ED5863 - Foundations of Counselling Practice

Available to Post Graduate Certificate of Education [35111], Master of Education [102104;34004]. Core subject for Master of Guidance and Counselling [34704] students.

This subject introduces Ivey and Ivey's Five Stage Interview Structure and Microskills Hierarchy as a framework for problem management and opportunity development. The application of counselling theories within this model will be investigated and students will develop their understanding of the practical application of the model. The core micro skills used in interviewing and counselling will be introduced and practiced in simulated counselling sessions. Students will also investigate cross-cultural ethical scenarios demonstrating understanding of the professional codes of ethical practice.

Learning Outcomes

• students must demonstrate proficiency using different counselling and communication styles in order to begin to develop their personal counselling and interviewing techniques;
• students will be proficient in interpretation, evaluation and justification of different counselling perspectives and demonstrate advanced oral, listening, writing and advocacy skills, required of a professional working in the guidance and counselling and career development fields;
• students must demonstrate advance problem solving, objectivity, and judgement skills in working with clients with complex life issues and demonstrate communication proficiency with both specialist and non-specialist stakeholders;
• students will demonstrate advanced and integrated understanding and proficiency using basic counselling microskills as presented by Ivey and Iveys Five Stage Interview Structure and Microskills Hierarchy: A Pyramid for Building Cultural Intentionality. Students will apply this framework to a variety of counselling scenarios and interviewing;
• students will demonstrate self-reflection and critical self-evaluation of their assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, values, prejudices and biases in order to demonstrate cultural intentionality in well-constructed counselling sessions that enhance their ability to work effectively with clients from a multicultural perspective;
• students must demonstrate knowledge of the current legislation (eg.informed consent, Privacy Act) and ethical requirements outlined in the Code of Ethics in the Australian Counselling Association and the Singapore Association for Counselling.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.