The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations for relationship counselling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:
codes of conduct
discrimination
duty of care
ethical dilemmas in practice, and processes for ethical decision-making
practitioner client boundaries and implications of unequal balance of power
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations
records management
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations, including situations where usefulness of counselling may be limited and referral is required
work health and safety, including:
stress management
supervision requirements
common presenting issues, and their characteristics and counselling challenges, including:
pre and post separation issues
parenting and agreements
sexual relationship issues
fertility and/or pregnancy issues
financial issues
intimacy issues
grief and loss experienced one or both parties
family of origin influences
specific issues for same sex couples
cross cultural issues
processes, systems and requirements for contracting and reaching agreements with client about the nature, process and expected timeframes and responsibilities for counsellor and client
historical development of counselling theories and practice approaches, and their similarities and differences
contemporary research, scientific and professional information and approaches to counselling in diverse cultural contexts
broader contexts that impact family and relationship research and implications for practice
approaches used in couple counselling, their strengths, limitations and contraindications, including, including the principles and practices of major theories
ways to engage people in the counselling process, including:
conversation – non problem-focused
discussion of self as counsellor in professional manner
respectful and non-judgemental attitude
even distribution of time between individuals in couple
open questioning in a non threatening manner
use of empathy and rapport building techniques
types of questioning used in relationship counselling, including:
questioning to scan relationship web
reflexive questioning
relational questioning
circular questioning
issues impacting different types of couples, including:
heterosexual couples
same sex couples
couples of different ages/stages of development
family and domestic violence considerations, including:
indicators and dynamics of domestic and family violence and complexities of interpersonal interactions, e.g. power, abuse and conflict
procedures and instruments to screen for abuse before, during and after couple or family counselling and any additional safety planning requirements and procedures for clients and staff
concepts of couple, family and child dynamics in normal and abnormal developmental forms
stages of human development and how this knowledge applies to relationship counselling practice
characteristics of diversity, and how these impact on attitudes to, and values within, relationships, including:
age
cognitive ability
culture
ethnicity
gender
socio-economic status
spirituality
the role of social context in the counselling relationship
counselling and case work processes, including those related to:
contracting and what needs to be agreed
documentation
interactions with other professionals and service providers
interactions with the client, their family, significant others and carers
type and scope of referral options and pathways to support clients seeking interventions and supports beyond or in conjunction with counselling
own prejudices and stereotyping attitudes and their potential influence on counselling practice.