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Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling (CHC80208)

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 of 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 order to participate in this workplace assessed course, students must be working in a private setting or organisation where they are seeing couples and families for counselling and can complete 40 hours of clinical work.

In addition, students who have not completed the St Mark's Advanced Diploma of Christian Counselling or equivalent qualification, may need to log 100 hours of relevant professional development training to meet PACFA registration pathway requirements.

Required Textbook

  • Crawley, J. & Grant, J. Couple Therapy: the Self in Relationship, 1st ed, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

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.

Competencies from Vocational Graduate Diploma of Relationship Counselling (CHC80208):

CHCFCS801B * Apply theory and practice of counselling approaches
CHCFCS802B * Provide relationship counselling
CHCFAM801B Develop an understanding of child inclusive practice
CHCFCS804B * Provide counselling to children and young people
CHCFAM503B Work with a child focused approach 
CHCDFV402C Manage own professional development in responding to domestic and family violence
CHCDFV811B * Respond to domestic and family violence in family work
CHCDFV505C Counsel clients affected by domestic and family violence
CHCDFV509C Work with users of violence to effect change
CHCFCS806B * Work within a clinical supervision framework
CHCFCS805B Provide group counselling
* Denotes core units within the qualification.

 

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