Strengths-Based Counselling For Marginalised People (CO2009Z)

Content

Given that clients bring to counselling all sorts of problems it is very easy for therapists to become problem-focused. This, however, ignores the many implicit strengths which our clients possess. Two approaches to counselling which are deliberately strengths-based are Narrative Therapy and Positive Psychology. This unit provides students with an opportunity to refine their counselling skills pertinent to these modalities in the context of clients who may feel marginalised by their circumstance, family, or community.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Offering: This unit is to be taught in year 2, semester 2 (term 4).
Prerequisites: CO1005Z Introduction To Counselling Prohibited combinations: CO1008Z Data Literacy For Clinicians; CO2010Z Counselling Survivors And Perpetrators Of Domestic Violence; The Well Community.

Pedagogy

Scaffolded learning. Tutorial and Intensive format over 8 weeks. The compulsory intensive will be 29 hours in duration over four consecutive days held in week 6. Mornings will use synchronous on-line learning and afternoons will use activity-based face-to-face learning. The remaining 7 weeks will utilise weekly asynchronous on-line learning and 1 hour of synchronous on-line learning (i.e., non-compulsory tutorial).

Indicative Bibliography

1. Compton, W., & Hoffman, E. (2019). Positive Psychology: The science of happiness and flourishing (3rd edition). Sage Publications Ltd.
2. Denborough, D. (Ed.; n.d.). Trauma: Narrative responses to traumatic experience. Dulwich Centre Publications.
3. Dulwich Centre Publications (Ed.; n.d.). Yarning with a Purpose: First Nations narrative practice. Dulwich Centre Publications.
4. Morgan, A. (2000). What is Narrative Therapy? An easy-to-read introduction. Dulwich Centre Publications.
5. Snyder, C., Lopez, S., Edwards, L., & Marquez, S. (2021). The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (3rd edition). Oxford University Press.
6. Van Zyl, L., & Rothmann, S. (2019). Evidence-based Positive Psychological interventions in multi-cultural contexts. Springer.
7. Wakhungu, C., & the Mt Elgon Self-Help Project. (n.d.). Raising our heads above the clouds: The use of narrative practices to motivate social action and economic development. Dulwich Centre Publications.
8. White, M. (2010). Maps of narrative practice. Dulwich Centre Publications.
9. White, M. (2011). Narrative practice: Continuing the conversations. Dulwich Centre Publications.

Assessment