COUN5171 Practice/Therapy counselling PDF

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Summary

COUN5171 Practice/Therapy counseling
Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues. Sometimes the term "counseling" is used to refer to talking therapies in general, but counseling is also a type of t...

Description

UNIT OUTLINE COUN5171: Ethical Decision Making Discipline of Counselling

Document Name

Unit Outline COUN 5171 Ethical Decision Making

Responsibility

Academic Dean

Version

UO COUN5171.V1

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1. Unit Description In this unit students learn to identify and apply ethical practice skills and comply with legal responsibilities inherent in providing counselling services to clients. The unit draws on students’ selfawareness of their ethical values, beliefs and behaviour to consider how these influence counselling practice. Students will develop appropriate ethical interventions on matters of safety, such as selfharm, suicidality, family violence, discrimination and victimization; and engage with sociological theories of power, culture, gender, age and disability, to critically evaluate how these impact upon professional practice. ACAP classes are an open space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas, and this Unit will include topics that may be difficult for you to confront or discuss. If you feel uncomfortable discussing certain content during class, please seek the support of your educator or fellow students in the first instance. Additional free and confidential counselling support is available on all ACAP campuses. Please visit https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/services-and-support/counselling-support/ for further information on the ACAP Counselling Support Service and external supports including Lifeline, Beyond Blue, MensLine, and others.

2. Unit Information

Unit level and type

Level 500 Core

Credit point value

8 out of a total 96

Prerequisites

COUN5131, COUN5141

Co-requisites

Nil

Equivalent Units

Nil

Delivery modes

On-Campus; Blended Online

Course

Graduate Diploma of Counselling

3. Development of Learning Outcomes and Graduate Attributes 3.1 Unit Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to: a) Describe, identify and apply ethical practice skills and comply with legal responsibilities inherent in providing counselling services to clients b) Identify safety issues for clients and others e.g. self-harm, suicide, domestic violence, discrimination and victimization; and develop appropriate ethical interventions c) Identify and analyse ethical, legal and sociological issues, including power, culture, gender, age and disability d) Develop self-awareness of their ethical values, beliefs and behaviour, and the influence of these on counselling practice e) Analyse ethical and legal principles and values in relation to a real world ethical breach f) Analyse how power and influence impact upon professional relationships

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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3.2 Course Learning Outcomes This unit, COUN5171, covers the learning required to deliver the following Course Learning Outcomes: a) Synthesise theories and frameworks of the field of counselling, including its historical development b) Integrate knowledge of the complex factors impacting wellbeing and mental health c) Acquire knowledge within specialist counselling areas of alcohol and other drugs counselling, family, trauma, grief, narrative, and creative therapies d) Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge in core counselling theories and models, to apply appropriate counselling interventions according to specific client presentations e) Critically evaluate and assess client presentations with reference to relevant contextual factors, including the clients’ experience of counselling f)

Apply creative problem-solving skills to assessment and case planning, aligned with professional standards for counselling practice

g) Demonstrate advanced communication skills for establishing rapport and goal setting with clients, and with other professionals h) Develop cultural safety in therapeutic relationships i)

Identify clients with complex needs

j)

Make independent and informed judgements about referrals to specialist services

k) Practice counselling ethically and intentionally within established legal, policy and professional frameworks and codes of ethics l)

Integrate feedback from clinical supervision into counselling practice, and cultivate the capacity for reflective practice, professional responsibility and accountability.

3.3 ACAP Graduate Attributes Successful completion of this unit also contributes specifically to the development of the following ACAP Graduate Attributes: •

GA1 COMMUNICATE: Apply effective communication skills with others in diverse contexts and through multiple modalities

•

GA2 SUSTAIN: Sustain an intentional commitment to maintain currency and further develop knowledge and skills over their lifetime

•

GA3 THINK: Apply critical, creative and flexible thinking to contribute and respond constructively across diverse settings

•

GA4 ENGAGE: Engage effectively with contemporary and traditional knowledges across multiple contexts

•

GA5 WELLBEING: Utilise skills and knowhow to maintain resilience, personal and professional wellbeing when responding to challenges and opportunities

•

GA6 EQUALITY: Enact inclusive practices that deliver social justice and equality of opportunity

•

GA7 INTEGRITY: Apply integrity and ethical standards to study, research and practice

•

GA8 COMMUNITY: Use teamwork and leadership knowledge and skills to advance teams, groups and communities

•

GA9 GLOBAL: Apply culturally sensitive professional knowledge and skills to contribute to a sustainable global future

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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4. Learning and Teaching Process The content of this unit has been designed to maximise the learning and the integration of the subject matter. Much of the unit material is specific to the Australian context. For example, this outline does include reference to diverse individuals and diverse groups of individuals. Diversity can encompass but is not limited to: individuals identified with atypical and typical behaviours; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; LGBTIQ+ peoples; culturally and linguistically diverse peoples; individuals with chronological / lifespan status; individuals with learning differences; individuals with different family backgrounds and history. Students are encouraged to access additional information relevant to their local context, which will assist in applying the learning and ensuring its relevance. This may include specific legislation, government and professional association resources, and journals. It is important that students’ reading is broad. In general students are expected to: •

read each section of the unit carefully and make notes on new content, and points that are unclear, or in conflict with previous learning or experience

•

complete readings of the text and other readings and resources, making notes on important insights or facts, especially those relevant to assignments

There may be periodic suggestions or issues on which students are asked to deliberate and reflect. Sometimes these are dilemmas or difficult issues associated with the study topic which have no right or wrong answers but are used to trigger critical thinking. Learning activities are set in each section of the unit to give opportunities for further learning. These activities include self-inventories, quizzes, video activities, exercises, case studies and reflection activities. These activities do not need to be sent to the academic teacher for marking. However, valuable learning opportunities will be missed by not engaging with the activities. In this Unit students will engage in 36 hours of teacher directed and student directed activities throughout the trimester. These 36 hours are inclusive of all modes of delivery – on campus, online, blended, synchronous (coaching). Students are also expected to engage in at least 10 hours per week of independent study throughout the trimester. The workload may include regular weekly learning tasks, attending classes (face-to-face / online), online activities, completing readings, hurdle task activities, researching module topics, and completing prescribed assessment tasks. Students will be required to be proactive and self-directed in their learning, sourcing information as required, especially from the sources available through the Moodle site. Self-assessment There are self-assessment questions at the end of each section to test students’ understanding of the section’s content. Students should write down what they remember before going back to review the relevant material in the section. Some of the questions will require more than simple recall; others will require synthesis of the students’ learning on different topics or from different sources of information. Real learning is more than remembering what has been read. It involves students making this knowledge their own by: •

reflecting

•

questioning

•

relating theory to experience

•

integrating a number of readings on a particular topic or concept

•

paraphrasing

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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5. Student Attendance: Counselling In the Discipline of Counselling, 100% attendance is expected, with a minimum mandatory 80% attendance across the components specified in the relevant descriptions. This unit is On-Campus and Blended Online. On-Campus Fortnightly 60-minute lectures to be livestreamed and recorded weeks 1, 3, 5, Break Week/No Classes, 8, 10, 12. Fortnightly On-Campus scheduled 120-minute interactive tutorials weeks 1, 3, 5, Break Week / No Classes, 8, 10, 12. Fortnightly On-Campus scheduled 180-minute interactive tutorials weeks 2, 4, 6, Break Week / No Classes, 9, 11, 13. Attendance requirements are only associated with tutorials. When students enrol in this modality they are enrolling in the livestreamed national lecture, and the tutorials on their local campus. The fortnightly 60-minute livestreamed lecture will be the same for On-Campus students and Blended Online students enrolled in the same unit. Blended Online Fortnightly 60-minute lecture to be livestreamed and recorded weeks, 1, 3, 5, Break Week / No Classes, 8, 10, 12. Fortnightly Online scheduled 120-minute interactive tutorial weeks 1, 3, 5, Break Week / No Classes, 8, 10, 12. Fortnightly Online scheduled 120-minute consultation drop-in sessions starting weeks 2, 4, 6, Break Week / No Classes, 9, 11, 13. Consultation drop-in sessions are organised in the same timeslot as the online interactive tutorials. On-Campus 2-day interactive skills training workshop scheduled during the trimester. Attendance requirements are only associated with tutorials and workshop. When students enrol in this modality they are enrolling in the national lecture, the tutorials and the 2day workshops on their local campus. The fortnightly 60-minute livestreamed lecture will be the same for On-Campus students and Blended Online students enrolled in the same unit.

A quick guide to important assessment issues in this subject You must meet the attendance requirements for the mode of delivery that you are studying, as detailed in this Unit Outline.

Yes

Submit all assessment in the designated timeframe.

Yes

5.1 Trimester Key dates The Trimester Key Dates can be accessed at https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/key-dates/ Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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6. Weekly Schedule Week 1.

2.

Topic

Activities and Assessments

Foundations of Ethics, Law and Ethical Practice Legal Implications for the Counselling/Health Professional

3. Client Confidentiality and Privacy Issues 4. Ethical Decision-Making 5.

Ethical Practice and Multicultural Considerations

6. Boundaries, Multiple Relationships and Client Welfare

Assessment 1: Case study due

7. Break week: no classes 8. Issues of Self-Disclosure, Touch and Sexual Contact 9. Awareness of the Needs of Diverse Communities 10. Power and influence with Relation to Client Safety and Autonomy 11.

Assessment 2: Role play practice session and critical evaluation of practice session due

Unique Responsibilities when Working with Children, Families and Couples

12. Vicarious Traumatisation and Compassion Fatigue 13. Clinical Supervision

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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7. Assessment Overview Please ensure you keep copies of all assignments submitted for this unit. All assessment tasks require a signed cover sheet. Students must submit each assessment task to Turnitin in the unit Moodle site by the identified due date. The audiovisual recording of the role play counselling session must be uploaded in the online class space, following the instructions provided. If students are unable for any reason to upload their sessions they can contact the IT Help Desk for assistance. Sessions must not be uploaded to YouTube or any other web platform in the public domain due to privacy legislation. Assessment Type

Due Date

Learning Outcome

Week 6 Assessment 1: Case study

Sunday at 11.55pm AEST/AEDT

Week 10 Sunday at 11.55pm AEST/AEDT

Length

50%

2000 words

50%

25 minute role play

a, c, e, f

Assessment 2: Role play practice session and critical evaluation of practice session

Weighting

a, b, c, d

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

2000 word critical evaluation

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8. Assessment Policy and Procedures The ACAP Assessment Policy and Procedure located on the ACAP website is a full statement of the principles and practice, which inform the design, development and implementation of assessment at ACAP. Available: https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/managing-my-course/a-z-policies/

8.1. Assessment Practice Academic integrity and professional standards Plagiarism is the inclusion of another person’s work within your submission without acknowledgement or permission. Plagiarism is regarded as a form of cheating. The penalties associated with misconduct are severe, and plagiarism may result in failure or variation of grade in the Unit. All ACAP students must familiarise themselves with the ACAP Academic Integrity Policy, and the ACAP Academic Misconduct Policy. Available at https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/managing-mycourse/a-z-policies/. Submitting Assessments Assignments are submitted via the class space by the due date and time given in the Assessment Overview. Unit educators will provide instructions and demonstration of the submission process prior to the due date for the first assessment in the unit. Students who experience technical issues when attempting to submit their assignment should contact ACAP IT Support and email their educator. Examinations and presentations must be attended as scheduled, unless by prior arrangement due to Special Circumstances. Non-attendance at a scheduled assessment may result in a Fail grade for the assessment piece, and may impact a student’s overall grade in the unit. Late submission of assessments Should a student without an approved extension fail to submit an assessment piece by the due date, they will attract a 5% penalty for every calendar date the assessment is submitted late. The late penalty is deducted from the total marks available for the assessment piece, not the mark awarded. For example, an assessment worth 50% will incur a late penalty of 2.5 marks per day. No assessment will be accepted after 10 calendar days from the due date unless an extension has been granted. Extensions Should a student require an extension they must apply in accordance with the Official Assessment Extension Guidelines (refer to Attachment 2 of the ACAP Assessment Policy and Procedure). All students apply online: via the official ACAP Extension Application Form. Special Consideration Students may submit an Application for Special Consideration based on unforeseeable adverse circumstances which have impacted their, or one or more members of their group’s ability, to meet assessment deadlines. (Refer to Attachment 4 of the ACAP Assessment Policy and Procedure). Access the form on the ACAP website). Receiving marks for assessments Students will normally be notified of marks for individual assignment via the class space. Changes to assessments Other than in exceptional circumstances, no changes should be made to the assessment profile published in this Unit Outline after the end of Week 1 in any teaching period. If after this time it becomes necessary to make changes to an assessment, any modifications must be approved by the Dean and communicated to all students in writing. Appeals against grades Each student has the right to appeal against an assessment decision. The student is the only person who can lodge an appeal. In the case of an assessment appeal, the student must approach the unit Academic Teacher directly first and every attempt should be made to resolve the issue at this level. If Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

8 there are grounds for a more formal appeal, access the ACAP Assessment Appeal Form on the ACAP website.

9. Prescribed and Recommended Readings 9.1. Prescribed The textbook for this unit is: Welfel, E. R. (2016). Ethics in counselling and psychotherapy: Standards, research, and emerging issues (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.

9.2. Recommended The twelve sections of unit curriculum direct students to readings in the online classroom for this unit. These readings are selected from journals and books that provide additional information or a different perspective on topics covered in each section. They are from a range of authorities and expand the content of this unit.

Unit Outline: COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making V1.0 (06/01/2021)

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10. Learning Resources and Support Academic and Learning Support Students’ first point of contact for academic support is their unit educator. Contact details for the staff in this unit are available in the class space. Here students will find consultation hours for this unit and the best means for contacting individual staff. Library Comprehensive library services are available to support and enhance your learning experience at ACAP. The ACAP Library site (http://libguides.navitas.com) provides access to book collections, including electronic books and professional journals listed in this unit. ACAP librarians can help with your research needs in person at our Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane campuses, and by email or phone. Contact details: http://libguides.navitas.com/contact_us Technical Support For user guides, IT policies and technical: https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/services-andsupport/it-acap/ The Student Learning Support (SLS) service The SLS website (https://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/) provides information on effective study habits and information that will assist you to structure, format and reference an assignment successfully. This site also provides information on a range of workshops and tutorials to support students with study skills, academic writing and language learning. SLS Advisors offer consultations online or in person, at our Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Ad...