Course Title: Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2025
Course Code: HWSS6120C
Course Title: Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
School: 535T Social Care and Health
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5432 - Diploma of Community Services
Course Contact: Bella Kelly
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4109
Course Contact Email: bella.kelly@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 60
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 advanced and specialised communication skills in the client-counsellor relationship.
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 CHCSL001 Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCCSL002 Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills |
Element: |
1. Communicate effectively |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify communication barriers and use strategies to overcome these barriers in the client-counsellor relationship 1.2 Facilitate the client-counsellor relationship through selection and use of micro skills 1.3 Integrate the principles of effective communication into work practices 1.4 Observe and respond to non-verbal communication cues 1.5 Consider and respond to the impacts of different communication techniques on the client-counsellor relationship in the context of individual clients 1.6 Integrate case note taking with minimum distraction |
Element: |
2. Use specialised counselling interviewing skills |
Performance Criteria: |
2.2 Select and use communication skills according to the sequence of a counselling interview 2.2 Identify points at which specialised counselling interviewing skills are appropriate for inclusion 2.3 Use specialised counselling communication techniques based on their impacts and potential to enhance client development and growth 2.4 Identify and respond appropriately to strong client emotional reactions |
Element: |
3. Evaluate own communication |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Reflect on and evaluate own communication with clients 3.2 Recognise the effect of own values and beliefs on communication with clients 3.3 Identify and respond to the need for development of own skills and knowledge |
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 will have face to face on campus sessions
In-class activities:
- Teacher directed classroom learning activities
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- group discussion
- class activities to review discussions/lectures
- role play
- Guest Speakers
Out-of-class activities:
- independent assessment -based work,
- Reading and research
- independent study
- Placement (only for units which has placement requirement)
Teaching Schedule
Course Schedule: Establish and confirm the counselling relationship & Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills: Semester 2, 2025 |
Topic/s |
Assessment Due Dates |
Week 1A - Introduction to the counselling profession |
The origins of counselling Freud and the 'Talking Cure' What counselling is and isn't The helping hierarchy (Counsellor, Psychotherapist, Social Worker, Clinical Psychologist and Psychiatrist) The basic qualities of an effective Counsellor 31 reasons to go to therapy The scope and nature of a counselling relationship The different schools/approaches of counselling The legal and ethical The Australian Counselling Association and Psychotherapy versus the Counselling Federation of Australia |
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| Week 1B - Establish the nature of the helping relationship |
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? 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 in a session |
|
| Week 2A - Using a structured approach to counselling |
The 6 stages of the The 3 stages of an Organising and setting-up the initial session What is a therapeutic framework? Attentiveness and rapport building (SOLER) How to deal with client anxiety How to deal with Counsellor anxiety
|
Assessment Task 1A: Sunday 27 July 2025 |
| Week 2B- 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 |
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Week 3A - Communicate effectively
|
The communication process Potential barriers to communication Active listening Open and closed questions How to reflect feelings
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Week 3B - Communicate effectively
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Mirroring Paraphrasing Summarising Focusing Re-framing Normalising Confronting and challenging How to use silence (ASS) How to end a session on time |
Assessment Task 1B: Sunday 3 August 2025 |
| Week 4A - Communicate effectively |
Client goal/s {SMART} Case conceptualisation In session note taking Record keeping
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| Week 4B - Psychopathology (Mental Illness) |
DSM V Depressive disorders Anxiety Disorders Obsessive compulsive disorders Dissociative disorder Half life of medication
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| Week 5A - Communicate effectively |
Prepare and practice for role play 1
|
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| Week 5B - Role Play 1 |
Role play 1 |
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Week 6A - Role Play 1
|
Role Play 1 |
Assessment Task 2: Sunday 24 August 2025 |
| Week 6B - Use specialised counselling interviewing skills |
The change process Challenging clients Dealing with ANGRY clients SLAP + DIRT SAFETY PLANNING Managing overly TALKATIVE clients Dealing with CRYING clients Managing clients who constantly QUESTION Dealing with a client that you may NOT LIKE Case Noting |
|
Week 7A - Use specialised counselling and interviewing skills |
What is CBT? What are some CBT strategies? How to use CBT in a counselling session What is SFT? What are some effective SFT strategies? How to use SFT in a counselling session |
|
Week 7B - Use specialised counselling interviewing skills |
What are some creative therapies? How can creative therapies be used in a session? Prepare and practice for role play 2 |
Assessment Task 3: Sunday 31 August 2025 |
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Week 8A - Role Play 2
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Role Play 2 (client 3) |
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Week 8B - Role Play 2 |
Role Play 2 (client 3) |
Assessment Task 4: Sunday 14 September 2025 |
Week 9A - Therapeutic endings, self-care, professional development, clinical supervision and review and evaluate learning |
Explain the 3 different types of therapeutic endings Define self-care Further training Explain what clinical supervision is Review and evaluate learning |
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Week 9B - Student support and follow-up |
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Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
There are four individual assessment tasks consisting of role plays, and short answer questions.
Assessment Tasks
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task. You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required 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.
Overview of Assessment Tasks:
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
The assessment Rubric is available in Canvas.
Other Information
Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises
It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. You are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all classes to successfully complete each unit and all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview