Bachelor of Counselling and Human Change

Bachelor of Counselling and Human Change

The Jansen Newman Institute offers a three-year Bachelor of Counselling and Human Change. The Bachelor is accredited at Higher Education level.

Overview

The Bachelor of Counselling and Human Change
is a fully integrated 3 year program. Students learn relevant theory and practical skills while experiencing the impact of personal change processes in a small group setting. Students are asked to read, discuss and reflect upon the wider context in which the roles of counsellor and change agent have arisen and are acted out in practice. The course consists of four interrelated strands:

• Theoretical studies
• Practicum (skills development via peer skills practice and clinical internship)
• Personal Development
• Supervision

Aims of the course

At the point of their graduation from the BCHC, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the application of human development theories in understanding and working with individuals, families and groups experiencing developmental transitions across the lifespan.
• Demonstrate understanding of the application of theories of personality in a variety of counselling and psychotherapeutic processes.
• Demonstrate understanding of variability in age, gender, culture and ethnicity, race, religious preference, sexual orientation, physical, lifestyle and family patterns.
• Demonstrate understanding of issues and trends affecting diverse groups within contemporary Australian culture.
• Respond appropriately to various cross cultural client issues within the therapeutic setting.
• Critically evaluate a range of modalities in relation to their foundations of development, their major components, research effectiveness and application to practice.
• Establish an effective therapeutic relationship and develop and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Conceptualise and assess client issues and select appropriate therapeutic strategies and interventions.
• Demonstrate understanding of the application of effective counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches and techniques to facilitate client exploration of issues, examination of alternate perspectives, and development of appropriate actions with respect to the issues presented.
• Demonstrate capacity to engage in self-exploration and reflection as part of understanding own perspectives and possible issues in engaging in the therapeutic relationship.
• Recognise and integrate understanding of a systems perspective in working with clients.
• Demonstrate understanding and examine the implications for group therapeutic interventions of group goals, function, structure and processes, including communication, norms, decision-making, problem solving and conflict management and phases of group development.
• Apply group therapeutic skills within clinical contexts.
• Demonstrate understanding and examine the implications of theories related to couple and family therapy including identification of evidence based research regarding selected approaches.
• Analyse issues and propose strategies for a range of organisational contexts using contemporary theories of organisational behaviour.
• Engage with and reflect on the principles and value of supervision in informing one's own practice.
• Demonstrate understanding and attributes consistent with application of high ethical standards and professional practice as a counsellor and psychotherapist.

Year One course content

Human Change Theory I: Foundations

Students are introduced to several influential approaches to therapeutic work, including Adlerian, Rogerian (Person-Centred), Psychodynamic and Transactional Analysis. Practicum sessions allow students to experience each different type of therapy. This subject also includes a series of lectures on Human Development, from early childhood to old age and death, providing students with a map to guide change-work with clients at different stages in the lifespan.

Human Change Theory II: Foundations

In the second semester of first year students are introduced to Gestalt, Existential, Narrative and Cognitive-Behavioural approaches. Students are also introduced to the key concepts of personality, the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, personality ‘styles’ and personality ‘disorders’.

Practicum I: Core Skills

Practicum II: Microskills

During practical work students learn a wide range of skills for effective communicating and counselling. They begin with the principles of assertive communication, learning to give clear messages and to check for understanding rather than making assumptions. They learn empathic responding, open ended questioning, challenging, confrontation and immediacy. In-class exercises give students the experience of using all of these skills. Students gain a sense of the counselling role in a safe environment and are encouraged to work with real issues.

Personal Development I: Experiential Group Process

Personal Development II: Group Process and Co-facilitation

Students participate in a therapy group of up to 13 participants. Facilitated by a skilled, experienced group leader, students learn about themselves and others, gaining an appreciation of group dynamics. Jansen Newman group facilitators employ the Yalom Model of group psychotherapy, which focuses on the here and now interactions between participants.

Year Two course content

Human Change Theory III: Couple and Family Therapy

This semester introduces students to systemic perspectives on human change and growth. Systems theory sees problems located in the interpersonal relationship between individuals and introduces different interventions. Students are introduced to family therapy approaches and observe an experienced couple’s therapist at work with clients and they participate in pre- and post-session discussions. Additional classes deal with gender and power, attachment and separation, stepfamilies, same-sex relationships and sexual issues.

Practicum III: Trainee Clinic

In second year students participate in the Trainee Clinic for thirty hours of supervised practice. Students see clients either at the Institute’s clinics or at placements within organisations. This involves hands-on face-to-face counselling rather than observation. Examples of current placements include probation/parole centres, private day care centres, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centres and programs for homeless young people and their families. Group supervision occurs once a fortnight and students are also required to have one hour of individual supervision for every five client contact hours.

Personal Development III: Introduction to Group Facilitation

Personal Development IV: Advanced Group Facilitation

In Year 2 students continue with the same therapy group they joined in Year 1. This year gaining experience in the role of group facilitator, under faculty supervision.

Professional & Contextual Studies I: Clinical Issues and Interventions

This subject begins with cross-cultural issues in therapy. A number of commonly presented problems and symptoms are then considered. These include anxiety disorders, depression, eating and addictive disorders, loss and grief, suicide and an introduction to psychosis. Commonly encountered ethical dilemmas facing therapists are also discussed in this subject, including dual relationships, confidentiality and accountability.

Year Three course content

Human Change Theory IV: Organisational Behaviour

Many counsellors and change agents work for organisations, yet few are properly prepared for the way that organisational processes may complicate their work with clients. In Term One students are introduced to organisational structures and processes leading into the specialised coverage of psychodynamic and systemic approaches to organisational intervention and consultation. In the second term, students look at community work and change in large social systems. This entails a unified approach to human change that encompasses individuals, family and larger systemic levels.

Professional and Contextual Studies II: Cultural Anthropology and Psychotherapy

Counselling, therapy, corporate coaching and other change-oriented approaches have all evolved in a particular social and historical context. This subject looks at the ways modern Western industrialised societies have evolved, in contrast with traditional societies. It further explores the changing way that selfhood, marriage, family and healing have been constructed. Students are encouraged to consider their work as healers and change agents in the same way that physical, emotional and spiritual healing is practised in non-Westernised societies.

Practicum IV: Internship

The internship requires 100 hours of face-to-face clinical work. Students see clients either at the Institute’s clinics or at placements within organisations. The organisational context of the placement is an important part of the experience.

Personal and Professional Seminar: Cultural Review

The Seminar supports the Internship and is aimed at the integration of theory into practice. Small groups meet throughout the year, with experienced therapists as leaders. Students bring cases for supervision, ethical problems, organisational difficulties and general issues that emerge for them as new professionals. Students also research and present additional clinical information to their class.

Elective Studies

Students choose two electives provided by the Institute. The electives are presented in various ways, weekends, evenings, days or as Summer School in January each year.