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Course Outline

COU265 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches

Course Coordinator:Zoe White (zwhite@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2024Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Strengths based counselling sees people as having capabilities and resources within themselves and their social systems. It builds on client strengths to help them resolve concerns, heal and achieve desired changes. The course will be both knowledge-based and experiential, enabling you to promote change through respectful, educational, therapeutic and operational processes in addition to practices that encourage and empower others.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – One hour-long engagement including formative quizzes, podcasts/webinars, screen casts, interviews, simulations, videos and recorded discussions 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial- 2 hours to encourage the application of skills and knowledge introduced in the online learning materials for the week, via class activities (Week 11 tutorial via zoom to demonstrate telehealth principles) 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Strength based Counselling Inroduction
  • Solution Focused Counselling
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Applying strength based counselling to adult populations
  • Applying strength based counselling to children and youth
  • Skills Development

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Analyse, apply and evaluate the use of a strength-based approach to counselling from a client and counsellor perspective. Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Identify and articulate the history and principles of strength-based collaborative counselling. Knowledgeable
3 Critically reflect on your own values and beliefs in relation to the counselling process using a strengths-based approach. Empowered
4 Demonstrate and apply your understanding of the ethical responsibilities and professional requirements underpinning the use of a strengths-based approach. Ethical
5 Demonstrate and utilise a solution-focused approach to build on progress and change with a client. Empowered
6 Demonstrate effective communication through written reports and oral presentations, complying with accepted APA 7th ed. guidelines. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

COU180 or SCS180 or SCS280

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

SCS265

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Oral Individual 20% 
20 slides, each for 20 seconds
 Week 4 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 30% 
2000 words
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Written Piece Individual 50% 
2000 words
 Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Pecha Kucha
Goal: 
Demonstrate comprehension of the historical underpinnings of the strength based approaches, the ethical and professional requirements for effective delivery, and how their own beliefs and values influence their adoption of a chosen strength based approach.
Product: Oral
Format: 
Recorded and Narrated slide show. 
Template of narration, image references, and source references.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate understanding of each strength based approach of counselling
 1
2 
Demonstrate comprehension of the historical underpinnings of strength based counselling approaches.
 2
3 
Demonstrate awareness of how own values and beliefs influence the adoption of a favoured strength based approach
 3
4 
Demonstrate knowledge in a Pecha Kucha format
 6
All - Assessment Task 2:Case Study
Goal: 
Demonstrate awareness of essential competencies of a chosen strength based approach.
Critically reflect of own essential counselling competencies, and best practice techniques to develop competencies to minimum expected standards.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
Written assignment, to APA 7th ed. standards.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate awareness of essential counselling competencies (as introduced in COU180)
 1
2 
Demonstrate self-awareness of own competency strength and weaknesses, including best practice techniques to develop those competencies identified as needing further development.
 1
3 
Written communication skills, including APA 7th ed. conventions
 6
All - Assessment Task 3:Critical Reflective Essay
Goal: 
To critically reflect on own skills practice during tutorials using an accepted experiential learning model (e.g., Kolb) from the perspective of counsellor as well as client.
Product: Written Piece
Format: 
This is a Critical Reflective Essay, written to accepted essay structure (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, references), and APA 7th ed. formatting and referencing conventions. Students are to critically reflect on the experience of strength based practice as a client, as well as two (2) strengths and two (2) areas needing further development as counsellor. Plans for improvement need to be informed from the literature.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate awareness of developing competencies related to basic counselling micro-skills (person-centred counselling skills)
 1 5
2 
Demonstrate written academic essay writing skills, including APA 7th ed. formatting and referencing conventions
 6
3 
Discuss accepted adjustments to strength based approaches when working with diverse populations, as informed from the literature
 4

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Peter De Jong,Insoo Kim Berg 2013 Interviewing for Solutions 4th Wadsworth Publishing Company
Required John J. Murphy,Jacqueline A. Sparks 2018 Strengths-Based Therapy n/a Routledge

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Hurdle:
In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.

Supplementary Assessment:
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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