Workbook 1 - Counselling and the Counselling Process

The first workbook of the Diploma of Counselling introduces the knowledge and skills required to work within an agency's agreed counselling model. This workbook also applies basic counselling skills that are utilised within the client-counsellor relationship. This will allow the student to:

• Work within a counselling framework
• Utilise a structured counselling approach
• Establish the nature of the helping relationship
• Confirm the appropriateness of the helping relationship
• Assist clients in clarifying their aims and requirements, and
• Enable clients to explore possible courses of action

Workbook 2 - Communication and the Counselling Interview

This workbook involves the exploration and application of skills and knowledge required to use advanced interpersonal communication skills to facilitate the client-counsellor relationship in a counselling practice. The workbook covers the identification and application of:

• Communication processes
• Communication barriers
• Communication techniques
• Confrontation skills
• Focusing skills, and
• Influencing skills

Workbook 3 - The Counselling Relationship

Workbook 3 builds on the basic skills of enabling clients to identify and work through concerns. Monitoring of the counselling process is covered in this workbook which allows students to:

• Explore presenting concerns and underlying issues
• Enable clients to prioritise concerns
• Use referral appropriately
• Identify and work with client ambivalence
• Enable clients to work through concerns
• Monitor the counselling process, and
• Bring the counselling process to an appropriate end

Workbook 4 - Personality and Development Theories

This workbook provides an introduction to key concepts and constructs underlying theories of personality and development. The workbook explores the development of theories of behaviour and their application in the client-counsellor relationship and the counselling process. Students will:

• Analyse various concepts within personality and development theory
• Apply personality and development theories to human development, and
• Evaluate personality and development theories in relation to individual difference

Workbook 5 - Learning Theories

Workbook 5 focuses on the application of learning theory in counselling practice, addressing the application and impact of social learning on behaviour. In this workbook, students will:

• Apply behaviourism in counselling practice
• Identify possible environmental modelling influences
• Analyse possible behavioural outcomes of different modelling and reinforcement influences, and
• Formulate a program for client change

Workbook 6 - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Workbook 6 focuses on the application of theoretical concepts, processes, knowledge and skills for the analysis and practical application of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy within counselling practice. Students will:

• Apply the key concepts of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Analyse both Beck's and Ellis' contributions
• Overview and apply the therapeutic process, and
• Learn the limitations of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Workbook 7 - Person-Centered Therpay

This workbook focuses on theoretical concepts, processes, knowledge and skills for the analysis and practical application of Person-Centred Therapy within counselling practice. Students will:

• Apply the key concepts of Person Centred Therapy
• Analyse Roger's contribution
• Analyse Maslow's contribution
• Analyse the contributions of the counsellor and the client in the therapeutic process, and
• Learn the limitations of Person Centred Therapy.

Workbook 8 - Gestalt Therapy

This workbook provides an introduction to the key theoretical concepts and techniques of Gestalt Therapy within a counselling practice. Students will:

• Apply the key concepts of Gestalt Therapy
• Analyse Perl's contribution
• Gestalt terms, key concepts and techniques
• Overview the therapeutic process, and
• Learn the limitations of Gestalt Therapy.

Workbook 9 - Solution Focused Therapy

Workbook 9 focuses on theoretical concepts, processes, knowledge and skills for the analysis and practical application of Solution Focused Therapy within counselling practice. Along with applying the therapeutic process, students will:

• Apply the key concepts of Solution Focused Therapy
• Learn the exponents of Solution Focused Therapy, and
• Learn the limitations of Solution Focussed Therapy.

Workbook 10 - Narrative Therapy

This workbook allows the student to explore the underpinning concepts and applications of Narrative Therapy within a counselling context. The student will learn key knowledge, skills and techniques for using Narrative Therapy with clients. The student will:

• Identify the key concepts of Narrative Therapy
• Analyse White's contribution
• Apply Narrative terms, key concepts and techniques
• Overview the therapeutic process, and
• Learn the limitations of Narrative Therapy.

Workbook 11 - Legal and Ethical Issues

This workbook identifies counsellor responsibilities and client rights in the context of legal and ethical boundaries. Within counsellors' responsibilities lies Occupational Health and Safety which will also be explored. Students will:

• The need for ethical standards
• A counsellor's ethical and legal responsibilities
• Ethics of dual-role relationships
• Ethical problem solving
• Referral procedures
• The need for professional development, and
• Learn OH&S requirements and processes

Workbook 12 - Counselling and Personal Reflection

Workbook 12 focuses on the need for counsellors to partake in supervision, professional development and reflective process in order to be effective within their counselling practice. Students will learn about:

• The importance of keeping abreast of current industry standards
• Self-evaluation and reflection practices
• The role of supervision in effective counselling practice
• Development of self awareness, and
• Reflective practice and operating within ethical codes of practice

Workbook 13 - Relationship Issues

This workbook explores relationship issues and how to work with them effectively in counselling practice. In addition to applying techniques and processes to various relationship issues. In this workbook, student will:

• Establish causes of relationship dysfunction
• Address conflict resolution needs
• Apply referral processes as required
• Counsellor's ethical and legal responsibilities
• Transition processes
• Day to day management in the case work role
• Review and evaluation of case work and programs, and
• Application of the various therapeutic approaches to the counselling process.

Workbook 14 - Family Therapy

This workbook focuses on providing an introduction to family therapy processes within counselling practice, including:

• The origins of Family Therapy
• Leading therapists
• Phases of 'treatment'
• Assessment of families
• Family Therapy concepts and approaches including systems, experiential, cognitive-behavioural and strategic approaches, and
• Issues of difference in working with families.

Workbook 15 - Client Suitability and Clients at Risk

This workbook covers the detailed knowledge of indicators of client's mental health status required to clarify client's suitability for counselling services or need for referral. Students will learn about:

• Obtaining information about a client's development status
• Obtaining information about a client's mental health status
• Clarifying client suitability for the service provided
• Checking for risk, and
• Responding appropriately to risk

Workbook 16 - Case Management

Workbook 16 provides students with information on all aspects of case management and encourages consideration of 'best practice'. The workbook covers:

• Roles of the case manager
• Process of case management
• Conducting case management meetings
• Working with other professionals
• Organisational contexts
• The client's ethical rights
• The counsellor's ethical and legal responsibilities, and
• Applicable documentation.

Workbook 17 - Working with Diversity

The knowledge base of this workbook increases the counsellor's insight and sensitivity to the needs and individual differences of clients. This workbook gives the student the opportunity to reflect upon gender, culture, ethnicity, subculture, sexuality and ability and how they are each to be valued and respected within our commworkbooky and a counselling context. Students learn about:

• Reflecting cultural awareness in work practice
• Accepting cultural diversity as a basis for effective work place and professional relationships
• Communicating effectively with culturally diverse persons, and
• Resolving cross-cultural misunderstandings.

Workbook 18 - Group Counselling

Workbook 18 provides the theoretical basis and practical skills necessary for conducting group counselling sessions. The workbook covers:

• Planning for group session
• Preparing for group sessions
• Conducting group sessions, and
• Completing relevant documentation

Abuse Counselling

Unfortunately, in today's society there is an increasing need for counsellor support for individuals and families who are victims of different forms of abuse. The Abuse Counselling Advanced Study Major provides a comprehensive insight into the subject of abuse and teaches the counsellor to deal with sensitive Abuse issues in a professional and practical manner. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• Defining different types of abuse and exploring the societal myths about abuse and abuse survivors
• Exploring partner abuse and domestic violence along with common intervention methods and programs
• The ethical and legal challenges and stresses of the role of abuse counsellor and how to address these challenges
• How to develop a trusting relationship with clients who have been abused
• Therapeutic techniques and approaches are explored
• Recognising when to refer clients who have suffered abuse to another professional, and
• Working with perpetrators of abuse.

Relationship Counselling and Conflict Resolution

The Relationship Counselling and Conflict Resolution Advanced Study Major presents you with a thorough exploration of the complexities of human relationships in such a way that appropriate counselling solutions can be directly related to relationship problems. The Major includes popular therapeutic approaches and counselling techniques, along with application to current significant relationship trends to give this Major a contemporary, hands-on and solution orientated approach. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and recognising indications and contraindications for relationship counselling
• types of problems presented at relationship counselling
• the differences between men and women's styles of communication
• key principles for effective work with couples and ways of solving relationship problems
• the process of relationship counselling including understanding client needs and concerns, applying the CUDSAIR Seven Step Model for Solving Relationship Problems and effectively terminating sessions with couples; divorce counselling and mediation
• exploring the dynamics of same-sex relationships and guidelines for appropriate counselling practice
• and professional and ethical challenges of being a Relationship Counsellor.

Career Counselling

Career Counselling is a specialised field of counselling which focuses on working with clients who are starting their careers or making a significant change in career. The Advanced Study Major progresses through the stages of career counselling: understanding the career needs of the client, the connection between values and attitudes and preferred career choice, and facilitating a client to make a successful career change. Several useful practical resources that Career Counsellors can apply in their work are also included. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• the importance of work and career in people's lives and factors that influence and impact on a person's choice of career
• identifying and clarifying a client's values and attitudes and their congruence with career choice
• gaining knowledge of the key theoretical perspectives and models of career counselling
• using appropriate tests in the assessment phase of career counselling
• career decision making and goal setting
• assisting clients to gain employment in their chosen career including searching for a job, developing a resume and application letters and preparing for an employment interview
• appreciating the issues of minority groups in relation to careers and employment.

Grief and Loss Counselling

The Grief and Loss Counselling Major is a very popular course that provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary for counselling clients who have experienced a significant loss and grief. All types of losses are considered along with the subsequent grief that occurs. The issues that accompany the loss of health, a loved one or a job must be confronted by all of us at some time or another. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• the types of loss that can result in a grief reaction
• exploring reactions to loss and grief within the definitions of 'normal' and 'complicated' grieving; the similarities and differences between men and women's grieving behaviour
• key models to explain responses to a significant loss
• principles for assessment and intervention in working with people who experience loss and grief
• practical application of skills in working with grief and loss clients, including self-evaluation
• identifying and arranging effective referral for clients to another professional
• and challenges and stresses in the role of Grief and Loss Counsellor.

Child Development & Effective Parenting

Parents perform one of society's most important functions - they raise the next generation. Unfortunately, however, we are rarely taught the skills required for effective parenting. The Child Development and Effective Parenting Major is based upon behavioural principles which when applied are highly effective in bringing about positive and healthy behaviours for both the parent and the child. The program includes an easy to follow, step-by-step approach to effective parenting which can be readily applied or taught to parents by the counsellor. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• what behaviours to expect from children at different stages and ages
• effective methods for communicating with children
• resolving conflict between parents and children
• helping children to understand and deal with their feelings
• anger management in children
• the role of self, etc.

Workplace Counselling

The Workplace Counselling Advanced Study Major brings the specialised skills of counselling to the workplace. Its focus is upon workplace issues that adversely impact an employee's motivation, productivity and satisfaction with their job. Workplace issues are explored from two perspectives.

• When life interferes with work such as bereavement, relationship problems, depression, alcohol and drug dependence, and life stage crises, and
• When work interferes with life such as occupational stress, harassment, workplace violence, job loss, and survivor syndrome.

Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• the direct connections between job stress, motivation, productivity and job satisfaction
• common causes of stress for employees
• a variety of models used by Workplace Counsellors
• intervention techniques applied by Workplace Counsellors with their clients
• unique ethical and legal challenges in the role of Workplace Counsellor and ways to address these challenges.

Counselling Clients with Addictions

The Counselling Clients with Addictions Advanced Study Major brings together theoretical analysis and a wide scope of information on drug classification. This combination allows you to build a solid foundation in counselling clients with addictions through identifying drugs (including alcohol) and their effects physically, psychologically and emotionally.

Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• Synthesise knowledge of biological, psychological and social considerations in the formulation of a theory of addiction
• Determine the significance of contextual factors in the development and maintenance of addiction
• Differentiate between drug categories by analysing the defining effects and symptoms
• Classify psychoactive drugs
• Utilise knowledge of psychoactive drug classification and effects to help prepare clients for the potential impact of detoxification/ withdrawal.

Family Therapy

The Family Therapy Advanced Study Major is specifically targeted to students who want to be able to shift their counselling focus to dealing with families effectively by applying family therapy concepts.

Family therapy was brought together as a therapeutic framework by leading theorists that have driven this approach and its role in counselling today. Communication patterns between family members are identified and evaluated in terms of family structures and roles. Topics covered in this Advanced Study Major include:

• The contributions of leading family theorists
• The family structure and multigenerational patterns
• Communication transactions in families
• The fundamental tenants of Postmodernism
• The influence of dominant social and cultural narratives on individuals and families
• Narrative principles in the practice of family therapy
• The use of narrative interventions in family therapy processes
• The use of the narrative techniques in practice