MASTER OF COUPLE AND RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
COURSE PRE-REQUISITES, STRUCTURE AND SUBJECT OUTLINE 2012
WHY APPLY FOR THIS COURSE?
The Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling will not be accepting applications after the end of 2011.
This course, oriented towards couple work but including family practice, has been running since 2005 but developed out of the original Master of Family Therapy that started at the Bouverie Centre in 1994. Run in partnership with Relationships Australia Victoria, it offered a range of innovative subjects that could be taken at the student’s own pace and in combinations that could be tailored to the student’s own needs and interests. This flexibility made this course ideal for workers who may already be working in the field but who are interested in gaining a higher level qualification while enhancing their actual skills with couples, families and/or supervisees, reflecting more on their practice, or engaging in research.
Unfortunately, this course is coming to an end. Two subjects will be offered in 2012 and one subject will be offered in 2013. Thus, if you have completed the Specialist Course in Couples Counselling and/or the Clinical Internship at Relationships Australia Victoria, you would need to apply for this final intake of students in order to obtain the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling.
This Masters degree offers a range of practice, theory and clinical research opportunities for experienced practitioners wishing to specialise as couples counsellors, and for experienced couple and family therapists and specialised couple mediators interested in advanced conceptual, supervisory and research skills so that they can assume positions of leadership in the field.
COURSE PRE-REQUISITES/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- Candidates must have completed their undergraduate studies with at least a B grade or 70% average and should have successfully completed:
a three year undergraduate degree in the health and welfare field and have at least equivalent to two years full-time face-to-face experience working with individuals, couples or families as a counsellor.
OR
a four year degree in a related discipline or a bachelor degree plus an approved fourth year of study and have at least equivalent to two years full-time face-to-face experience working with individuals, couples or families as a counsellor.
OR
a Graduate Certificate in Family Sensitive Practice or equivalent course, and have a three year degree in a related discipline and have at least equivalent to one year full-time face-to-face experience working with individuals, couples or families as a counsellor.
- In addition, applicants are required to be currently working in a counselling or therapy role and have the opportunity to work with couples (full time or part time) or have had recent experience as a counsellor or therapist with couples.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Course Name: Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling
Course Code: HMCRC
Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences
Campus: Other Site 2 (O2)
To gain a Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling qualification students must successfully complete 120 credit points (CP) from the following list of units:
|
Subject Code |
Subject Title |
Total Credit Point (CP) value |
Class |
Taught by (Location) |
|
FTH5RAC |
Specialist Course in Couple Therapy (SCCT) |
40 |
|
Relationships Australia Victoria |
|
FTH5RAI |
Clinical Internship |
20 |
|
Relationships Australia Victoria |
|
FTH5PFF |
Postmodern Family Formation |
20 |
Day |
The Bouverie Centre (OS2) |
|
FTH5XFT |
Action/Experiential Approaches to Couple and Family Therapy |
20 |
|
Not offered in 2012/2013 |
|
FTH5TSA |
Working Systemically with Trauma and Sexual Abuse |
20 |
Day |
The Bouverie Centre (OS2) |
|
FTH5SUP |
Supervision in Systemic Therapy |
20 |
Day |
The Bouverie Centre (OS2) |
|
FTH5MTH |
Minor Thesis |
60 (30+30) |
Day |
The Bouverie Centre (OS2) |
Note: FTH5QRM is a prerequisite to FTH5MTH
FTH5RAC is a prerequisite to FTH5RAI
-- Please refer to ‘Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling – Frequently Asked Questions’
for further subject timetable details. --
Do I have to study the subjects in the Masters course in any particular order?
Subjects can be studied in any order subject to availability, unless there is a prerequisite. The Qualitative Research Method is a prerequisite to the Minor Thesis. Likewise, the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy is the prerequisite for the Clinical Internship.
The Specialist Course in Couple Therapy (FTH5RAC) and Clinical Internship (FTH5RAI) are not La Trobe University units, so you cannot enrol in these subjects using the La Trobe University enrolment form.
If you wish to study the RAV subjects Specialist Course in Couple Therapy and/or Clinical Internship, then at the time you wish to study them, if no La Trobe subject has been commenced, you will need to defer your place in the Masters and apply directly to study at RAV, or if you have already enrolled in any La Trobe unit, you will need to intermit your enrolment with La Trobe University/Bouverie, complete the subject/subjects at RAV and then recommence studies at La Trobe University/Bouverie.
Upon completion of the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy and/or Clinical Internship taught by Relationships Australia Victoria, students must apply to The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University for advanced standing (credit/recognition of prior learning) in order to gain the credit points as part of the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling. Upon successful completion of the Master of Couple and Relationship Counselling Course, students who are granted advanced standing will have the subject codes FTH5RAC for Specialist Course and Couple Therapy and/or FTH5RAI for Clinical Internship denoted on their academic transcript.
Following are some examples of how the Masters Course may be structured.
Note: Master of Couple and Relationship counselling qualification = 120 credit points
EXAMPLE A * Choose 3 of these four units.
|
Code |
Subject title |
CP |
|
FTH5RAC |
Specialist Course in Couple Therapy# |
40 |
|
FTH5RAI |
Clinical Internship# |
20 |
|
FTH5SUP*+ |
Supervision in Systemic Therapy |
20 |
|
FTH5TSA* |
Working Systemically with Trauma and Sexual Abuse |
20 |
|
FTH5PFF* |
Postmodern Family Formation |
20 |
|
FTH5XFT* |
Action/Experiential approaches to Couple and Family Therapy |
20 |
|
Code |
Subject title |
CP |
|
FTH5RAC |
Specialist Course in Couple Therapy# |
40 |
|
FTH5QRM* |
Qualitative Research Methods |
20 |
|
FTH5TSA* |
Working Systemically with Trauma and Sexual Abuse |
20 |
|
FTH5SUP*+ |
Supervision in Systemic Therapy |
20 |
|
FTH5PFF* |
Postmodern Family Formation |
20 |
|
FTH5XFT* |
Action/Experiential approaches to Couple and Family Therapy |
20 |
|
Code |
Subject title |
CP |
|
FTH5RAC |
Specialist Course in Couple Therapy |
40 |
|
FTH5QRM |
Qualitative Research Methods |
20 |
|
FTH5MTH |
Minor Thesis |
60 |
+ Supervision in Systemic Therapy is only available to applicants who have a capacity to supervise in their work context or who have had previous experience as supervisors.
# Relationships
Specialist Course in Couple Therapy = 100 hrs theory, case discussion and family of origin and self as therapist reflective work. This course will be conducted at RAV Kew on a Tuesday.
Clinical Internship = 44 hrs individual supervision and 220 hrs direct clinical work. Clinical supervision and internship requirements will also be conducted at RAV Kew at times to be arranged.
Requirements for this subject are that students be supervising or consulting to at least one other therapist in an on-going capacity, and it is preferable that students are currently engaged in regular supervisory practice as part of their paid work.
If I’m interested in research in the area of families, couples and/or mediation, how much flexibility do I have in research topic selection and research methodologies?
The minor thesis subject FTH5MTH will provide the opportunity to complete a minor research project in a specialist area of your interest. We expect that topic to have some bearing on family and couple counselling or the field of mediation. We teach qualitative research methods, but within that paradigm there are many clinically relevant methodologies you can adopt in your research. If you want to do an actual research project, a pre-requisite for the minor thesis is the FTH5QRM unit: Qualitative Research Methods (20 CP).
If I’m not sure which subjects I should apply for, what should I do?
On the application form you can select the box indicating you are unsure which subjects to study, then submit your application. Any questions you have can be discussed at the time of the interview with the course co-ordinators.
SUBJECT OUTLINE
All subjects specified for this course are described below.
FTH5QRM— QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
Coordinator: Dr Jen Power
In this subject students are provided with the theoretical understanding and practice skills required to design and execute a small qualitative research project. Various qualitative research methods will be explored, including participatory action research; grounded theory; narrative research; focus groups; feminist research; case studies; phenomenological and ethnographic approaches etc. Issues around critically reading the literature, developing research questions, selecting methodologies, sampling, data collection, in-depth interviewing, data analysis and interpretation, and reliability and validity will be addressed. Ethical issues and submitting research proposals to ethics committees, journal keeping, library skills and conventions for written presentation will also be covered.
Class requirements: One 3-hour seminar per week for 13 weeks
(plus additional fortnightly email postings of action research learnings).
Assessment: One 3000 word essay 50%
One 3000 word essay 50%
Venue: The Bouverie Centre, 8 Gardiner St, Brunswick
FTH5PFF—POSTMODERN FAMILY FORMATION
Coordinator: Dr Jen Power
In this unit, students are provided with an appreciation of family diversity and a sound understanding of current trends in post-modern family formation. Students will explore the implications of culture, gender, sexuality, class and the therapeutic relationship in the application of systemic theory and practice in work with families and communities that experience marginalisation and discrimination, with particular reference to gay and lesbian-led families. The intersections and tensions between therapeutic endeavour and socio-political, legal and advocacy contexts will be considered.
Class requirements: one 3-hour seminar per week for 13 weeks
(Students must conduct an additional minimum of 52 hours of clinical practice).
Assessment: One 50 minute oral presentation (including class discussion) 40%
One 3,300 word written journal 60%
Venue: The Bouverie Centre
FTH5SUP— SUPERVISION IN SYSTEMIC THERAPY
Coordinator: Dr Jennifer Power
In this subject students are introduced to a variety of frameworks for understanding the processes of supervision in clinical practice, and invited to consider issues relevant to successful supervisory practices as well as those that pose challenges to effective practice. In the context of a small group, students also have supervised practice in working as a supervisor or consultant to a therapist. Students are alerted to the multi-directional nature of the reflective process between the therapist, supervisor, context and clients. Requirements for this subject are that students be supervising or consulting to at least one other therapist in an on-going capacity.
Class requirements: one 3-hour seminar per week for 13 weeks (Students must conduct an additional minimum 26 hours of supervisory practice in the field - concurrent with doing the course)
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (hurdle requirement; pass/fail) 20%
One 4000 word essay 80%
Venue: The Bouverie Centre,
FTH5TSA—WORKING SYSTEMICALLY WITH TRAUMA AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Coordinator: Ms Anne Welfare
In this unit, students will be introduced to the experience and consequences of trauma from a systemic perspective. A range of concepts and interventions related to the treatment of trauma will be reviewed and critiqued and these will then be used to develop a systemic treatment approach. A major focus of the course is to assist students to deal with the complex dilemmas that arise when families are held as central to treatment. This will include managing the paradox that families may simultaneously be an important resource for healing, suffering their own vicarious victimisation, and yet be the site of the original trauma. Clinical and theoretical material addressing sexual abuse, family violence and other trauma will be utilised and students will be encouraged to apply this directly to their own work examples.
Class requirements: one 3-hour seminar per week for 13 weeks (Students must conduct an additional minimum of 52 hours of clinical practice—concurrent with doing the course).
Assessment: One 1000 word essays (pass/fail) 20%
Two 2500 word essays. 80%
Venue: The Bouverie Centre,
FTH5MTH— MINOR THESIS
Coordinator: TBA
The thesis should be a written presentation of a research project in family therapy or a theoretical contribution to the field. Students will commence work on their project at the beginning of the course, when they begin to consider their research questions, methodology and critically review the family therapy research literature in their chosen area. In the second year of the Masters they will be supervised in the conducting and writing up of their research.
Prerequisite: FTH5QRM
Assessment: The thesis of around 18,000 words will be assessed by two examiners, one of whom will be external to the University.
Coordinator: Ms. Linda Murrow
Supported by a prescribed reading program, this subject aims to provide students with theoretical understanding and practice skills required to work therapeutically with couples. There is an emphasis on the importance of theoretical integration, with a focus on systemic, psychodynamic and integrated behavioural theories. Other areas covered include sexuality, jealousy and affairs, the family life cycle, family violence, gender, separation and loss, divorce, family mediation, remarried families and Gottman’s research-based approach. In the small group context, students have an opportunity to undertake “family of origin and self as therapist” reflective work, skills development through role play practice and theory/practice integration through case discussions. Video viewing seminars are also used to demonstrate the application of theory and technique in a variety of clinical situations.
Class requirements: One 3-hour seminar and one 2-hour workshop per week for 20 weeks.
Assessment: One 6000 word essay 50%
Structured reflective journal (equivalent to 6000 words) (pass/fail) 50%
Venue: Relationships
FTH5RAI CLINICAL INTERNSHIP
Coordinator: Ms. Linda Murrow
This subject aims to develop the identity and competence of the student in couple counselling, promoting an integration of learning from the Specialist Course in Couple Therapy. Within the RAV setting the student is given the opportunity to receive supervised practice in couple counselling, learning to carry out couple counselling using the models and approaches taught in the course. Weekly individual supervision for clinical work will also be provided. The student will carry a case-load of five selected clients per week. The bulk of the clients seen by the student will be couples, although there will also be an opportunity to work with some individuals around relationship issues. Students must comply with the ethical, procedural and practice standards of RAV at all times. Students have to be available to see clients at least one evening per week.
Pre-requisite: FTH5RAC Specialist Course in Couple Therapy
Class Requirement: 46 weeks—44 hrs individual supervision and 220 hrs direct clinical work.
Clinical supervision and internship requirements will be conducted at RAV Kew at times to be arranged
Assessment: One structured weekly internship log (6000 words) (pass/fail) 100%
Supervisor Assessment Report (Hurdle requirement)
Video or audiotape of a couple- counselling session (Hurdle requirement)
Venue: Relationships
Course Co-ordinators: Ms. Anne Welfare (The Bouverie Centre) and Ms. Linda Murrow (RAV)
