Diploma of Counselling

Establish and confirm the counselling relationship

• Use a structured approach to counselling
• Establish the nature of the helping relationship
• Confirm the helping relationship

Work legally and ethically

• Identify and respond to legal requirements
• Identify and meet ethical responsibilities
• Contribute to workplace improvements

Work with diverse people

• Reflect on own perspectives
• Appreciate diversity and inclusiveness, and their benefits
• Communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and situations
• Promote understanding across diverse groups

Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety

• Identify cultural safety issues in the workplace
• Model cultural safety in own work
• Develop strategies for improved cultural safety
• Evaluate cultural safety strategies

Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills

• Communicate effectively
• Use specialised counselling interviewing skills
• Evaluate own communication

Facilitate the counselling relationship and process

• Support clients to identify concerns
• Support clients to work through concerns
• Monitor the counselling process
• Bring the counselling process to an end

Research and apply personality and development theories

• Research theories of personality and human development
• Link theories to own practice
• Update and maintain knowledge of theoretical trends

Apply learning theories in counselling

• Research learning theories
• Analyse behavioural outcomes of different modelling and reinforcement influences
• Formulate a program for change in a counselling context

Select and use counselling therapies

• Select counselling therapies
• Use counselling therapies
• Evaluate use of counselling therapies

Provide loss and grief support

• Recognise reactions to loss and grief
• Engage empathically
• Offer support and information
• Care for self
• Review support provided

Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management

• Determine appropriate response to case management in accordance with organisation and legislative requirements
• Conduct case management meetings
• Develop an appropriate case management plan
• Monitor and review case work activities and processes

Assess the needs of clients with problem gambling issues

• Prepare for assessment
• Conduct assessment
• Develop a case plan with the client
• Refer clients

Recognise and respond to crisis situations

• Identify imminent crisis situations
• Address immediate safety concerns
• Provide referral for crisis intervention support
• Care for self

Recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence

• Adopt work practices that support interactions with those affected by domestic and family violence
• Identify client needs
• Respond to client needs

Support counselling clients in decision-making processes

• Assist clients to clarify goals and requirements
• Explore options with clients
• Support client to reach decisions

Work with people with mental health issues

• Establish respectful relationships with people with mental health issues
• Determine the needs of people with mental health issues
• Work with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs

Reflect on and improve own professional practice

• Reflect on own practice
• Enhance own practice
• Facilitate ongoing professional development