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Professional Practice and Counselling Settings

Unit code: HAYS511

Credit points25 Credit Points
Duration1 Semester
Contact hours48 hours
CampusSingapore
Prerequisites
 
 
 
 
CorequisitesNone

Related course(s)

A unit of study in the Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling).

Aims and objectives

Aims
This unit, involving a practicum, aims to enhance learning associated with professional practice across a variety of counselling settings. A particular emphasis relates to learning and demonstrating advanced counselling interventions across a variety of psychological conditions.
 
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this unit, students should be able to:
* Demonstrate understanding and ability to undertake an psychological assessment, which includes: Identifying patient-concerns;
  diagnostic assessment; therapist-client therapeutic goals; possible therapeutic barriers to change
* Understand and demonstrate the processes involved in counselling individuals in different settings.
* Demonstrate understanding and ability to apply psychotherapeutic and psychological theories in a therapeutic process
* Demonstrate understanding and ability to manage complex cases involving
  challenges to change and multiple psychological concerns
* Demonstrate understanding of the multiple and different ethical issues associated
   with practicing in multiple clinical settings

Teaching methods

Class sessions will involve lectures, discussions, reflective activities and group discussions.

Assessment

* A reflective essay on the different counselling settings (2500-3000 words) (70%)
* Four case studies (not more than 300 words for each case study) to be reflected in the 2-part personal journal (20%)
* Active participation in classes (10%)

Generic skills outcomes

The graduate attributes associated with this unit of study are as follows:

 

Graduates:
 * are capable in their chosen professional areas.

 * operate effectively in work and community.

 * are adaptable and manage change.

 * are aware of environments.

 * are entrepreneurial.

 

 

Content

The following topics provide the necessary framework from which students learn to establish a reliable and professional attitude in the practice of counselling:

* Age Roles, Sex Roles, Family Roles
* Bereavement, Grief and Losses
* Physical illness eg. Cancers, Dementia, Stroke, Heart Disease, lifestyle diseases
* Alcohol and Substance Abuses
* Multi-cultural Issues
* Mental Health Disorders (eg. Depression, Anxiety disorders, Psychosis, Disorders of childhood, Psychiatric disorders & Personality
   Disorders)

Reading materials

Angus, L.E., & McLeod, J. The Handbook of Narrative Psychotherapy: Practice, Theory and Research. Sager: London, 2004.
Atkinson a, D.R., & Hackett, G. Counselling Diverse Populations. (3rd edition) McGraw Hill Boston, 2003.
Bishop, E. Managing addictions: Cognitive, Emotive and Behavioural Techniques. Aronson London, 2001.
Davison, G.C., Neale, J.M., & Kring, A.M. Abnormal Psychology (9th edition). John Wiley & Sons: New York, 2004.
Lendrum, S. & Syme, G. Gift of Tears. New York Routledge, 2001.
Neimeyer, R.A (Ed) Meaning Reconstruction and the Experience of Loss. American Psychological Association: Washington DC, 2001.
Sue, D. W. Counseling the Culturally Different: Theory and Practice. (4th edition), London: Wiley, 2003.
Tan, E., Counselling in Schools, McGraw-Hill, USA, 2004.