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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Select counselling therapies
   • Analyse client needs, issues and desired changes to be addressed
   • Incorporate analysis of client’s developmental status and response to change
   • Identify and consider co-existing issues in selecting courses of action
   • Interpret information about counselling therapies and determine their application, benefits and limitations in addressing client’s needs, issues and goals
   • Identify and respond to own level of comfort and issues in relation to using identified counselling techniques
   • Select most appropriate counselling therapies for application in identified situations
   • Communicate details of therapies to be used with client using language the client understands and document in client records
3. Use counselling therapies
   • Use techniques according to the principles and application of selected therapies to assist clients
   • Combine techniques and processes from different therapies in an effective way
   • Use counselling skills appropriately in the context of each counselling modality and technique
   • Identify indicators of client issues requiring referral and report or refer according to organisation requirements
4. Evaluate use of counselling therapies
   • Evaluate use of techniques and therapies in the context of individual clients
   • Reflect on and review own role as counsellor and identify areas for future improvement
   • Maintain and enhance knowledge of emerging trends in use of counselling therapies

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

provided counselling to at least 3 different clients, cumulatively using at least 3 different counselling therapies, one of which must be cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

provided counselling services, within scope of own role, addressing at least 4 of the following issues:

anxiety

family issues

grief and loss

parenting

pregnancy

relationship

self-esteem

social isolation

stress management.

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Knowledge Evidence

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 the use of counselling therapies, and how these are applied in individual practice:

codes of conduct/practice

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

mandatory reporting

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations

work health and safety

issues and concerns with which clients may present, their characteristics and the types of counselling therapies that may be used in response, including:

anxiety

family issues

grief and loss

parenting

pregnancy

relationship

self-esteem

social isolation

stress management

features of at least 5 counselling therapies (including CBT) including their:

historical development

terminology

underpinning concepts and principles

processes used in applications

benefits and limitations for different clients

roles of counsellor and client

how different therapies may be combined to address particular needs

indicators of client’s issues requiring referral

credible sources of information on counselling therapies and trends.

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