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Theories and Foundations of Counselling

Unit code: HAYS410

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
Duration1 Semester
Contact hours36 hours
CampusSingapore
Prerequisites
Admission to the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Social Science (Professional Counselling).
CorequisitesNil

Aims and objectives

Aims
This unit provides an overview of the theoretical and practical foundations of counselling,with particular emphasis on personality, developmental processes, cross-culturalcounselling and the role of identify formatting within a multicultural environment and its
relationship to maladjustment problems.
 
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this unit, students should be able to:
* Define personality and be aware of the factors that influence the development of personality.
* Be aware of how a client’s personality can impact on counselling of the client.
* Perceive human problems in terms of a person’s developmental stage.
* Explore barriers to effective cross-cultural counselling before proceeding to look at cultural variations in non-verbal communication.
* Identify the differences in identity formation for majority and minority groups in a multicultural society with a view to understanding potential maladjustment problems.

Teaching methods

This unit is taught using lectures, case presentations, role-plays and class participation.

Assessment

One essay to be completed (2000 words) (90%)
Active participation in class and case study presentations (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

This unit introduces some of the major theories of personality and focuses on the clinical application of these theories especially in the field of counselling. Basic research methods used to test these theories are also examined. Topics cover the broad areas of:
* Types of normal and abnormal personalities
* Factors influencing personality development
* Developmental theories eg Piaget, Kohlberg and Erickson
* Childhood, adolescence and adulthood
* Development in a multicultural setting
* Cross-cultural dynamics and models
* Non-verbal communication

Reading materials

Hoffman, L., Paris, S. & Hall, E., Developmental Psychology Today (6th Edition), McGraw-Hill, USA, 1994.
Liu, W. M., Toporek, R. L., Hardin L., Coleman K. & Pope-Davis, D. B., Handbook of Multicultural Competencies in Counselling and Psychology, Sage Publications,USA, 2003.
Miller, P. H., Theories of Developmental Psychology (4th Edition), Worth Publishing, London, 2001.
Sue, D. W. & Sue, D., Counselling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (4th Edition), John Wiley & Sons, USA, 2003.
Rogers, C. R. & Kramer, P. D., On Becoming a Person: A Therapist’s View of Psychotherapy, Mariner Books, USA, 1995.
Yalom, I. D., The Gift of Therapy (New Edition), Piatkus Books, London, 2003.