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St Mark's Lion

Certificate IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills

The St Mark’s Certificate IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills is delivered via weekly face-to-face 3 hour training sessions for 38 weeks, plus a 3 day intensive mid year. The course is divided into 2 Units.

In Unit 1, 6 months are spent learning and practising basic microskills and a foundational understanding of the Egan model of counselling. Students are encouraged to develop a good self awareness and the ability to work respectfully with fellow students in role play/practise counselling and listening situations. Theological understanding of the role of the people helper is examined, along with the integration of the rational, emotional and spiritual aspects of persons.

Unit 2 begins with the weekend intensive which requires students to work personally at an increased depth and hence be able to work more thoroughly with their ‘clients’ in practice counselling/helping sessions in Unit 2.

The main work of Unit 2 is for students to become familiar with the St Mark’s Integrative Model of Christian Counselling, both from a theoretical point of view and practically. Other counselling tools and concepts are introduced to support the development of the use of the counselling model. There is a continuing emphasis on integrating students’ learning with Christian understanding.

Unit 2 aims to build students’ counselling skills to the point that they are able to conduct counselling/helping sessions with each other in the final weeks of Unit 2. Continuing attention is paid to the application of the skills taught within a variety of settings, such as pastoral care versus counselling settings, with due regard to which skills are applicable in the different settings. This emphasis is supported in Unit 2, as in Unit 1, by the interchangeable use of client/person, and counsellor/helper.

Home study and written assignments seek to develop and demonstrate students’ ability to conceptualise the work they are studying and to understand different settings for use of counselling skills. Students need to set aside an equivalent amount of home study time as is completed in the face-to-face training setting.

Required text books for the course include:

Teaching Modules:

Name of module

Content Description of Module
Counselling in a Christian Context Integration of theology and counselling concepts: Christian counselling; Christian growth; theology of pain; theology of personhood, grace, theology of caring and relating; theology of perception.
Introduction to Communication Skills Including joining and listening; reflection of content; paraphrasing; basic empathy; use of questions; summarising.
Introduction to Counselling Skills Counselling vs psychotherapy; Christian Counselling; goals of counselling; listening to core messages; reflection of content and feelings; safety; main concern; use of language; reframing; normalising; challenge; resistance; choice; advanced empathy; inner critic; here and now therapy; closure; facilitating action.
Counselling Skills First interviews; genograms; adult/child; defence mechanisms; memory and traumatic memory.
Group Process 1 Experimental safe learning environment, in which students are invited to participate. Exploration of personal growth, self awareness, understanding others and development of interpersonal skills.
Introduction to Therapeutic Relationships Alliance; respect; genuiness; unconditional positive regard; congruence.
Introduction to Counselling Tools Psychodrama; figure work; art therapy; two chair techniques; cushion therapy; timelines; art boxes; awareness activities.
Introduction to Counselling Models Egan’s model of Skilled Helper (Unit 1); St Mark’s Integrative Model of Christian Counselling.
Professional Issues Contracts; boundaries; legal and ethical issues in counselling; personal values.
Introduction to Understanding Emotions Rational/emotional duality; perception; primary/secondary emotions; appropriate/inappropriate emotions; anger; avoidance; immediacy; grief.
Practicum Working in diads and triads, practising communication and counselling skills and tools; opportunity to explore own issues as well as use of role plays.

 

Assessment of competencies is through a variety of ongoing and specific assignments including:

Course Outcomes

In order to pass the qualification, students need to achieve the following competencies, all of which are covered within the training program:

CHCCOM2B Communicate appropriately with clients and colleagues.
CHCCOM3C Utilise specialist communication skills to build strong relationships.
CHCCOM4B  Develop, implement and promote effective communication techniques.
CHCCS2C Deliver and develop client services.
CHCCS301A Work within a legal and ethical framework.
CHCCS402A Respond holistically to client issues.
CHCCS405A Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers.
CHCCS5B Identify and address specific client needs.
CHCCS8A Provide first point of contact.
CHCCSL601A Work within a structured counselling process.
CHCCSL602A Facilitate the counselling relationship.
CHCCSL603A Provide support for clients implementing a course of action.
CHCCSL604A Reflect and improve upon counselling skills.
CHCORG28A Reflect and improve upon professional practice.
CCC001 Work within a counselling situation, integrating Christian theology and counselling theory.
CCC002 Address client needs with respect to emotional, rational, physical and spiritual concepts.
CCC003 Utilise specialist communication skills within a counselling session.
CCC006 Work within individual and group situations using self-reflection and respecting other group members’ processes.

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updated: April 16, 2010

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