Family and Relationship Counselling

This module equips students with a foundational understanding of the knowledge and skills required for effective family and relationship counselling.

Students develop an awareness of the similarities and differences between individual, relationship and family counselling; they learn to identify the different theoretical approaches associated with this form of counselling and to apply, assess and evaluate the effectiveness of family and relationship counselling.

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the similarities and differences between individual, relationship and family counselling.
• Identify main theoretical approaches to family and relationship counselling.
• Use Structural/Strategy Systems Theory applied to family and relationship counselling.
• Recognise the common issues presented for relationship and family counselling as distinct from individual counselling.
• Conduct an interview with a couple.
• Conduct an interview with a family.
• Identify common problems for couples and families.
• Assess the effectiveness of counselling for relationships and families.

Content Areas

• Historical Perspective and Terminology of Family Therapy in Australia
• The Family Life Cycle and Approaches to Counselling
• Initial Interview
• Identifying Repetitive Patterns of Interactions
• Roles and Rules in Family Systems
• Identifying Common Critical Incident Problems
• Identifying Common Long-Standing Problems
• Disintegration and Reformation of the Systems
• Sexual Abuse and Dysfunction Effecting Systems and Individuals of the System
• Indications for Termination
• Case Studies

This module is available on campus, by distance education or online.