Master of Counselling
Course code/s: HMCOUN
Course Duration: 2 years full-time, or equivalent part-time
The Master of Counselling is designed both for people who wish to practise as counsellors and those who wish to exercise a major counselling function within another profession. This course provides training of sufficient duration and depth to equip graduates to practise professionally in the role of counsellor. The Master of Counselling is humanistic and experiential in its orientation and includes practical, and theoretical introductions to a wide range of psychotherapeutic orientations. It has been designed to meet the coursework criteria for registration with PACFA (The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) which requires a minimum of two years training. Students may apply to exit after the equivalent of one year's full-time study with a Graduate Diploma in Counselling.
Students will complete six core foundation subjects in the first year. In the second year, students undertake two semesters of clinical placement and complete additional subjects which will further develop and strengthen their capacity to take on the role of a professional counsellor.
Course structure
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE4CTA | Counselling Theory and Practice A | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE4EPP | Ethical and Professional Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE4GRP | Group Processes | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE4CTB | Counselling Theory and Practice B | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE4RBA | Research Based Approaches to Counselling Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE4APC | Assessment Processes in Counselling | 15 |
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 or 2 | PHE5CPA | Counselling Placement A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE5CHC | Contemporary Humanistic Counselling | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE5CCC | Case Conceptualisation | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE5ASA | Advanced Counselling Skills and Reflection A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or 2 | PHE5CPB | Counselling Placement B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE5AEP | Advanced Ethical and Professional Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE5CMH | Counselling for Mental Health | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE5ASB | Advanced Counselling Skills and Reflection B | 15 |
Applicants who already hold post graduate studies in Counselling (or equivalent) and have higher levels of counselling work experience, may apply for credit for up to the first year of the Master of Counselling. They may be eligible to undertake subjects (as listed below) in Process Experiential Psychotherapy, in lieu of the Clinical Placement subjects.
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | PHE5PEA | Process Experiential Psychotherapy A: Theory and Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PHE5PEB | Process Experiential Psychotherapy B: Integrating Practice | 15 |