Working With Couples And Families (CO2005Z)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

While most people think of counselling as a conversation between a counsellor and their client it is common to have multiple clients in the room at any one time. Therefore this unit will engage the nuances of both couples and family counselling. Specific issues faced by many couples will be noted alongside counselling frameworks and evidence-based therapeutic practices. Similarly, when counselling families various therapeutic frameworks will be explored alongside evidence-based strategies to elicit positive change.

Unit code: CO2005Z

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Counselling

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: School of Professional Practice - Counselling

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Learning outcomes

1.

Describe how counselling one client is similar/different to counselling multiple clients at once.
2.

Name common threats to the stability of a couple’s relationship and to a family system.
3.

Describe common counselling frameworks used to work with couples and be able to demonstrate relevant skills.
4.

Describe common counselling frameworks used to work with families and be able to demonstrate relevant skills.
5.
6.

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 1 (term 2).
Prerequisites: CO1005Z Introduction To Counselling Prohibited combinations: CO1004Z The Human Condition; CO2004Z Working In, And With, Culture; Intimacy, Sex(ualities), And Gender; Working With Groups, Teams, And Leaders.

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning. Tutorial and Intensive format over 8 weeks. The compulsory intensive will be 29 hours in duration over four consecutive days held in week 6. Mornings will use synchronous on-line learning and afternoons will use activity-based face-to-face learning. The remaining 7 weeks will utilise weekly asynchronous on-line learning and 1 hour of synchronous on-line learning (i.e., compulsory tutorial).

Indicative Bibliography

  1. Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. (2021). Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counselling (2nd edition). Wiley. [TEXTBOOK]
  2. Chapman, G. (2010). Things I wish I’d known before we got married. Moody Press.
  3. Gottman, J. (2018). The seven principles for making marriage work: A practical guide from the international bestselling relationship expert. Orion Spring.
  4. Gottman, J., & Schwartz-Gottman, J. (2018). The science of couples and family therapy: Behind the scenes at the “Love Lab”. W. W. Norton & Company.
  5. Rivett, M. & Buchmüller, J. (2017). Family therapy skills and techniques in action. Routledge
  6. Shackelford, T. (2021). The SAGE handbook of domestic violence. Sage Publications Ltd.
  7. Spring, J. (2021). After the affair: Healing the pain and rebuilding trust when a partner has been unfaithful (3rd edition). Harper Collins.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Skeleton Argument

For 5 different module “Activities” across the unit provide a forum response.

 500 5.0
Personal Reflection

For 5 different module “Reflection questions” across the unit provide a forum response.

 500 5.0
Personal Reflection

A reflection on one's Family of Origin and how it may help/hinder the counselling of couples and families.

 1000 20.0
Skill Demonstration

A conflictual couple - A mock brief session.

 1000 30.0
Skill Demonstration

A conflictual family - A mock brief session.

 1000 30.0
Book Review

To watch and review the work of a master therapist.

 500 10.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 31 Oct, 2023

Unit record last updated: 2023-10-31 09:21:27 +1100