Health Sciences

School of Public Health

Master of Counselling & Human Services

The aim of the course is to extend the training provided by the Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Human Services, enabling students to continue their development as humanistically and experientially oriented professional counsellors.

Integral to this aim is the achievement of the following:

• a clear theoretical understanding of the processes of humanistic experiential approaches to counselling

• the continued development of attitudes and skills that advance the therapeutic process in counselling

• relationships with a broad range of clients

• an advanced understanding of the ethical and practice issues associated with professional counselling

• increased competence and confidence in collaborating with the client in the assessment of presenting and ongoing issues

• training in the Process-Experiential/Emotion-Focused method.

The course aims to meet the coursework criteria for registration with PACFA – The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed a fourth year of academic study and have demonstrated a sound level of achievement within that sequence of study. The sequence of study should preferably have had a significant counselling or social science component. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Human Services at B average standard or above is the most common entry point.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate significant practice in the counselling field and, at interview, a capacity to reflect on their practice and their own development. A capacity for creativity and spontaneity is also valued in the humanistic experiential approach.

Course Structure

The course comprises six core units. Because of the experiential nature of the course, the four units PHE5AAP, PHE5CTP, PHE5APE and PHE5RBA are all taken within the first year and cannot be deferred. These units are taught on Wednesday evenings and selected weekends at the City Campus, please refer to table below for further unit information. All six units in the course must be completed within a three-year time frame.

There is no clinical placement unit in this course. However, during the time of their enrolment, students are required to be in paid or voluntary work as a counsellor for at least one day per week and to be receiving supervision for their work by a suitably qualified counsellor. Students are expected to keep a log of their counselling and supervision whilst enrolled in the course.

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on the Masters in Counselling & Human Services

Guide to Essay Writing in the Department of Counselling and Psychological Health.

External Specialisms

In exceptional circumstances, it is sometimes possible for students to gain credit for study undertaken in one of the following external specialisms. However this option will not be available for 2010.

(Students choose ONE of these)

Times and dates for the external units vary and are published by the providers who are listed below.

Relationships Australia

Contact Penny Evans
Co-Ordinator of Training
46 Princess Street, Kew. Vic. 3101
Telephone: (03) 9261 8700
Email: kew@rav.org.au
Website: www.relationships.com.au

Gestalt Therapy

Dr Gabe Phillips
Gestalt Therapy Australia
333 Heidelberg Road, Northcote Vic. 3101
Telephone: (03) 9489 6300
Email: faye@gestalt.com.au
Website: www.gestalt.com.au

Grief Counselling

Centre for Grief Education
Ms Fiana Heylan
McCulloch Couse
Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Road. Clayton South, Vic. 3169
Telephone: (03) 9545 6377
Email: f.heylan@grief.org.au
Website: www.grief.org.au

Solution Oriented Therapy

Dr Rob McNeilly
Center for Effective Therapy
P.O. Box 2366 Brighton, Vic. 3186
Telephone: 0433 273 352
Email:robmcneilly@cet.net.au
Website: www.cet.net.au

Psychodrama

The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne
Sue Daniel, Director
104 Simpson Street,East Melbourne, Vic. 3002
Email: pim@netspace.net.au
Website: www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com

Application Process

Please note that the closing date for first round Commonwealth Supported Places is October 31.

Applicants must lodge a written application which meets the admission requirements and successfully complete an interview.

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate significant practice in the counselling field and, at interview, a capacity to reflect on their practice and their own development. A capacity for creativity and spontaneity is also valued in the humanistic experiential approach.

Contact Details

Course Coordinator

Ms Kathleen Gregory
Ph: 03 9479 5623
Email: k.gregory@latrobe.edu.au

Administration

Postgraduate Office
Ph: 03 9479 1750
Email: phe.postgrad@latrobe.edu.au