Unit Outline

This unit focuses on the application of contemporary counselling theories and interventions that both enhance wellbeing through proactive prevention approaches, as well as remediate distress. The process and role of self-reflection in counselling practice is also a key focus in this unit. Students will learn about a range of counselling practices that can be implemented to support the health and wellbeing of others and themselves, and how self-reflection skills can support evidence-based, lifelong learning approaches to human health and wellbeing.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain the major theoretical perspectives, principles, and ethical considerations which underlie contemporary counselling practice.
2.	Apply basic contemporary counselling skills to a variety of counselling contexts
3.	Engage in self-reflection to describe how values, culture, and individual factors can influence counselling practice

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	Completion of 25% Level 100 units

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes have been made which include adjustments to assessment topics to allow students the opportunity to develop their skills and understanding in a wider range of counselling techniques. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Skills Demonstration Role Play	Week 7	30 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Role Play Self-Reflection	Week 9	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Applied Skills Critique	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Skills Demonstration Role Play

Task Description:

Working with a partner you will participate in a counselling role play where you will play the role of the counsellor and your partner will play the role of a client. During your role play you will engage your client in one of the contemporary counselling skills from this unit (The specific counselling skill you need to use is listed in the assessment rubric). You will record and submit a short video clip of this role play.

Task Length:

Maximum 15-minute role play

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply a basic contemporary counselling skill which is in alignment with underlying theory and principals	LO1, LO2
2	Explain the purpose of the contemporary counselling skill	LO1, LO2
3	Check client understanding of, and answers client questions about, the skill	LO2
4	Communicate verbally in a professional and ethical manner	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Role Play Self-Reflection

Task Description:

You will reflect on your experience of participating in the role play where you engage your client in one of the contemporary counselling skills from this unit (This is the role play you completed for Assessment Task 2). You will do this by answering some short answer questions based on your experience as the counsellor. The specific questions you need to answer are provided in the assessment rubric.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Reflect on your personal experience as the counsellor	LO2, LO3
2	Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your implementation of the skill	LO1, LO3
3	Reflect on the factors influencing your role play experience	LO3
4	Communicate clearly and concisely in writing, using evidence to support your entry	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Applied Skills Critique

Task Description:

You will apply one of the contemporary counselling skills from this unit to yourself and keep a record of your engagement with this (The specific counselling skill you need to use is listed in the assessment rubric). You will then write a critical self-reflection on this skill and your experience engaging with it from a client perspective. In your reflection make sure you discuss:

• What is the contemporary counselling skill (describe the skill)?
• What is the purpose of the skill?
• How did you implement the skill (what did you do, when, how often, etc.)?
• What is the evidence-base rational to support the use of this skill in counselling practice?
• What was your personal experience of using this skill, including:
a. Did you adhere to it? Did you not?
b. What were the outcomes of using this technique?
c. What was your intellectual and emotional reaction to it (what did you think, what did you feel)?
d. What were the strengths of this technique?
e. What were the barriers to using this technique, and how might you overcome these?
f. How did your personal values, culture, traits, and any other circumstances impact on your experience of engaging in this technique?
g. Would you recommend this technique to a client?

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply a basic contemporary counselling skill to yourself.	LO2
2	Describe the basic contemporary counselling skill and its purpose.	LO1, LO2
3	Discuss the empirical evidence-base which supports the use of this skill.	LO1
4	Reflect on your personal experience from a client perspective and the factors influencing engagement with, and outcomes of, the skill.	LO1, LO3
5	Communicate clearly and concisely in writing, using evidence to support your entry.	LO1

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Required readings will be clearly identified in the relevant module content on MyLO and be available through the unit’s Reading List. There is no prescribed “text book” as the unit topics are so varied.