School: Arts and Humanities

This unit 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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Group Psychotherapy
  • Unit Code

    COU6323
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Karen Elizabeth DARE

Description

This unit develops a basic framework for understanding group dynamics as they impact upon the professional role of the counsellor/psychotherapist. Theoretical perspectives on the structure, processes and dynamics of counselling groups and counselling education groups will be provided and evaluated. Consideration will be given to the typical group relations context within which a counsellor is likely to find themselves. This unit has a compulsory attendance requirement. In keeping with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) stipulations, students need to have practiced necessary skills/competencies in the classroom to a satisfactory level before going out into the field. A minimum of 80% class attendance is therefore required.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 5 units from COU5210, COU6113, COU6324, COU6428, COU6429

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded COU6322

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the theoretical concepts relating to group structures, processes and dynamics.
  2. Implement a group psychotherapy program demonstrating a critical awareness of the ethical responsibilities in professional counselling practice.
  3. Synthesise group dynamics concepts, including an awareness of the unconscious, at work in groups and teams.
  4. Synthesise the history, philosophy and variety of groups utilised in group counselling pratice.
  5. Theorise and use group leadership skills in a structured setting.

Unit Content

  1. Definitions, philosophy and limitations of counselling and educational groups.
  2. Historical overview of the experiential group movement and the subsequent emergence of specific types of groups.
  3. Distinguishing between therapy groups and educational groups.
  4. Theoretical frameworks in group dynamics: Bion, Whitaker and Lieberman focal-conflict model, Tavistock model, stage and norm theories and systems theory.
  5. Initiating and planning a group: the aims and purpose of the group establishing the contract with group members setting limits.
  6. The warm-up phase in groups.
  7. The main activity phase in groups: matching activities and group goals, structuring group sessions and unstructured groups.
  8. Facilitating appropriate self-disclosure, sharing, challenging and supportiveness and establishing open and healthy norms in a group.
  9. The closure phase: planning activities for closure, debriefing of group members and ensuring that "unfinished business" is aired.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 212 x 8 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning will occur through a combination of lectures, discussion and experiential group methods. Students will be expected to self reflect upon their own participation within a group setting. Students are also expected to plan and lead a small group session using the model presented and to analyse the dynamics of the group process.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportGroup observation task40%
ParticipationStudent facilitated group session10%
ProjectGroup proposal/plan50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

COU6323|3|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit 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.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Group Psychotherapy
  • Unit Code

    COU6323
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Karen Elizabeth DARE

Description

This unit develops a basic framework for understanding group dynamics as they impact upon the professional role of the counsellor/psychotherapist. Theoretical perspectives on the structure, processes and dynamics of counselling groups and counselling education groups will be provided and evaluated. Consideration will be given to the typical group relations context within which a counsellor is likely to find themselves. This unit has a compulsory attendance requirement. In keeping with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) stipulations, students need to have practiced necessary skills/competencies in the classroom to a satisfactory level before going out into the field. A minimum of 80% class attendance is therefore required.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 5 units from COU5210, COU6113, COU6324, COU6428, COU6429

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded COU6322

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the theoretical concepts relating to group structures, processes and dynamics.
  2. Implement a group psychotherapy program demonstrating a critical awareness of the ethical responsibilities in professional counselling practice.
  3. Synthesise group dynamics concepts, including an awareness of the unconscious, at work in groups and teams.
  4. Synthesise the history, philosophy and variety of groups utilised in group counselling pratice.
  5. Theorise and use group leadership skills in a structured setting.

Unit Content

  1. Definitions, philosophy and limitations of counselling and educational groups.
  2. Historical overview of the experiential group movement and the subsequent emergence of specific types of groups.
  3. Distinguishing between therapy groups and educational groups.
  4. Theoretical frameworks in group dynamics: Bion, Whitaker and Lieberman focal-conflict model, Tavistock model, stage and norm theories and systems theory.
  5. Initiating and planning a group: the aims and purpose of the group establishing the contract with group members setting limits.
  6. The warm-up phase in groups.
  7. The main activity phase in groups: matching activities and group goals, structuring group sessions and unstructured groups.
  8. Facilitating appropriate self-disclosure, sharing, challenging and supportiveness and establishing open and healthy norms in a group.
  9. The closure phase: planning activities for closure, debriefing of group members and ensuring that "unfinished business" is aired.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 212 x 8 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning will occur through a combination of lectures, discussion and experiential group methods. Students will be expected to self reflect upon their own participation within a group setting. Students are also expected to plan and lead a small group session using the model presented and to analyse the dynamics of the group process.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReportGroup observation task40%
ParticipationStudent facilitated group session10%
ProjectGroup proposal/plan50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

COU6323|3|2