Advanced Counselling Applications

This unit offers students the opportunity of identifying and responding to a range of common yet complex issues that counsellor encounter. It develops the capacity to apply underpinning theoretical constructs to a range of diverse situations. It asks the student to assess the complexity of these issues and ways of managing them.

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse a set of complex issues that counsellors encounter from a multi-theoretical standpoint
  • Evaluate possible approaches to be taken to manage the complex issues
  • Assess the capacity of the individual to apply the relevant counselling theory and skills
  • Develop and test an approach for systematically and ethically working with wider systems
  • Identify and respond to the impact that these issues may have on the counsellor
  • Determine an appropriate approach to referral
  • Explore the complex social, legal and ethical issues associated with these counselling issues
  • Evaluate personal responses to the issues explored and analyse how these may impact upon the counsellor and the counselling process
  • Demonstrate self awareness and integrate the capacity to be reflexive
  • Undertake and reflect upon the role of clinical supervision in complex areas

Content Areas

  • Assessment of Complex Issues
  • Attachment in Childhood and Adolescents
  • Attachment in Coupling and Parenting
  • Grief and Loss Issues: Complex and Disenfranchised
  • Grief and Loss Issues: Personal and Relationship
  • Grief and Loss Issues: Family and Other
  • Risk Situations: Crisis and Trauma
  • Risk Situations: Suicidality and Other Client Responses
  • Risk Situations: Violence
  • Mental Health Issues: Early and Adolescent Onset
  • Mental Health Issues: Adult Onset
  • Principles for Practice

Unit Duration and Workload

This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery or self-directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 120 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates as 13 hours per week for the unit.