Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use a structured approach to counselling to determine, establish and confirm the nature of the counsellor client relationship according to the agency’s counselling model.
This unit applies to individuals whose job role involves working with clients on personal and psychological issues within established policies, procedures and guidelines.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Use a structured approach to counselling | 1.1 Analyse existing client information prior to commencement of counselling session 1.2 Use initial session to gather additional client information as a foundation for counselling process 1.3 Select and use communication techniques that support the initial counselling session objectives 1.4 Follow a structured approach to counselling based on client needs and expectations |
2. Establish the nature of the helping relationship | 2.1 Provide information that assists clients to understand the nature of the counselling service on offer 2.2 Clarify, confirm or modify client expectations of the counselling service 2.3 Identify client anxieties about the counselling process and explore with clients 2.4 Acknowledge and show respect for client’s immediate concerns 2.5 Clarify both expectations and commitment to the counselling relationship and confirm with clients 2.6 Identify indicators of client issues beyond scope of own role and report or refer according to presenting issue and organisation requirements |
3. Confirm the helping relationship | 3.1 Explore options and approaches for the relationship with clients according to individual need 3.2 Agree priorities and develop a plan for counselling in collaboration with the client 3.3 Make documented agreement with the client that addresses disclosure and organisation requirements |
Evidence of Performance
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:
conducted an initial session with at least 3 different clients presenting with different issues, to establish, confirm and document the nature of the helping relationship, including:
followed the structure and process of a counselling interview
developed counselling plans that include required:
safety or reporting issues
recording of clients own identified priorities
observations of client requirements
involvement of other agencies/referral information
special needs information
goals
evaluation strategies
used communication techniques, including:
effective use of body language
paraphrasing
reflecting feelings
open and closed questioning or probing
summarising
reframing.
Evidence of Knowledge
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 initial stages of counselling, and how these are applied in individual practice:
codes of conduct/practice
contract requirements, formats for contracts and key information for inclusion in a counselling contract
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 of the counsellor role
work health and safety
the counselling process, including:
what clients have a right to expect
principles of person-centred practice
purpose of counselling
how counselling has evolved as a helping relationship
place of counselling within the helping services
scope and nature of the counselling relationship, including professional limitations
impact of own values on the counselling relationship
counselling planning, its scope, and techniques for creating a counselling plan, including requirements for:
safety or reporting issues
recording of clients own identified priorities
observations of client requirements
involvement of other agencies/referral information
special needs information
goals
evaluation strategies
communication techniques, including:
effective use of body language
paraphrasing
reflecting feelings
open and closed questioning or probing
summarising
reframing
types of issues with which clients may present, the extent to which these fall within the counselling scope of practice, and options for referral, including for:
alcohol and other drugs
domestic and family violence
financial difficulty
homelessness
mental illness
problem gambling.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including template documentation for counselling agreements
modelling of industry operating conditions, including scenarios that involve complex interactions with real people in face-to-face situations where candidate and client are physically present in the same room.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must have 2 years experience working in a counselling role and hold a qualification in counselling or related field that involves counselling, at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent qualification).
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.