The Diploma in Counselling Skills.

Those wishing to undertake one term of study may do so. A transcript of the subject will be issued on completion.

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COURSE OUTLINE

TERM 1 – PSYCHOLOGY I

This term will focus on the theories of psychology and will include the following topics:

• Introduction to Psychology as a Science
• Basic Concepts in Psychology
• Classification and Assessment
• Abnormal Psychology
• Personality Theories and Treatment
• Integration of Theories and Treatments

TEXT: : Kaplan, H.I. & Sadock B.J., Synopsis of Psychiatry, Behavioural
Sciences, Clinical Psychiatry Latest Ed. Williams & Wilkins.

TERM 2 – PSYCHOLOGY II

This term extends skills learnt in term 1 and will include the following topics:

• Suicide Assessment
• Crisis Management
• Abuse issues
• Loss and Grief
• Society and Sexuality
• Health Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Addiction Psychology

TEXT: Kaplan, H.I. & Sadock B.J., Synopsis of Psychiatry, Behavioural
Sciences, Clinical Psychiatry Latest Ed. Williams & Wilkins.

TERM 3 - COUNSELLING 1

This term focuses on the core micro skills of counselling and will include:

• Reflection of feelings
• Reframing
• Immediacy and summarising of content
• Establishing the counselling environment
• Exploring contextual factors
• Critical incident debriefing
• Conflict resolution

TEXT: Geldard, David Basic Personal Counselling Latest Ed. Prentice Hall

TERM 4 – COUNSELLING 2

This term extends skills learnt in term 3 and will explore specific intervention models in counselling:

• Overview and Development of models and multicultural perspective
• Psychodynamic Approach and Transactional Analysis
• Person Centred Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Behaviour Therapy
• Cognitive BehaviourTherapy
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Marital Therapy
• Ethical & Legal Issues

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PRACTICAL COUNSELLING SKILLS WORKSHOPS

PRACTICAL COUNSELLING SKILLS WORKSHOPS

These workshops are designed to provide mastery of the key listening and responding skills.

The four workshops need not be undertaken in any specific order.

DEALING WITH PRESENTING PROBLEMS IN

The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to develop competency in the following areas:

• Develop practical understanding of the dynamics of a variety of problem situations presenting for counselling.
• Develop knowledge of typical possible behavioural reactions of these situations.
• Determine if, when and how to apply this knowledge in a crisis situation.

THE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLOR (2 days)

The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to develop competency in the following areas:

• The implications of having yourself as the major tool in counselling.
• Explore what each person brings to the counselling process, their own qualities and life experiences and there implications.
• Strategies to effectively promote growth and change in your clients and develop yourself.
• Ethical conduct of a counsellor
• Stress management and burnout prevention.

MASTERING THE COUNSELLING MICROSKILLS
(3 days)

• The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to develop competency in the following areas:
• Develop a solid working base of understanding the rapport of a good working relationship.
• Develop a repertoire of listening skills and apply them effectively in counselling sessions.
• Employ microskills appropriately to establish an accurate understanding of the client’s problem and issues.
• Appropriately use the empathy skills to foster effective work by the client in resolving their problems/issues.
• Develop skilful use of questioning to identify and explore the important issues.
• Make effective counselling decisions as to which issues to focus on and the ones that will make the difference in the client’s situation.
• Deal with resistances and overcome the barriers in the counselling relationship.

CONDUCTING COUNSELLING SESSIONS AND ACHIEVING CLIENT CHANGE (3 days)

• The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to develop competency in the following areas:
• Develop generic strategy to facilitate client change.
• Apply knowledge in structuring counselling sessions to effectively empower the person seeking help.
• Apply skills and knowledge in simulated counselling sessions.