Master of Counselling with nested Graduate Diploma of Counselling
Transforming lives through excellence in Christian higher education
Master of Counselling with nested Graduate Diploma of Counselling
The School of Counselling at Wesley Institute offers postgraduate courses that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to enable them to work empathetically, effectively and appropriately with clients experiencing mental health issues, trauma and significant and challenging life experiences. The Master of Counselling provides advanced training in counselling theory and practice, with an introduction to a range of counselling specialisations. The course integrates mental health and wellness/strength-based models within a Christian worldview*, encouraging and equipping counsellors to work with the whole person. The course aims to: • Produce self-reflexive counsellors who can (i) develop and maintain respectful, caring and collaborative therapeutic relationships and (ii) effectively function both independently and within multi-disciplinary settings; • Prepare counsellors to work in a variety of settings with clients of diverse ages, backgrounds and life issues; • Highlight the importance of lifelong learning that is informed by counselling-focused research, set within ongoing professional development. During the program students gain professional industry experience (200 hours) supported by group and individual clinical supervision (54 hours). Course Code: WCO53 Credit Points: 96 Full-time: 2 years Part-time: Up to 4 years Number of Units: 14 Student Workload: 40 hours per week (full-time) (includes provision for personal study) Delivery Mode: Weekend Intensives and/or Evening Classes Potential Students: The course is particularly suited to (i) current counsellors seeking additional training at a post-graduate level; (ii) individuals with undergraduate qualifications (or equivalent) wanting to enter the counselling profession; and (iii) other professionals seeking to diversify and extend their current skill set or change career direction.
FEE-HELP available
Career Pathways: The Master of Counselling degree qualifies you for membership in peak bodies and professional guilds such as the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA). Graduates work in private practice and a variety of Christian, churchbased and secular counselling services, centres and programs (such as schools; private, government and NGO agencies; and child and adolescent services). They work with varied age groups and target populations (children and adolescents, the homeless, troubled youth, adults with a range of mental health issues, the unemployed, the elderly); addressing a range of life issues including trauma, loss and grief, relationship and family issues, identity formation, spiritual concerns, illness and disability. The Graduate Diploma of Counselling is designed to equip individuals whose profession/employment calls for some mental health and wellness/strengths-based counselling (e.g. incidental counselling). Students are exposed to contemporary counselling theory, with an emphasis on the development of practical skills relevant to a variety of counselling situations and challenging life issues. Course Code: WCO44 Credit Points: 48 Full-time: 1 year Part-time: Up to 2 years Number of Units: 8 Student Workload: 40 hours per week (full-time) (includes provision for personal study) Delivery Mode: Weekend Intensives and/or Evening Classes
Potential Students: The course is particularly suited to; (i) allied health care professionals (e.g. human services and social workers, occupational and speech therapists, psychology graduates), teachers, nurses, pastors and those working in ministry and mission fields (who desire to effectively guide others within the context of their current role); and (ii) those considering a change of career or life direction and who want to work in a helping profession/capacity. Career Pathways: Graduates employ the counselling skills and knowledge gained through the course in ways that allow them to function with increased effectiveness in their current role. As the Graduate Diploma is nested within the Master of Counselling, there are options to advance the Masters level, subject to satisfactory academic progression. The Graduate Diploma of Counselling also provides an optional exit award from the Master of Counselling Program.
Why study Counselling @ Wesley Institute? • An integrated blend of the theoretical foundations of counselling and practical counselling skills and strategies. • A Christian perspective within solid professional practice and excellent quality of teaching. • Faculty with Masters and PhD training in counselling, psychotherapy and psychology, published at a national and international level. • Flexible delivery, offering options to study full-time or part-time with a mix of evening classes and weekend intensives. • Modern Industry-standard on-campus Counselling Centre, with free personal counselling available to all Wesley Institute students. • Small class sizes in a supportive learning environment.
How to apply... Intakes: January and July Entry: By panel interview, sample of academic writing and referee recommendation. Educational Requirements: • Completion of an accredited undergraduate degree (or equivalent). • Mature Entry pathway option on a case-by-case basis. For more information: Visit www.wi.edu.au/counselling
Course Units Theory Units Understanding Health and Wellness Professional Ethics and Orientation Human Growth and Development Introduction to Counselling Research Social and Cultural Diversity Clinical Skills and Practice Counselling Skills and Practice I Counselling Skills and Practice II Assessment Tools and Techniques Group Counselling Counselling Practicum I Counselling Practicum II Elective Units Addictions and Mental Health Human Sexuality Child and Adolescent Counselling Crisis and Trauma Counselling Special Topics in Counselling
Master of Counselling Theory
Clinical Skills and Practice
Personal Development and Awareness
Elective
MASTER OF COUNSELLING
30cp
48cp
12cp
6cp
96cp
Nested Graduate Diploma of Counselling Theory
Clinical Skills and Practice
Personal Development and Awareness
GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF COUNSELLING
18cp
18cp
12cp
48cp
A typical program for a FULL-TIME student follows: Semester 1
Understanding Health and Wellness
Professional Ethics and Orientation
Professional Ethics and Orientation
Counselling and Personality
Semester 2
Human Growth and Development
Assessment Tools and Techniques
Counselling Skills and Practice II
Attachment and Interpersonal Process
YEAR 1
OPTIONAL EXIT – GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF COUNSELLING Semester 1
Introduction to Counselling Research
Group Counselling
Counselling Practicum I
Semester 2
Social and Cultural Diversity
Elective unit
Counselling Practicum II
Personal Development and Awareness* Counselling and Personality Attachment and Interpersonal Processes
YEAR 2
*All units contribute to the personal and professional growth and maturation of the counsellor.
*From 2013 onwards some units will be offered as Intensives during Summer and Winter Schools.
Social and Cultural Diversity 6 credit points This unit is designed to contribute to students’ understanding of the relevance of society and culture in conceptualising and planning effective counselling interventions. Students will investigate issues relating to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, spirituality, power, age, access and disability, and develop broader, evidence-based frameworks for understanding and respectfully entering into the worlds of their clients. Course Units THEORY Understanding Health and Wellness 6 credit points This unit is designed to enhance student understanding of the conceptual complexity of mental health in the broader context of the cultural models of health and illness. The unit is geared towards prevention, early intervention, and collaboration with both clients and their healthcare providers. Emphasis is placed on high base rate issues such as eating behaviour, alcohol and drinking, tobacco and smoking, sexual behaviour and experience, stress and coping, exercise and other health-related lifestyle issues. The role of the counsellor in primary health care and health promotion is also explored. Professional Ethics and Orientation 6 credit points This unit is designed to explore the counsellor’s understanding of what constitutes ethical counselling practice, and the complexity of the relevant legal regulations. Students will reflect on their worldviews, values and approaches to professional counselling in the light of professional standards and requirements. Ongoing professional development and lifelong learning will be emphasised. Human Growth and Development 6 credit points Understanding a client’s developmental issues informs sound assessment and treatment strategies. This unit addresses normal human development throughout the lifespan, with particular attention to the interaction of bio-psychosocial influences upon human functioning. Counselling methodologies and concepts are examined in relation to developmental processes that promote adaptation throughout the life span. Introduction to Counselling Research 6 credit points Counselling practice is greatly enhanced by an ability to readily access and understand and synthesise pertinent research material. This unit aims to enable counselling students to critically evaluate research data so they can stay abreast of current trends in mental health counselling. Students will explore the presuppositions and dominant paradigms underlying social science research, and become familiar with basic statistical concepts and research methodologies.
CLINICAL SKILLS AND PRACTICE Counselling Skills and Practice I 6 credit points Counsellors require a foundation of core counsellor qualities and skills on which to build their repertoire of therapeutic interventions. This unit is designed to help students demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of the task of counselling as a problem-management and opportunity-development process. The unit addresses foundational levels of professional competence required for effective counselling practice. Successful completion of this unit should enable students to acquire the basic skills essential to the delivery of mental health counselling. Counselling Skills and Practice II 6 credit points This is the second of a two-unit series aimed at helping students build a solid foundation of micro-skills in counselling. The emphasis is on equipping students to demonstrate additional competencies in their understanding and practice of The Skilled Helper model of counselling (Egan, 2007). In addition students will be exposed to a range of evidencebased counselling models and approaches and begin the process of developing competencies in counselling using these approaches. Assessment Tools and Techniques 6 credit points A variety of client problems are encountered in counselling settings and it is important for counsellors to know how to reliably assess a range of problems, formulate initial treatment strategies, and communicate professionally with colleagues in the field where assessment and treatment are concerned. Students will survey a representative sample of clinical, personality, and behavioural assessment tools used in the counselling field and understand how these tools might be used to support various aspects of the counselling process.
Group Counselling 6 credit points Many therapists work in an environment where managed care is the norm, placing real limitations on time and financial resources. In these and other settings group process can be an effective and efficient way of providing a supportive environment for change. This unit, which includes both didactic and experiential group work, will ensure that students have a clear understanding of the theory and practice of group counselling. Counselling Practicum I 12 credit points This is the first of two units marking the transition from time as students spent in the classroom to time spent as professionals with clients, peers and supervisors. Students will begin practising basic counselling skills with clients, receive both peer and supervisor feedback on their work, and continue developing their theoretical approach. Students will be required to have at least five ongoing counselling cases, complete a minimum of 100 hours of supervised practice, and complete 25 hours of group supervision during the semester, as per PACFA requirements. Counselling Practicum II 12 credit points This is the second of two units marking the ongoing transition from student to professional. Students will continue seeing clients, including a minimum of 100 hours of supervised practice and completion of 25 hours of group supervision as per PACFA requirements, while honing their conceptual and technical skills at a more advanced level PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AWARENESS Counselling and Personality 6 credit points Facilitating change in counselling requires considerable knowledge of both personality and psychopathology. Students in this unit will be introduced to major theoretical perspectives on personality and psychopathology, and will learn to conceptualise client problems and make treatment decisions based on these perspectives. Students will also be provided a forum in which to reflect, in an appropriate, supervised environment, on the makeup of their own personality. Attachment and Interpersonal Processes 6 credit points This unit provides students with deeper insight into the complex dynamics of human relationships in the light of interpersonal theory and research. Students will be encouraged to critically evaluate their style of attachment, personal interaction and related interpersonal issues in order to effectively integrate current theory and research into practice. Each student will receive ten counselling sessions free of charge as part of this unit. Students are required to provide written evidence of completion of the counselling sessions ELECTIVE STUDIES Addictions and Mental Health 6 credit points Addictions include any behaviour that is driven by compulsion to overcome personal deficit or dysfunction. Addictive behaviours are an increasing part of modern society, causing substantial negative personal and social damage such as an increase in criminal activity, violence, suicide and death. This unit will introduce students to a continuum of care in the lives of those affected by addictions, from prevention and assessment to treatment and relapse prevention. Human Sexuality 6 credit points This unit introduces central theories and counselling techniques appropriate to treating sexual problems across the life span. Students will explore the bio-physiological, psychological, emotional and spiritual dimensions of sexual function and dysfunction and, in so doing, develop counselling skills for persons presenting with sexually related issues.
Child and Adolescent Counselling 6 credit points This unit introduces counselling students to the roots of children’s and adolescents’ behavioural dysfunctions and pathologies. It presents a systemic family-centred approach to working with children and dependent adolescents, focusing on key problem areas for each group. Students will learn to select from several perspectives (behavioural, family, creative therapies) in determining optimal strategies for intervention. Crisis and Trauma Counselling 6 credit points This unit provides an opportunity for students to understand the impact of crisis and trauma on individuals and groups, and to examine current research and mental health models addressing critical incident debriefing, crisis intervention, and traumatic stress reactions. Students will be exposed to a variety of approaches and strategies that promote recovery from a range of traumatic incidents. Special Topic in Counselling 6 credit points This elective unit enables specific topics of interest to staff, visiting lecturers or a current student cohort to be offered during an academic year. Examples include: • Spirituality and Counselling: An Integrative Perspective • Spiritual Development across the Lifespan • Counselling Skills and Practice III • Psychotherapy I and Psychotherapy II • School Counselling • Expressive Therapies for Children, Adolescents and Adults
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The course challenged me to expand my worldview and challenge my ideas about myself, relationships and God. The personal work we do in each subject is very revealing and took me on a personal journey. My favourite aspect was the peer support and friendships I gained in the course, which have continued, and the variety of counselling theories taught by passionate and supportive lecturers that have helped me frame my theoretical approach.” Sophia Howarth Graduate
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For more information: t: +61 2 9819 8824 e: info@wi.edu.au w: www.wi.edu.au
5 Mary Street, Drummoyne, PO Box 534 Drummoyne 1470 NSW AUSTRALIA ABN 50 360 319 774
CRICOS 02664K