PUB HLTH 5008 - Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course will examine multiple theoretical frameworks regarding counselling and psychotherapy. This course will introduce students to the key philosophical and theoretical approaches which guide current practice. Areas covered include Psychoanalytic Theory; Analytic Psychology; Behaviour Theory; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Existential Theory; Person Centred Therapy; Gestalt Theory; Family Systems Therapy; Feminist Theory; Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; and Integrative modalities.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 5008
    Course Counselling and Psychotherapy Theories
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to MCounsPsych, GDipCounsPsych, GCertCounsPsych students only or with approval of Program Coordinator
    Course Description This course will examine multiple theoretical frameworks regarding counselling and psychotherapy. This course will introduce students to the key philosophical and theoretical approaches which guide current practice. Areas covered include Psychoanalytic Theory; Analytic Psychology; Behaviour Theory; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Existential Theory; Person Centred Therapy; Gestalt Theory; Family Systems Therapy; Feminist Theory; Solution-Focused Brief Therapy; and Integrative modalities.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: David Hillard


    Student & Program Support Services Hub
    Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone: +61 8313 0273
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Timetable details are located on MyUni.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Recognise and define the theory and practice of a variety of theoretical models in counselling and psychotherapy.
    2 Demonstrate understanding of the various counselling models presented in terms of underlying philosophy, key concepts and the goals of the therapy.
    3 Explain the function of both the therapist and client in terms of techniques and procedures undertaken, and the specific nature of the therapeutic relationship of each of the models presented.
    4 Appraise the contributions and limitations of each of the counselling models including implications for multicultural contexts and application in clinical settings.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1-4

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1-4

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1-4

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1-4

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    1-4

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    1-4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1-4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Corey, G. (2017). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy,  (9th ed.). , Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
    Recommended Resources
    Copies of readings (relevant journal articles) will be made available via MyUni.
    Selected videos and Youtube clips may be recommended for home study.
    Online Learning
    3.3.1 MyUni
    MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at Adelaide University. MyUni provides students and staff with access to course  materials, discussion forums, announcements, online and many other features to help manage your study or teaching. You can  connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet connected computer using a Web browser. The URL is: www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

    Login to this resource using your Username and Password. Once logged on to MyUni,
    you will find the information displayed is customised to present only details relevant to you and the online content for courses that you are studying.

    For enquiries about online education services, what’s available and access, contact the Online Education Helpdesk:Phone: (08) 8313 3000E-mail: servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.

    You will use MyUni for a number of purposes:- Accessing announcements about changes in scheduling, course information etc.Accessing lecture notes both in pdf format and, if recording is possible in the allocated lecture theatre, in audio file format.Accessing online learning activities including self and peer-assessment tasks, discussion boards, blog posts, wikisAccessing online resources

    3.3.2 Access Adelaide or MyAdelaide
    Adelaide is the name of the online service that allows you to access and, in some cases, amend your records. It can be found at:
    https://access.adelaide.edu.au/sa/login.aspYou can log into Access Adelaide to view: your enrolment details for any term your academic results your unofficial academic transcript your personal details the fees, charges and payments on your University account your exam schedule your graduation eligibility details. As a student you can: change your address and telephone details (please inform the Discipline as well) change your password set a password clue to help you remember your password.  

    3.3.3 Student email
    We assume that students access email and that their address is the University of Adelaide student address that was assigned on enrolment.  This is of the form: firstname.lastname@student.adelaide.edu.au

    Notice to a student by email is considered to have been received and read by the student unless there is a transmission error and the postmaster bounces the message back to us. As discussed above, the Announcements page of the MyUni site for this course will also display relevant notices from time to time, so it is essential that students check their student email and log on to MyUni regularly.

    3.3.4 COMPUTER LABORATORIES AND OTHER COMPUTING SERVICES
    University information on computer laboratories and other computing services is available at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/your-tools/academic/student-computer-suite 

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The aim of this course is to enable students to develop an understanding of how key counselling theories developed in the context of history and their connection to a philosophical school of thought. Different theories provide a framework and language for understanding human nature, psychological distress and the change process. This in turn guides the therapist in what to listen for, and how to develop informed intervention work.

    Class sessions will primarily be a combination of lecture content and discussion/workshops. Students will work in groups to begin to apply the concepts of case conceptualisation to a series of case studies, culminating in a group assignment at the end of the semester.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The course is comprised of three-hour workshops every week for 10 weeks. Sessions will employ a range of techniques to facilitate integration and understanding of the content presented. In addition to lecture content, a range of workshop and discussion-based approaches will be employed. Essential readings will be set every week, and we expect that you will have read and engaged with these before each session. If you do not do the essential reading/s, you may find it difficult to follow and contribute to both group discussions and practice sessions. In addition, the quizzes will be based on these weekly readings.

    The workload set for this course is as follows:
    • Face to Face worshops: 3 hours / week
    • Core/background readings and quizzes: 5 hours / week
    • Preparation of assignments: 4 hours / week
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topic
    Overview of course
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic approaches
    Behavioural approaches
    Cognitve Behavioural approaches
    Humanistic approaches
    Existential & Experiential approaches
    Family and Systemic approaches
    Post modern approaches Feminist therapy, multicultural and interpersonal approaches
    Post modern approaches Solution Focused Therapy
    Integrative approaches
    Group presentations
    Specific Course Requirements
    None
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Online Quizzes (5) Summative 25% 1-4
    Critical Analysis Group Paper Summative 30% 1-4
    Critical reflection Summative 35% 1-4
    Class Participation Summative 10% 1-4
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students will be required to deliver a short presentation outlining knowledge and application of theories in weeks 11 & 12.
    Assessment Detail
    Online Quizzes (25%) 
    Throughout the semester, students will be required to complete 5 multiple choice online quizzes. Each quiz relates to the required reading for the topic. Each quiz allows only 1 attempt and has a time limit which will be specified on the course page on MyUni.

    Critical Analysis Paper (Group assignment) (30%)
    Compare and contrast three theories and then apply one theory to a case study.

    Critical reflection (35%)
    10 x 300 word journals to be submitted weekly and a final 1000 word reflective summary.               
    Completion of a reflective journal and reflective summary considering what has been learned, what has changed and next steps.

    Class participation (10%)
    Class Participation in accordance with both university policy and the group norms identified in class.
    Submission
    Extensions
    All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission.   Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds.  Supporting documentation must be  provided at the time a student requests an extension.  Without documentation, extensions will not be granted.  Late requests for  extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

    Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

    Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the  student’s situation.  The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student.  Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

    Late submission
    Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

    All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits.  In the case of late assignments where no  extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted.  If an assignment that is 2  days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%.  If that same  assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

    The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

    Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.

    Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination  period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

    Resubmission
    If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>.  Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance.  This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result.  Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and  will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.