Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research key concepts and constructs of theories of personality and human development, and link those to counselling practice.
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. Research theories of personality and human development | 1.1 Identify and access sources of information on theories of personality and human development 1.2 Read and interpret information, distilling key themes and messages for counselling work 1.3 Document and organise information to support current and future practice |
2. Link theories to own practice | 2.1 Evaluate potential applications of personality and lifespan development theories in the counselling process 2.2 Analyse individual behaviour using theoretical concepts of personality and lifespan development 2.3 Assist clients to understand their personal history drawing on theoretical approaches 2.4 Draw on theories to address specific client issues and challenges |
3. Update and maintain knowledge of theoretical trends | 3.1 Identify and use opportunities to update and expand own knowledge of theory 3.2 Incorporate and integrate knowledge into own practice |
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:
used critical thinking skills to evaluate information from a range of sources about the following personality and development theories:
nature and nurture
genetic inheritance
lifespan development theories
Freudian concepts
Piaget’s stages of cognitive development
Erikson’s psychosocial stages
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Bowlby’s attachment theory
integrated at least 3 of the above theories into counselling work with at least 3 different clients.
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:
sources of information about personality and development theories
historical, current and emerging personality and development theories, including the key concepts and application to counselling practice, for the following:
nature and nurture
genetic inheritance
lifespan development theories
Freudian concepts
Piaget’s stages of cognitive development
Erikson’s psychosocial stages
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Bowlby’s attachment theory
opportunities to update theoretical knowledge.
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:
client information
individualised counselling plans
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
scenarios that involve problem-solving.
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.