Unit Description
Explore holistic approaches to mental health, including the recovery model and the Process Oriented approach to understanding altered states
This 2-credit point unit provides students with in-depth knowledge of common mental health presentations, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and psychotic disorders, within social and individual contexts. Students will explore holistic approaches to mental health, including the recovery model and the Process Oriented approach to understanding altered states. This includes an understanding of a consciousness continuum, a meta-communicator and altered and extreme states.
Skills will be developed for assessment of mental health presentations and risks to safety, and in making referrals and working collaboratively with other mental health practitioners. Mental health practice knowledge and skills will be developed through case studies, practice sessions and exploring students’ own experience. Students will become familiar with the DSM-5 for the purpose of assessment, report writing, communicating with colleagues and understanding medical diagnosis and treatment.
A critique of the medical model and diagnosis will be presented, compared to the consumer advocacy movement, the recovery model and the holistic lens of Process Oriented Work.
Experiential methods of learning are used to familiarise students with their own experience of altered states of consciousness and to de-stigmatise and reduce fear often associated with these states.
Unit Code
107
Unit Type
Core Unit
Study Period
Year 1, Semester 2
Credit Points
2.0
Unit Coordinator
Consultation Times
30 minutes before and after workshop intensives and by appointment during the semester
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Assess and plan interventions for common mental health presentations
- Analyse the assumptions underpinning the medical model of mental disorders and differentiate these from holistic approaches to mental health
- Apply the holistic process-oriented model to mental health, including the consciousness continuum, and competently demonstrate treatment planning skills
- Recognise contraindications and articulate referral processes and skills for collaborating with mental health practitioners and services
Graduate Attributes
| Attributes | Statement |
| Ethical practice and integrity | Our graduates will demonstrate high ethical standards in their work and follow professional Codes of Ethics to do good (beneficence) and avoid harm (maleficence) |
| Professionalism | Our graduates will have a highly developed understanding of their work roles and responsibilities and uphold a high level of professional conduct in their work and manage conflict skilfully |
| Holistic awareness | Our graduates will have an in-depth understanding of how the physical body, the psyche and mind/ spirit/self are in constant interaction and relationship with each other and with the environment |
| Communication | Our graduates will have well-developed written and oral communication skills, including listening deeply and receiving, interpreting and transmitting complex information, on many levels of awareness with colleagues, clients and the community |
| Lifelong learning | Our graduates will have the skills necessary to successfully manage their careers and continue their personal and professional development in rapidly changing environments across their career spans |
| Critical thinking | Our graduates will have critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate and analyse information and make informed professional judgements |
Delivery Mode
Workshop intensives on-campus
Workshop Intensive 2: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Saturday 5th – Friday 11th February 2022
6.5 hours of teaching and learning
Online delivery
1.5 hour Zoom discussion mid-semester
Student Workload
The total unit workload is equivalent to 4.83 hours per week over the semester (77.25 hours in total).
- On-campus workshop intensives: 6.5 hours in total
- Zoom discussion: 1.5 hours
- Study Buddy work: 5.25 hours
- 64 personal study hours
Available in Courses
This unit is available in the following courses:
Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy (Holistic Practice) Graduate Diploma of Counselling (Holistic Practice)Created: 27 Apr 2021, 4:11 p.m. • Updated: 16 Oct 2023, 2:06 p.m.