UNIT OUTLINE COUN2261: Advanced Mental Health and Wellness Discipline of Counselling…

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UNIT OUTLINE
COUN2261: Advanced Mental Health and
Wellness
Discipline of Counselling
Document Name Unit Outline: COUN2261 Advanced Mental Health and
Wellness
Responsibility Academic Dean
Version UO COUN2261 V1
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Unit Outline: COUN2261 Advanced Mental Health and Wellness V1.0
(06/01/2022)
1. Unit Description
This unit develops student counsellors knowledge of different mental health conditions, their
symptoms and evidence-based treatment approaches for clients of diverse backgrounds. Students
explore the application of mental health policy, processes and approaches from a legal and ethical
perspective. Mental health theory is interrogated through foundational application of mental health
case formulation. Students engage with critical reflection as they develop an integrated understanding
of theoretical knowledge of mental health and wellness practice.
ACAP classes are an open space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas, and this Unit will include
topics that may be difficult for you to confront or discuss.
If you feel uncomfortable discussing certain content during class, please seek the support of your
educator or fellow students in the first instance.
Additional free and confidential counselling support is available on all ACAP campuses. Please visit
https://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/services-and-support/counselling-support/ for further
information on the ACAP Counselling Support Service and external supports including Lifeline,
Beyond Blue, MensLine, and others.
2. Unit Information
Unit level and type Level 200 Core
Credit point value 6 (out of a total of 96 CP for Associate Degree, or 144 CP
for Bachelor)
Prerequisites All Level 100 Core units
Co-requisites N/A
Equivalent Units N/A
Delivery modes On-Campus and Blended
Course Bachelor of Counselling (Nested)
Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching)
3. Development of Learning Outcomes and Graduate Attributes
3.1 Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
a) Apply mental health policy, processes and approaches from a legal and ethical perspective
b) Critically evaluate and apply mental health case formulation clients of diverse backgrounds
c) Explain different mental health conditions, their symptoms and evidence-based treatment
approaches
d) Critically reflect and integrate the theoretical knowledge of mental health and wellness
practice
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Unit Outline: COUN2261 Advanced Mental Health and Wellness V1.0
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3.2 Course Learning Outcomes
This unit, COUN2261, covers the learning required to deliver the following Course Learning
Outcomes:
Associate Degree of Counselling Skills (AQF 6)
• Demonstrates a broad theoretical and technical knowledge of counselling theories, principles,
processes and skills
• Effectively integrates ethical and professional processes and practices when working with
diverse individuals in varied contexts
• Competently applies critical reflective and self-care processes for working in the counselling
profession
• Effectively applies knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and
responsibility when counselling diverse individuals as they work towards their personal and
professional goals
• Skilfully demonstrates 21st century communication practices for working and learning across
changing contexts
Bachelor of Counselling (AQF 7)
• Demonstrates an integrated level of professional knowledge and skills of counselling
research, theory and practice to ensure and enhance rigor within the counselling field
• Competently integrates the evidenced-based frameworks, theories and practices of the
counselling field with a high level of autonomy and accountability for sustainable professional
practice
• Skilfully generates helpful processes to support diverse people in society through critical
application of the ethical and professional responsibilities of counselling
• Skilfully and critically reflects, interprets and evaluates personal and professional
development and effectively applies the ethos of lifelong learning, self-care and wellbeing as
a professional counsellor
• Displays a professional commitment to the principles of social justice to authentically engage
with, empower, include and enable individuals, groups and communities across diverse
contexts
• Skilfully operates and demonstrates learning and working practices across multiple twentyfirst century platforms, reflective of contemporary counselling contexts for sustainable,
relevant professional application in alignment with the Psychotherapy and Counselling
Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
Bachelor of Counselling (Minor in Coaching) (AQF 7)
• Demonstrates an integrated level of professional knowledge and skills of counselling and
coaching research, theory and practice to ensure and enhance rigor within the counselling
field
• Competently integrates the evidenced-based frameworks, theories and practices of the
counselling and coaching field with a high level of autonomy and accountability for
sustainable professional practice
• Skilfully generates helpful processes to support diverse people in society through critical
application of the ethical and professional responsibilities of counselling and coaching
• Skilfully and critically reflects, interprets and evaluates personal and professional
development and effectively applies the ethos of lifelong learning, self-care and wellbeing as
a professional counsellor and coach
• Displays a professional commitment to the principles of social justice to authentically engage
with, empower, include and enable individuals, groups and communities across diverse
contexts
• Skilfully operates and demonstrates learning and working practices across multiple twentyfirst century platforms, reflective of contemporary counselling contexts for sustainable,
relevant professional application in alignment with the Psychotherapy and Counselling
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Unit Outline: COUN2261 Advanced Mental Health and Wellness V1.0
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Federation of Australia (PACFA), the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and the
International Coach Federation (ICF)
3.3 ACAP Graduate Attributes
Successful completion of this unit also contributes specifically to the development of the following
ACAP Graduate Attributes:
• GA1 COMMUNICATE: Apply effective communication skills with others in diverse contexts
and through multiple modalities
• GA2 SUSTAIN: Sustain an intentional commitment to maintain currency and further develop
knowledge and skills over their lifetime
• GA3 THINK: Apply critical, creative and flexible thinking to contribute and respond
constructively across diverse settings
• GA4 ENGAGE: Engage effectively with contemporary and traditional knowledges across
multiple contexts
• GA5 WELLBEING: Utilise skills and knowhow to maintain resilience, personal and
professional wellbeing when responding to challenges and opportunities
• GA6 EQUALITY: Enact inclusive practices that deliver social justice and equality of
opportunity
• GA7 INTEGRITY: Apply integrity and ethical standards to study, research and practice
• GA8 COMMUNITY: Use teamwork and leadership knowledge and skills to advance teams,
groups and communities
• GA9 GLOBAL: Apply culturally sensitive professional knowledge and skills to contribute to a
sustainable global future
4. Learning and Teaching Process
The content of this unit has been designed to maximise the learning and the integration of the subject
matter. Much of the unit material is specific to the Australian context. For example, this outline does
include reference to diverse individuals and diverse groups of individuals. Diversity can encompass
but is not limited to: individuals identified with atypical and typical behaviours; Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples; LGBTIQ+ peoples; culturally and linguistically diverse peoples; individuals
with chronological / lifespan status; individuals with learning differences; individuals with different
family backgrounds and history.
Students are encouraged to access additional information relevant to their local context, which will
assist in applying the learning and ensuring its relevance. This may include specific legislation,
government and professional association resources, and journals. It is important that students’
reading is broad. In general students are expected to:
• read each section of the unit carefully and make notes on new content, and points that are
unclear, or in conflict with previous learning or experience
• complete readings of the text and other readings and resources, making notes on important
insights or facts, especially those relevant to assignments
There may be periodic suggestions or issues on which students are asked to deliberate and reflect.
Sometimes these are dilemmas or difficult issues associated with the study topic which have no right
or wrong answers but are used to trigger critical thinking.
Learning activities are set in each section of the unit to give opportunities for further learning. These
activities include self-inventories, quizzes, video activities, exercises, case studies and reflection
activities. These activities do not need to be sent to the academic teacher for marking. However,
valuable learning opportunities will be missed by not engaging with the activities.
In this Unit students will engage in 36 hours of teacher directed and student directed activities
throughout the trimester. These 36 hours are inclusive of all modes of delivery – on campus, online,
blended, synchronous (coaching).
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Unit Outline: COUN2261 Advanced Mental Health and Wellness V1.0
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Students are also expected to engage in at least 10 hours per week of independent study throughout
the trimester.
The workload may include regular weekly learning tasks, attending classes (face-to-face / online),
online activities, completing readings, hurdle task activities, researching module topics, and
completing prescribed assessment tasks. Students will be required to be proactive and self-directed in
their learning, sourcing information as required, especially from the sources available through the
Moodle site.
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