Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

• Unit Title

  Child and Adolescent Counselling

• Unit Code

  COU6509

• Year

  2020

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  1

• Credit Points

  20

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  Online

• Unit Coordinator

  Ms Georgina Mary AKERS

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Description

This unit introduces students to skills, theories and techniques for working with children and adolescents in a counselling setting. Developmental psychology and an ecological systems perspective for assessment and intervention will be examined, including measures to facilitate effective collaboration with children, families, and their social and cultural networks. An emphasis on strengths-based, child safe practices will be presented, highlighting the critical importance of delivering culturally and developmentally appropriate interventions in the best interest of the child. Students will critically review the numerous, unique, legal and ethical concerns relating to counselling children and adolescents, including informed consent, types of confidentiality, sharing information with parents, mandatory reporting, subpoenas and delivery of interventions through digital technologies.

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 evaluate evidence-based therapeutic approaches and interventions for commonly encountered issues in child and adolescent counselling.
2. Examine the unique ethical and legal challenges associated with counselling children and young people in a range of contexts.
3. Apply developmental psychology and ecological systems theory to assessment and treatment plans for children of varying ages.
4. Communicate the interpersonal skills and techniques required to establish rapport and create an effective therapeutic alliance with children and adolescents.
5. Analyse and reflect on personal responses to counselling children and young people; including potential triggers, countertransference and boundaries.

Unit Content

1. Child and adolescent mental health.
2. Theories and techniques for assessment of children and adolescents, including; observation; developmental psychology; and ecological systems theory.
3. Therapeutic theories and approaches for working with children and adolescents, including; play therapy; art therapy; narrative therapy; mindfulness therapy; and bibliotherapy.
4. Ethical and legal issues in working with children and adolescents, including; confidentiality and the role of parents and others in the therapeutic alliance; informed consent and voluntary participation; maintaining professional boundaries; child safe practice; and responding to risk factors.
5. Reflective practice, supervision and self-care when working with children and adolescents.

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 Board of Examiners.

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