PSY4030 Skills and Issues in Counselling

PSY	4030	87239	1, 2009	ONC	Skills and Issues in Counselling	1.00	Springfield
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOSCI
Academic org:	FOS005
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090513

Staffing
Requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Travis Gee
Moderator: Gerry Tehan

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in Program BSCH in Psychology major (12302) or in one of the following Programs: BPSH or BPSY

RATIONALE

This course is designed to provide a solid foundation in the basic skills and concepts needed to pursue a career in counselling, and it comprises the counselling practice component of the program. Other professional issues specifically related to counselling practice, including cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness, are also covered in this course in order to ensure that students are aware of the parameters of appropriate professional practice.

SYNOPSIS

This course provides students with a thorough understanding of the counselling process. The focus of the course is practical with reference to previously learnt counselling theory. Students will develop the basic foundation skills of counselling, as well as the ability to formulate, plan and evaluate therapy. Professional issues pertaining to all aspects of counselling will be covered in detail, as well as contextual issues impacting upon the client and the therapeutic process. These issues include gender and cross-cultural issues. There is an emphasis on both personal and professional self-exploration and development. Toowoomba Campus: This course will be offered via two compulsory workshops on-campus, each of two days' duration, and by self-directed study, readings, assignments and web-based discussion groups. Springfield Campus: This course will be offered via weekly classes which incorporate practica and regular written work, part of which will form the assessment.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.: demonstrate a capacity for planning and conducting professional counselling to individuals presenting with a variety of problems (Assessment 1, 2, 4, 5, 6);
2.: demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of the relevant professional skills and issues associated with counselling practice (Assessment 2, 3, 4, 5, 6);
3.: demonstrate an understanding of and sensitivity toward cross-cultural issues in counselling diverse populations (Assessment 1, 2 & 6).

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Week/Module One: THE COUNSELLOR: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - what is counselling? - counsellors in therapy - the counselling relationship - issues faced by beginning counsellors - ethical and professional issues related to professional practice	10.00
2.	Week/Module Two: THE CLIENT IN CONTEXT - contextual issues that impact upon the client and the counselling process - multicultural issues in counselling - gender issues in counselling - developmental/lifespan issues in counselling. Practicum: Developing a Viable Client Agreement Form - Round Table Discussion	10.00
3.	Week/Module Three: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS - attending skills and behaviour - empathic listening. Practicum: Group Therapy 1: "Gary's Dilemma"	10.00
4.	Week/Module Four: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - use of questions and language - opening communication - timing in therapy. Practicum: "Group Therapy 2: Boss From Hell"	5.00
5.	Week/Module Five: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - client observation skills - individual styles and perception. Practicum: Group Therapy 3: "I Wanna Be Schizo"	5.00
6.	Week/Module Six: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - encouraging, paraphrasing and summarising - helping clients tell their story. Practicum: Group Therapy 4: Dave's Little Secret	10.00
7.	Week/Module Seven: BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - reflection of clients' feelings. Practicum: Group Therapy 5: "Sam's Dad"	10.00
8.	Week/Module Eight: INTEGRATION OF BASIC COUNSELLING SKILLS - structuring the overall counselling process - establishing rapport - gathering information and defining the problem - determining goals - exploring alternatives - generalisation and transfer of learning. Practicum: Dyads. Students pair off - one is therapist and one is client. "Client" role-plays as if he/she had the diagnosis studied, "therapist" uses skills to elicit information that might assist with diagnosis.	10.00
9.	Week/Module Nine: ADVANCED COUNSELLING SKILLS - use of confrontation - working with grief and loss. Practicum: Dyads 2. Last week's clients become therapists and vice-versa. Diagnosis selected between weeks 7 and 8 is used by client.	5.00
10.	Week/Module Ten: ADVANCED COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - focussing - the genogram. Practicum: Develop your own personal genogram and identify issues relevant to things that are happening in your life (positive or negative) at the time.	5.00
11.	Week/Module Eleven: ADVANCED COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - eliciting and reflecting meaning - exploring clients' values and beliefs. Practicum: Group Therapy: "Cliffie"	5.00
12.	Week/Module Twelve: ADVANCED COUNSELLING SKILLS, cont'd - interpersonal influencing skills and strategies (interpretation, feedback, advice, self-disclosure, directives). Practicum: Group Therapy: "Bill"	5.00
13.	Week/Module Thirteen: SKILL INTEGRATION - planning and evaluation. Practicum: Group discussion of course contents and personal/professional development.	10.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Ivey, AE & Ivey, MB 2007, Intentional interviewing and counselling: facilitating client development in a multicultural society, 6th edn, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessments	48.00
Class Contact	39.00
Private Study	91.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
PERSONAL CLIENT AGREEMENT FORM	10.00	10.00	15 Mar 2009	(see note 1)
BEST 3 OF 5 REFLECTIVE PIECES	30.00	30.00	13 Apr 2009	(see note 2)
THERAPISTS REPORT	20.00	20.00	04 May 2009	(see note 3)
GENOGRAM	10.00	10.00	11 May 2009	(see note 4)
SELF-REFLECTIVE PIECE	10.00	10.00	25 May 2009	(see note 5)
DIAGNOSTIC REPORT	20.00	20.00	22 Jun 2009	(see note 6)

NOTES

1.: This is due in class time, week 3
2.: The student is urged to attempt all 5 pieces, but is only required to complete 3. However, not completing the other two will leave the student no options with regard to selection of their best work. APA format and correct English are expected for each, with no abstract being necessary, and references only as they may be appropriate. Unreferenced but insightful papers can do well.
3.: The client's report on the therapist will be provided to the therapist the week following the role-play. While not for credit, it is expected that feedback will be provided in both directions, as this is a professional issue of assisting one's peers to improve their performance.
4.: This is due in class time, week 11
5.: This is due in class time, week 13
6.: This report is due one week after the last day of class.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
As this is a core, practical course, attendance at most classes will be necessary, particularly where the self-reflection pieces are to be done. Students will be required to role-play the therapist in order for the Therapist's Report piece to be done, so attendance at a minimum of one of those two classes will be required. Attendance at both is strongly recommended, in order to ensure that feedback is completed for all students.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete each of the assignments satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assignment.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
There will be no supplementary examinations in this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There will be no supplementary examinations in this course.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

9.	Students are required to contribute to weekly online discussions throughout the semester beginning in week one of the course. While it is understandable that a week or two may be missed during the semester, a minimum of 10 weekly original submissions is required and late submissions will not be accepted. Topics for discussion will involve the counselling skills and techniques and broader counselling issues covered in the course. An 'original' contribution will consist of a 100-300 word reflection on or critical appraisal of course material and/or related topics, though students are also expected to ask questions and to respond to the contributions and ideas of their fellow students. At the end of the semester, students must select and submit a folio of five of their own original contributions along with a brief summary 500-1000 words), addressing each of the contributions separately, of the relevance of those contributions to the overall objectives of the course. The summary should be written in APA style.
10.	Students must submit a 15-20 minute videotape of a role-played counselling session where the student, in the role of the counsellor, uses the skills learned in the course. For purposes of this exercise, a volunteer recruited by the student will take the role of the client. The issue(s) discussed in the role-play are of the student's choosing and are not relevant to the assessment. The videotaped session is to be evaluated by the student according to the format provided in the Introductory Book and both the tape and the self-evaluation are to be submitted to the examiner. Students will be marked only on their self-evaluation and not on the videotaped session itself. Thus, they are assessed on the basis of their appraisal of their performance and not on their actual performance. However, where a skill or technique may not have been used during the session, the student is still expected to demonstrate understanding of that concept and its application.
11.	The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch an assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner; STUDENTS MUST RETAIN A DATED RECEIPT FROM THE POST OFFICE WHEN POSTING ASSIGNMENTS.
12.	Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to the USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request to do so.
13.	In accordance with University Policy, the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances. STUDENTS MUST CONTACT THE EXAMINER DIRECTLY, IN ADVANCE, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AN EXTENSION.
14.	The Faculty of Sciences will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile.
15.	Students who do not qualify for a Passing grade may, at the discretion of the Examiner, be assigned additional work to demonstrate to the Examiner that they have achieved the required standard. It is expected that such students will have gained at least 45% of the total marks available for all summative items.
16.	The two hour, restricted examination will be given at the end of the semester according to the published timetable. The exam will consist of a series of short answer questions based on counselling case studies similar to those presented in the textbook and during the workshops, as well as an essay question. Students may bring only writing materials into the closed examination.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students will require regular access to e-mail and internet access to USQConnect for this course.
Core topics will be discussed for the first part of class, then practical elements of applied practice will be developed. Each week students will be given a task to prepare for the following week's practicum. Some of these tasks will go toward developing portfolio-related materials for later professional use.

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.