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Certificate IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills (80961ACT)

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 Textbooks

  • Geldard, D., & Geldard, K. Basic Personal Counselling, 7th ed, Frenchs Forest: Prentice Hall/Pearson Education Australia, 2012

  • Egan, G. Exercises in Helping Skills, 9th ed, Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole. [Sometimes available as a set that includes the Egan text below]

  • Egan, G. The Skilled Helper, 8th or 9th ed, Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole. [Not compulsory but a useful text to have]

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:

  • Written assignments.
  • Research and class presentation.
  • Personal interviews.
  • Self assessment (see below).
  • Ongoing observation and monitoring of students as they are involved in:

        * role plays;
        * practice counselling sessions as observer, client and counsellor;
        * experiential exercises.

Course Outcomes

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

Competencies from Community Services Training Package (CHC08):

CHCCOM302C Communicate appropriately with clients and colleagues
CHCCOM403A Use targeted communication skills to build relationships
CHCCS412D Deliver and develop client services
CHCCS400A Work within a relevant legal and ethical framework
HLTHIR403B Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
CHCCS405C Identify and address specific client needs
CHCCS308B Provide first point of contact
CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework
CHCCSL502A Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills
CHCCSL503A Facilitate the counselling relationship
CHCCSL507A Support clients in decision-making processes
CHCCSL509A Reflect and improve upon counselling skills

 

Competencies written for St Mark’s Certificate IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills:

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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