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.

  • Unit Title

    Counselling in a Digital World
  • Unit Code

    COU6505
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr Milan VOJNOVIC

Description

Counselling treatment as we know it is undergoing a fundamental change, driven by the widespread availability of digital technology and current global events. Now more than ever people are seeking psychological support via online platforms and advancements in communication technologies mean that counsellors can provide these services in unique and far-reaching ways. In response to trends in the industry, this unit explores how the fundamental theories and techniques of counselling can be translated and adapted for delivery across a range of digital and online modalities. The advantages and strengths of delivering online counselling will be examined, as well as the ethical and legal risks and challenges. This unit also provides students with opportunities to develop their practical counselling skills through online exercises.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Students undertake this unit in an accelerated delivery mode over 6 weeks.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse counselling theory and its application in a digital setting.
  2. Investigate the ethical and legal frameworks relevant to online therapeutic interventions.
  3. Apply professional and technical skills to design, implement and evaluate counselling interventions across a range of modalities.
  4. Collaborate and communicate with fellow students to practice a range of counselling skills via online platforms.
  5. Engage in reflective practice to monitor professional functioning and implement strategies for ongoing development.

Unit Content

  1. Theory and practice of counselling relevant to online and digital modalities.
  2. Skills and techniques for framing an online counselling session, including; attending; building rapport; framing the session; problem identification and goal setting; termination; and record keeping.
  3. Methods of online counselling and therapy, including; video sessions (e-therapy); telephone (teletherapy); chat rooms; emails and text; and self-directed online programs.
  4. Strengths and advantages of online counselling.
  5. Risks and weaknesses of online counselling.
  6. Ethics relevant to online counselling, including; confidentiality and consent; security and privacy online; record keeping and data management; managing boundaries; and child safe practices.
  7. Reflective practice and supervision for the digital counsellor.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

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.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEthical considerations in online counselling30%
Case StudyCommunication simulation30%
ExerciseOnline roleplay and reflection40%

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 Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

COU6505|1|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.

  • Unit Title

    Counselling in a Digital World
  • Unit Code

    COU6505
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr Milan VOJNOVIC

Description

Counselling treatment as we know it is undergoing a fundamental change, driven by the widespread availability of digital technology and current global events. Now more than ever people are seeking psychological support via online platforms and advancements in communication technologies mean that counsellors can provide these services in unique and far-reaching ways. In response to trends in the industry, this unit explores how the fundamental theories and techniques of counselling can be translated and adapted for delivery across a range of digital and online modalities. The advantages and strengths of delivering online counselling will be examined, as well as the ethical and legal risks and challenges. This unit also provides students with opportunities to develop their practical counselling skills through online exercises.

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Students undertake this unit in an accelerated delivery mode over 6 weeks.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse counselling theory and its application in a digital setting.
  2. Investigate the ethical and legal frameworks relevant to online therapeutic interventions.
  3. Apply professional and technical skills to design, implement and evaluate counselling interventions across a range of modalities.
  4. Collaborate and communicate with fellow students to practice a range of counselling skills via online platforms.
  5. Engage in reflective practice to monitor professional functioning and implement strategies for ongoing development.

Unit Content

  1. Theory and practice of counselling relevant to online and digital modalities.
  2. Skills and techniques for framing an online counselling session, including; attending; building rapport; framing the session; problem identification and goal setting; termination; and record keeping.
  3. Methods of online counselling and therapy, including; video sessions (e-therapy); telephone (teletherapy); chat rooms; emails and text; and self-directed online programs.
  4. Strengths and advantages of online counselling.
  5. Risks and weaknesses of online counselling.
  6. Ethics relevant to online counselling, including; confidentiality and consent; security and privacy online; record keeping and data management; managing boundaries; and child safe practices.
  7. Reflective practice and supervision for the digital counsellor.

Learning Experience

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

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.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
EssayEthical considerations in online counselling30%
Case StudyCommunication simulation30%
ExerciseOnline roleplay and reflection40%

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 Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

COU6505|1|2