Course Coordinator:Lee Kannis-Dymand (lkannisd@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Thompson Institute |
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.
The USC postgraduate psychology programs are committed to maintaining the primacy of public safety in the delivery of the program within the education and placement environments. This subject employs a skills-training approach to extend your previous learning in psychology and psychotherapy, with an emphasis on strengthening effective psychotherapy skills, and a focus on the development of an effective working alliance with patients. You are also introduced to the importance of cultural factors within therapeutic work, the need to develop cultural sensitivity and awareness and skills for delivering effective transcultural therapy, with a special focus on working with Indigenous Australians and refugees. There will be an emphasis on PTSD and metacognitive therapy. Ethical issues will be addressed as they arise.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus tutorial/workshop - 3 hours | 3hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
- Advanced theories and treatment of cognitive behavioural therapy and metacognitive therapy.
- Working therapeutically with diverse cultural groups.
- Developing an understanding of working therapeutically with clients who identify as ATSI.
- Treatment of PTSD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
700 Level (Specialised)
12 units
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 | Demonstrate knowledge and use of advanced counselling skills. |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
2 | Show knowledge and understanding of the key role of the working alliance in effective psychological consultations of all types and skills for developing an effective working alliance. |
Knowledgeable Ethical Engaged |
3 | Show knowledge and understanding of the difficulties inherent in psychological consultations involving attention to cultural issues, and skills for delivering effective transcultural psychological interventions, particularly with indigenous Australians and refugees. |
Knowledgeable Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
4 | Show awareness of potential ethical issues involved in counselling psychology and understanding of how to use the APS Code of Ethics and its accompanying Guidelines to resolve ethical questions, particularly in transcultural consultations. |
Creative and critical thinker Ethical |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Enrolled in Program AR507, AR702 or AR703
Not applicable
Not applicable
Ability to write in APA format
Limited Grading (PNP)
At the beginning of week 4, a 10-item quiz will be held in class using an online format to assess the students’ understanding of the course content to date.
Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
All | 1 | Oral and Written Piece | Group | 60 minutes |
Refer to Format | In Class |
All | 2 | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 90 minutes |
Week 13 | In Class |
All - Assessment Task 1:Seminar Presentation | |
Goal: | In a group of two, prepare and give PowerPoint that demonstrates understanding of working therapeutically with a specific cultural population. |
Product: | Oral and Written Piece |
Format: | Submit: Weeks 6-12. Prepare and present a 60 minute presentation on working therapeutically with a culturally diverse population, based on relevant research and evidence-based therapy. Possible cultures or diverse populations to present on will be discussed in the first workshop. Presentations occur from Weeks 6 - 12. Presentation roles need to be evenly shared (i.e., all group members to contribute to the preparation and to present). |
Criteria: |
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All - Assessment Task 2:Exam | |
Goal: | Demonstrate learning of course content. |
Product: | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled |
Format: | During class in week 13, you will participate in a 90 minute exam. The aim of this exam is to assess your knowledge of issues relevant to advanced and transcultural counselling. The exam will be based on material covered during workshops, student seminar presentations, and from the prescribed textbooks; including the APS Code of Ethics/Ethical Guidelines. The exam will be a combination of short answer and multiple choice questions. |
Criteria: |
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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.
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.
You are expected to attend all workshops. For any workshops that are missed you will need to demonstrate to your course co-ordinator that you have covered the required material. This will usually take the form of a detailed summary and reflection of the Directed Study Activities for the missed workshop. Information regarding prescribed texts or other associated resources will be made available on the Canvas site prior to commencement of study.
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.
Limited Graded Course: This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 4.1.3 and 4.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Institutional Operating Policy of the USC. 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.
All psychology courses (PSY course codes) have an online formal procedure for applying for an extension on assessment tasks. All extension applications for psychology courses should be made by completing the online form found on the Blackboard website for this course.
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 SafeUSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUSC 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.
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.
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.
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