PUB HLTH 6018 - Counselling Skills 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

Counselling Skills 2 builds on the fundamental elements of Counselling Skills 1. Students will develop a range of discrete skills including applying counselling interventions, reviewing client progress, structuring a session, managing risk and safety issues, and beginning and ending sessions effectively. Through the practice and observation of counselling skills students will be given maximum opportunity to acquire and develop appropriate and intentional counselling responses with various real client scenarios. Throughout the semester, students will be provided with ample opportunities to practice and develop their psychotherapeutic skills. Specifically, during class time, students will work in therapeutic teams and provide counselling to a number of surrogate client presentations. Course teaching staff will observe students in these tasks and providing relevant and timely feedback. The practical assessment of clinical competencies at the end of the course is a compulsory assessment and a pass is required in order to enrol in Placement 1a in the second year of the Master?s Program.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 6018
    Course Counselling Skills 2
    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
    Prerequisites PUB HLTH 5005
    Restrictions Available to MCounsPsych, GDipCounsPsych, GCertCounsPsych students only or with approval of Program Coordinator
    Assessment Participation, quiz, practical skills assessment (including weekly feedback logs)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mrs Rebecca Wood

    Course Coordinators: Becky Wood 
    Email: r.wood@adelaide.edu.au 

    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.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1

    Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose and skills involved in all stages of the counselling process;

    2

    Identify the change of counsellor orientation and responses involved in each stage of the counselling process;

    3

    Demonstrate skills for engaging clients’ strengths and enlisting these in the therapeutic process

    4

    Work empathically to generate client data, to analyse the data, and to critique and rate one’s own counselling responses and set goals for improvement;

    5

    Demonstrate skills for dealing effectively with common difficulties that present in counselling

    6

    Demonstrate self-awareness at both a personal and professional level.

    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.

    1-6

    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.

    1-6

    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.

    1-5

    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.

    4, 5

    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.

    1-6

    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.

    4-6

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

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

    N/A

    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.

    1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    We will be using the same text that you purchased in Counselling Skills 1:

    Geldard, D. and Geldard, K (2012) Basic Personal Counselling: A training manual for counsellors (7th edition) Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest.

    Recommended Resources
    A list of recommended resources will be provided on the MyUni site.
    Online Learning
    MyUni
    All students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework program have access to a Postgraduate Coursework Student Centre on MyUni. This course is available on MyUni at www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/.
    Please check the website regularly as it may contain announcements that are relevant to your study in the course. If you would like the opportunity to network with other students, you can use the Communication features in the site:
    Discussion Board – Users can post discussion items and reply to other posts.
    Note: If you would like to have a specific Discussion Board Forum created, please send your request to the course coordinator.
    Send Email – This feature enables users to send email to fellow students.
    Group Pages – Groups enable Users to collaborate with each other. Groups usually consist of a smaller group of Users in a course or organisation, such as study groups or project groups. From a Group Page, users may send email, exchange files, enter discussion forums or enter collaboration sessions. Note: Only members of a particular Group can access the Group communication
    features (discussion forums, email, etc.). If you would like to have a specific
    Group Page created, please send your request to the course coordinator. For example, Group Pages can be created to include students living in the same geographical area or students working for the same organisation.
    Please note that you also have access to individual MyUni sites for EACH course you are enrolled in. Please check the sites regularly as they may contain important announcements that are relevant to your study in the course.

    MyAdelaide
    MyAdelaide is the online service that allows you to access and, in some cases, amend your records. It can be found at: https://myadelaide.uni.adelaide.edu.au/.
    You can log into MyAdelaide 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.

    Student email
    It is important that you set up your student email and check it regularly. Information from your course coordinator and student administration will be sent to you at your University of Adelaide email address. It is your responsibility to check your email. You will need your student number located on your student card to log in. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/your-services/email

    Computers
    Where can I use a computer in the University? Computing facilities are provided to students by the University, and there are
    several suites of computers available, including at the Barr Smith Library and in Hub Central. The University web site has a list of computer labs at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/your-tools/academic/student-computer-suite
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is a thorough program of interactive and experiential learning with 9 (3 hour sessions) comprising of online recorded lectures, therapeutic team planning, group questions and discussions, surrogate client practice sessions. The lecturers will use illustrations from their own work and case summaries presented by students, along with structured exercises and group discussion, as a way of supporting participants to engage with the various models of practice. Students will be exposed to a variety of approaches, with an emphasis on their connecting the learning to their own work and areas of interest and preferred counselling modalities, to develop their own ways of working in this area of practice. The didactic and other face-to-face sessions will be supported by readings and videos, and assessments designed to assist integration of learning and development of skills.

    Full attendance in class sessions is required to meet our accrediting body (PACFA) standards for appropriate counsellor training.
    Workload

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

    The teaching methods in this course will employ a range of techniques to allow the integration and understanding of the content
    presented. Counselling practice sessions and workshop activities will be employed in addition to the traditional methods of communicating information. Further, it is expected that by creating an environment that promotes the practice of individual responsibility as essential for students in managing their own and others learning, it will also complement the expectations that
    current counselling agencies adopt.

    Counselling Skills Two will be structured as a series of ten three hour seminar/workshops.

    Finally, it is assumed that all students are of a mature age, professionally educated and motivated to adopt the responsibilities associated with post-graduate study. Therefore, a level of intellectual effort (including private study time outside of formal class time per week), and a level of commitment and participation in class activities, is expected.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topic Lecture
    Overview of Course Course Learning Outcomes; Assessment; Recapping Counselling Skills 1
    Assessment Assessment in the counselling/psychotherapy process
    Formulation & Therapeutic Planning The beginnings of clinical formulation and using this information in therapeutic planning
    Flow of a session Reviewing the structure and 'movement' of the therapeutic space.
    Managing a Big Affect How to work with pervasive and overwhelming affect in the therapeutic relationship.
    Professional Boundaries The examination and management of transference and counter-transference
    Risk Assessment Examining and using risk assessment to establish and assist the saftey of the client
    Reflective Practice Discussing and implementing reflective practice within the therapist.
    Concluding Therapy Examining how to end the therapeutic relationship.
    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 Weighting Description Learning Outcome
    Quiz 10% Completion of 8 weekly quizzes to assess foundational knowledge 1-7
    Competency Reflection 20% Completion of 5 reflective accounts and a precis 1-7
    Practical Skills-based Assessment 60% Hurdle Assessment
    Live assessment of a counselling session demonstrating a range of counselling practices and therapeutic planning
    1-7
    Participation 10% Attendance, engagement with online lectures, feedback, professional communication 1-6
    Assessment Detail
    Reflective Questions (30%)
    A range of multiple choice and short answer quiz questions to be completed via MyUni.

    Practical Skills Assessment (including weekly feedback logs) (60%)
    As part of this assessment students will complete weekly logs reflecting on their practice with feedback from staff provided during class time. The practical skills assessment involves counselling a surrogate client. In the final week of assessment, each student will be allocated 15 minutes to conduct their counselling session, during which they will be required to demonstrate a set of core competencies.

    Participation (10%)
    Assessment by instructor. Assessment of class participation is based on consideration of the student’s attendance record, their ability to manage time (in terms of attendance and assignment submission), their engagement in developing and fostering group norms for the class, their willingness to offer questions in class, engagement in small-group discussions and learning tasks, their respectful and professional engagement with peers and staff, evidence of their tolerance with peers and clients, and their ability to modify behaviour in response to feedback from peers or staff.
    Submission
    Submission of Assignments
    The first assignment will be submitted through MyUni.

    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.

    Important
    Please note that Counselling Skills 2 is assessed according to the GS8 Grading Scheme. Please see the relevant assessment grading categories, below.
    Course Grading

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

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    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.