Course overview
This course addresses issues identified by industry and other stakeholders as emerging and critical areas for counselling practice. It will specifically equip students with the skills for working with people suffering the effects of trauma, including clients who present specifically with symptoms such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, as well as clients for whom trauma has been some part of their past (e.g. through childhood abuse or neglect and intimate partner/familial violence). These skills are a crucial part of work in many areas of counselling and psychotherapy. The course will also give attention to survivors of assault and abuse. Students will learn theoretical and practical approaches to working with these client groups, the evidence base for these approaches, the strengths and limitations of these approaches, and when and how to liaise with other professionals about related issues. This will include exploration of recent developments in neuroscience, the literature on Adverse Childhood Experiences, and how to provide test practice therapy in these areas.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the most recent advances in the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of research studies relevant to working with clients presenting with targeted issues (e.g. anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation).
- Apply relevant theory, research, and practice-based literature to develop best practice approaches to working with contemporary clinical issues (e.g. anxiety and depression), for specific populations (e.g. those dealing with substance abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation) identified in clinical practice.
- Recognise and outline an appropriate treatment plan for clients with indicators of targeted presenting issues (e.g. depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, anxiety)
- Apply clinical skills to working with clients presenting with targeted issues while incorporating recent developments in counselling and psychotherapy (e.g. anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, anger management)
- Recognise the limits of their expertise, and define when and how to liaise with relevant other agencies and professionals.
- Access a range of appropriate resources for helping clients presenting with targeted issues (e.g. anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, suicidal ideation).