Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling
The St Mark’s Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling is based on the suite of counselling qualifications developed for use in government funded Family and Relationship Centres. It aims to train counsellors working in private practice or organisations to provide relationship counselling interventions for families and couples experiencing complex relationship issues.
Entry Requirements:
- St Mark’s Advanced Diploma in Christian Counselling (preferred entry requirement), or
- An undergraduate degree or higher qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Psychology, Social Work, Social Science or equivalent, or
- An accredited qualification in counselling at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, or
- Previous experience in a family counselling environment in a job role involving the self direction of knowledge with substantial depth in some areas, the exercise of independent judgement and decision making, and a range of technical and other skills.
The St Mark’s Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling is delivered via weekly face-to-face 3 hour training sessions for 38 weeks. In addition, students must log 100 hours of relevant professional development training, and 40 hours of clinical work.
In order to participate in this work place assessed course, students must be working in a private setting or organisation where they are seeing couples and families for counselling.
Required text book for the course:
- Crawley, J. & Grant, J. (2008) Couple Therapy: the Self in Relationship, 1st edn, Palgrave Macmillan.
Teaching Modules:
Name of module |
Content Description of Module |
| Relationship Counselling Theories and Therapies | Theoretical approaches to couple counselling; emotional family systems theory; emotionally focused therapy; narrative therapy; transactional analysis; integration of theories in Christian context. |
| Advanced Relationship Counselling Skills | Assessment tools in relationship counselling; first couple session; role of counsellor; meeting, joining, attending, fact gathering; contracting ; gate keeping; questions – circular, process, exploratory, encouraging partner to ask; working with empathy; avoiding triangulation; communication skills problem reconstruction; conflict deconstruction. |
Working with Families and Children |
Use of family systems theory when working with families; counselling tools and interventions for family work; working in a child inclusive practice framework; working with separation and divorce; parenting, step and blended families. |
| Working in a CALD Environment Practicum | Knowledge of working in a CALD environment. Awareness of influence of values on the work. Work with awareness and sensitivity. |
| Developing Reflective Practice within a Clinical Supervision Framework | Ongoing clinical supervision of counselling practise with emphasis on self reflective practise as a learning and accountability tool. |
| Working with Domestic Violence | Understanding theory of domestic violence, invitation to responsibility; legal matters; safety issues. Working with both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. Assessment and application of appropriate counselling strategies. |
| Working with Groups | Use of Self in a group situation and group management. |
| Legal and Ethical Issues | Relating to domestic violence, family law matters. Mandatory reporting of child abuse. |
| Workplace Application of Theory and Skills | Working with an agency or private setting. Demonstration of use of skills and theory in the workplace. |
Assessment of competencies is through a variety of ongoing and specific assignments including:
- Written assignments.
- Recordings of counselling sessions.
- Research and class presentation.
- Personal interviews.
- Self assessment.
- External supervisor’s or manager’s assessment.
- Logs of supervision, external training, professional activities.
- 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:
| CHCFCS801B | Apply theory and practice of counselling approaches.* |
| CHCFCS802B # | Provide relationship counselling.* |
| CHCFCS804B # | Provide counselling to children and young people.* |
| CHCDFV811B # | Respond to domestic and family violence in family work.* |
| CHCFCS806B # | Work within a clinical supervision framework.* |
| *denotes Compulsory Competency under CHC80208 packaging rules. | |
| CHCFAM801B # | Develop an understanding of child inclusive practice. |
| CHCFAM503B | Work with a child focused approach. |
| CHCDFV505C | Counsel clients affected by domestic and family violence. |
| CHCDFV509C | Work with users of violence to effect change. |
| CHCFCS805B | Provide group counselling. |
| CHCDFV402C | Manage own professional development in responding to domestic and family violence. |
RTO NEWS & ALERTS
updated: April 16, 2010
USEFUL LINKS
- St Mark's National Theological Centre
- Centre for Ageing & Pastoral Studies
- Australian Qualifications Framework
- Christian Counselling Association of Australia
- Association of Personal Counsellors
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia