Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Effective from 01-JAN-2018 : Code J54

The Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is both an award within its own right and an exit award within the Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy. This course is designed for professionals who wish to acquire counselling skills for use in their work as health professionals, social workers, personnel officers, pastors, human service workers, psychologists or counsellors. The course provides training in counselling skills and theory, and prepares graduates to develop a counselling role in the setting in which they work. Graduates of this course are eligible to apply for the Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Critique and examine complex clinical material; deduce, distinguish and apply relevant theoretical concepts; formulate, implement and evaluate according to the process and practice of counselling and psychotherapy
2. Demonstrate advanced foundation knowledge of various psychodynamic and systemic couples and family therapy theoretical frameworks
3. Demonstrate currency with the theory of psychoanalytic technique as it pertains to individual counselling, including applied knowledge of the concepts transference and countertransference.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ethical frameworks for counselling
5. Employ principles of systemic theory as a framework for observing and conceptualising different dimensions of family functioning
6. Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in counselling and psychotherapy Demonstrate competency in individual psychodynamic counselling
7. Review the developmental stages of the human life cycle from object relations and attachment theory perspectives
8. Synthesise key principles and processes identified with of psychoanalytically informed, cross-generational, and emotionally focussed approaches to couple and family therapy practice
9. Those that complete the COU5210 elective should be able to: Demonstrate an awareness of countertransference including a capacity to employ it meaningfully in a psychotherapeutic context
10. Those that complete the COU6121 elective should be able to: Demonstrate advanced foundation knowledge of various individual psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy theoretical frameworks

Admission requirements

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years appropriate professional experience

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to attend an interview. Applicants will be asked to provide a written application and attend an interview if they are short-listed. Preference will be given to applicants with at least two years full-time (or equivalent) experience in a formal counselling role.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 1 Year
• Part Time: 2 Years

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time

Non standard timetable requirements

Students may be required to attend occasional weekend or evening classes.

Course Coordinator

Dr Sarron Alvah GOLDMAN

Course Structure