Introduction to Counselling (CO1005Z)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit marks the beginning of your technical training. You will first be introduced to the centrality of the therapeutic alliance in creating the conditions for client change. You will therefore explore the importance of the counsellor’s 'posture' towards their client and the importance of being fully 'present'. The value of simple interventions will then be explored (e.g., lifestyle changes and psycho-education) before considering various common counselling approaches which have arisen over the last century. Finally, you will be given your first opportunity to use a foundational set of counselling skills for the betterment of others.

Unit code: CO1005Z

Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Counselling

Proposing College: School of Professional Practice - Counselling

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Learning outcomes

1.

Differentiate counselling as a unique helping profession although allied to psychology, medicine and other vocations.
2.

Name and describe the distinctive features of a limited set of common counselling approaches including their assumptions, evidence base, core skills, and relative merits.
3.

Perform basic case conceptualisation and treatment planning for a limited set of common client problems.
4.

Apply a limited number of counselling skills for a small set of common client problems

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 1, semester 2 (term 3). Prerequisites: NA Prohibited combinations: NA

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning In practice: This is a collaborative way of learning that takes note of the learner’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). By repeatedly extending the learner’s ZPD they develop a comprehensive and integrated system of knowledge/skills. Scaffolded learning is achieved through the provision of online modules which clearly guide a student’s learning; through activities of increased complexity during intensives; by face-to-face seminars which are tailored to induce academic/professional growth in an ordered and coherent way; and by assessments which not only seek to identify that key knowledge/skills have been learnt, but that the student is developing an integrated understanding of counselling.

Indicative Bibliography

  1. Bennett, R., & Oliver, J. (2025). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: 100 key points and techniques. Routledge.
  2. Bugental, J. (1992). The art of the psychotherapist. W. W. Norton & Company.
  3. Cory, G. (2020). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (10th edition). Cengage. (TEXTBOOK)
  4. Egan, G. (2018). The skilled helper (11th edition). Thomson.
  5. Evans-Jones, C. (2011). The CBT handbook: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Routledge.
  6. May, R. (2011). The art of counselling. Amereon Press.
  7. Lewis, T., & Wahesh, E. (2023). Motivational Interviewing in clinical mental health counselling. Routledge.
  8. Paljakka, S. & Stone Carlson, T. (2025). So you want to do Narrative Therapy?: Letters to an aspiring narrative therapist. Routledge.
  9. Ryan, P. (Ed.; 2020). Enhancing clinical case formulation: Theoretical and practical approaches for mental health practitioners. Routledge.
  10. Sharp, D. (1991). The survival papers. Lewellyn Publications.

Textbook is: Cory, G. (2020). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy (10th edition). Cengage.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Skeleton Argument

For 5 different module “Activities” across the unit provide either: (1) a response of approx. 100 words to the question posed; or (2) a response of approx. 100 words to another student’s post. Each response will be marked as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

 500 5.0
Personal Reflection

For 5 different module “Reflection questions” across the unit provide either: (1) a response of approx. 100 words to the question posed; or (2) a response of approx. 100 words to another student’s post. Each response will be marked as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

 500 5.0
Skill Demonstration

Divide into pairs. You will maintain this pairing for both skill demonstrations. Do swap roles between “client” and “counsellor” in each skill demonstration. The client is to construct a therapeutic issue to discuss - nothing particularly traumatic. In a mock first session with your client build rapport by holding an empathetic presence. Also identify the key elements of your client's story.

900 30.0
Skill Demonstration

Having now build rapport with your client, and having identified the main parts to their story, begin to counsel them using basic counselling skills. The skills you choose to use should be consistent with one of the counselling modalities covered in this unit. Therefore avoid an eclectic approach to counselling.

 900 30.0
Essay

For a single common mental health issue compare/contrast the merits of two counselling approaches. Consider each approach’s assumptions, the adequacy of its empirical support, and the utility of its skills to different client types.

1200 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 4 Nov, 2024

Unit record last updated: 2024-11-04 08:56:05 +1100