Introduction to Counselling

Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions

Nil

Attendance

Note: Introduction to Counselling will be held this semester in Campus mode only–as such mandatory face-to-face attendance is required. This is due to the practical nature of the unit which will focus on the practical aspects of counselling.

Academic Staff

Dr. Margaret Tadros. BA (Hons), University of Sydney; MPsych, University of Sydney; PhD (Clinical Psychology), University of Sydney

Curriculum Objectives

This course introduces students to various models of pastoral counselling that are integral to the process of pastoral ministry. Emphasis will be on learning the function of basic pastoral counselling skills within ministry.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a sound knowledge of pastoral counselling ‘schools of thought’
2. display a sound knowledge of the historical development of the discipline
3. identify various components of the pastoral counselling relationship
4. differentiate basic listening kills
5. apply an understanding of the ethics of pastoral counselling

During this course unit, students may acquire the following threshold concept:

6. The relational dimension of pastoral ministry

Content

1. What is pastoral counselling?
2. The skills of listening and emotional involvement
3. The components of the pastoral counselling relationship
4. Cognitive behavioural therapy/Dialectical behaviour therapy
5. Psychodynamic pastoral counselling
6. Person centred pastoral counselling
7. Narrative therapy. Pastoral counselling as a conversation and personal story
8. Transactional analysis and Schema therapy
9. Family systems and crisis counselling
10. Pastoral counselling and spiritual direction
11. Ethics in counselling practice in the pastoral context