People have always expressed a small set of needs and concerns related to being valued, to belonging, and with respect to future happiness. However, we each express these needs according to our life’s particular circumstances. Counsellors must therefore be able to hold unity and diversity in tension. While The Human Condition (CO1004Z) speaks of unity this unit engages diversity. As such, you will be introduced to how various forms of diversity influence counselling. Specifically, issues of age, class, culture, indigeneity, disability, sexuality/gender, neurodiversity, and giftedness will be considered. Our hope is that by engaging diversity you will develop empathetic and effective ways to work alongside a variety of clients.
Unit code: CO1006Z
Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1
Unit discipline: Counselling
Proposing College: School of Professional Practice - Counselling
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Name multiple forms of diversity and describe how they impact counselling. |
| 2. | Identify key issues, understandings and expectations of members of various diversity communities. |
| 3. | Articulate a method of practice for a variety of clients which is ethical, empathetic, professional and effective. |
| 4. | Name one’s own barriers to effective engagement with clients self-describing as members of diversity communities. |
Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 1, semester 2 (term 3). Prerequisites: NA Prohibited combinations: NA
Transformative learning In practice: It is important that counselling students discover that the world is a complex place. To this end students now have the opportunity to confront “uncomfortable truths” about themselves and the world. Opportunity is then provided to critically reflect upon narrowly held ways of being. This is achieved through the provision of online modules in which personal reflections play an important role. During online seminars, or a face-to-face intensive, students are given the opportunity to undertake corporate critical reflection which is a powerful tool for personal growth. Assessments are designed to demonstrate a student’s personal growth towards holding truth provisionally, while also demonstrating an increased capacity for empathy, justice, and creative tolerance.
| 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 |
| Portfolio | A folio is a collection of resources. Depending upon its purpose a folio may be for your benefit or for the benefit of your clients. To begin with, choose one form of diversity. Now create a folio of useful counselling-related documents. In this instance the folio should have resources for your clients and resources for yourself. For example, clients may need to know the details of specialist counselling/medical/legal/advocacy services in their area. Some may also have to know the details of crisis-support services. As for yourself, you should be aware of current treatment/practice guidelines etc.. Having collated your folio analyse the documents within it. From this analysis briefly articulate an approach to counselling which is specific, empathetic and effective. |
500 | 20.0 |
| Essay | Choose a form of diversity that you wish to know more about. This diversity group may be the same as that considered in Assessment 3. How is this form of diversity treated similarly/differently when considered from the perspectives of “lived experience” vs. the academic literature? Specifically, what does each type of knowledge teach us? As a counsellor how can you bring together both forms of knowledge to enhance your practice? |
1000 | 30.0 |
| Personal Reflection | Choose a form of diversity that you have not yet investigated. Specifically, choose a form of diversity that you are uncomfortable with. Now engage a text of lived experience. This may be an autobiography, an extended Youtube interview, attending an event with a speaker, or similar. What was surprising, disquieting, illuminating, or inaccessible for you when engaging with your chosen text? What are the implications of this new awareness for your counselling? |
1500 | 40.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 4 Nov, 2024
Unit record last updated: 2024-11-04 08:51:09 +1100