Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2024

Course Code: OHTH5924C

Course Title: Establish and confirm the counselling relationship

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5432 - Diploma of Community Services

Course Contact: Melinda Brown

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4580

Course Contact Email: Melinda.Brown@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use a structured approach to counselling to determine, establish and confirm the nature of the counsellor client relationship according to the agency’s counselling model.

This unit applies to individuals whose job role involves working with clients on personal and psychological issues within established policies, procedures and guidelines.

This unit is delivered and assessed in a cluster with CHCCSL002 Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCSL001 Establish and confirm the counselling relationship

Element:

1. Use a structured approach to counselling

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Analyse existing client information prior to commencement of counselling session

1.2 Use initial session to gather additional client information as a foundation for counselling process

1.3 Select and use communication techniques that support the initial counselling session objectives

1.4 Follow a structured approach to counselling based on client needs and expectations

Element:

2. Establish the nature of the helping relationship

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Provide information that assists clients to understand the nature of the counselling service on offer

2.2 Clarify, confirm or modify client expectations of the counselling service

2.3 Identify client anxieties about the counselling process and explore with clients

2.4 Acknowledge and show respect for client’s immediate concerns

2.5 Clarify both expectations and commitment to the counselling relationship and confirm with clients

2.6 Identify indicators of client issues beyond scope of own role and report or refer according to presenting issue and organisation requirements

Element:

3. Confirm the helping relationship

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Explore options and approaches for the relationship with clients according to individual need

3.2 Agree priorities and develop a plan for counselling in collaboration with the client

3.3 Make documented agreement with the client that addresses disclosure and organisation requirements


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 

 


Details of Learning Activities

This course has scheduled face-to-face classes where information is shared through explicit teaching, discussion and various activities. Plus, class time will also be provided for the application of learning. 


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Establish and confirm the counselling relationship & Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills /Semester: 2 -1/ Year: 2024 & 2025

Weeks  Topic/s Assessment Due Date
Week 1-Introduction to the counselling profession

Where did counselling originate?

Freud and the 'Talking Cure'

What counselling is and isn't?

The helping hierarchy (Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Social Worker, Clinical Psychologist and Psychiatrist)

What are the basic qualities of an effective Counsellor?

31 reasons to go to therapy

What is the scope and nature of a counselling relationship?

What are the different schools/approaches of counselling?

 

 

Week 2- Establish the nature of the helping relationship

What are the legal and ethical
requirements of counselling?

The Australian Counselling Association and Psychotherapy versus the Counselling Federation of Australia

What are the core conditions?

What is empathy?

What is an empathy block?

What is advanced accurate empathy?

What is congruency?

What is unconditional positive regard?

What is self-actualisation?

 

 

Week 3- Establish the nature of the helping relationship

Gerard Egan (Skilled Helper)

What is a therapeutic alliance?

Forming a therapeutic alliance

Transference and countertransference

Ways to manage and deal with transference and countertransference

 
Week 4- Using a structured approach to counselling

The 6 stages of the
counselling process

The 3 stages of an
individual counselling session

Organising and setting-up the initial session

What is a therapeutic framework?

Attentiveness and rapport building (SOLER)

How to deal with client anxiety

 

Week 5- Using a structured approach to counselling

 

Meet, greet and
seat

Orientate to modality

What is a contract to treat?

Explaining the counselling
contract

How to ask for permission to
take notes

How to give
an invite to talk, etc.

 

 

Week 6- Communicate effectively

 

The communication process

Potential barriers to communication

Active listening

Open and closed questions

How to reflect feelings

 

 

 

Week 7- Communicate effectively

Mirroring

Paraphrasing

Summarising

Focusing

 

 Assessment Task 1a Due: 1st/9/2024

Week 8- Communicate effectively

Reframing

Confronting and challenging

How to use silence

How to end a session on time

 

 

Week 9- Communicate effectively

Client goal/s

Case conceptualisation

Case noting

Record keeping

Types of therapeutic endings

How to end a therapeutic alliance

 

 

 

Week 10- Psychopathology (Mental Illness)

DSM V

Depressive disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Obsessive compulsive disorders

Dissociative disorders

 

 

 

Week 11

 

 

Prepare and practice for Role Play 1

 

 

 Assessment Task 1b Due: 3rd/11/2024

Week 12- Role Play 1

 

 

Week 13- Role Play 1

 

 

Week 14- Role Play 1

 

 

Week 15- Role Play 1

 

 

Week 16- Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

What is client resistance and how to deal with it

Define what a challenging client is

Dealing with angry clients

Managing overly talkative clients

Dealing with crying clients

Managing clients who constantly question

Dealing with clients who give gifts

How to deal with both positive and negative feelings towards a client

 

 

Week 17- Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

Dealing with suicidal ideation in practice

SLAP + DIRT

SAFETY PLANNING

 

 

 

Week 18- Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

What is CBT?

What are some CBT strategies?

How to use CBT in a counselling session

 

 Assessment Task 2 Due: 27th/10/2024

Week 19- Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

What is SFT?

What are some effective SFT strategies?

How to use SFT in a counselling session

 

Week 20- Use specialised counselling interviewing skills

What are some creative therapies?

How to use creative therapies in a session

 

Week 21- Self-care and professional development

Self-care

Why self reflection is important

Clinical supervision

Professional development and/or further training

 

 

Week 22- Role Play 2

 

 

Week 23- Role Play 2

 

 

Week 24- Role Play 2

 

 Assessment Task 3 Due: 20th/04/2025

Week 25- Review and evaluate learning

 

 Assessment Task 4 Due: 27th/04/2025


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

N/A


Overview of Assessment

There are four individual assessment tasks consisting of role plays, and short answer questions. 


Assessment Tasks

You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills. A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic. Resubmissions beyond two (2) attempts are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

Assessment Task 1a: Knowledge Questions

This assessment task allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of establishing and confirming the counselling relationship, as well as applying specialist interpersonal, counselling and interview skills.

Assessment Task 1b: Knowledge Questions

This assessment task allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of establishing and confirming the counselling relationship, as well as applying specialist interpersonal, counselling and interview skills.

Assessment Task 2: Role Play 1

You will be assessed on your knowledge and skills to plan, prepare and conduct three (3) initial individual counselling sessions. You will then complete one (1) Client Consent and Contract to Treat form for each of the clients. Lastly you will create one (1) Counselling Plan for each presenting client.

Assessment Task 3: Knowledge Questions

This assessment task allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of establishing and confirming the counselling relationship, as well as applying specialist interpersonal, counselling and interview skills.

Assessment Task 4: Role Play 2

You will be assessed on your knowledge and skills to plan, prepare and conduct three (3) follow-on individual counselling sessions. You will then be required to write case notes for each client. Lastly you will complete a self-reflection and professional development action plan.


Assessment Matrix

Please refer to the assessment rubric in Canvas.

Other Information

N/A

Course Overview: Access Course Overview