Unit Description
This unit introduces students to the role and significance of research in counselling and psychotherapy
This unit introduces students to the role and significance of research in counselling and psychotherapy. Students will be introduced to a range of research paradigms, research designs and methodologies, with an emphasis on phenomenology and qualitative methodologies.
Students will learn how to develop a research question and a draft research proposal. Students will be encouraged to give feedback to each other on the merits of each other’s proposals through small group work.
Students will be introduced to literature search techniques. Students will conduct a search of published peer-reviewed research for the research question they develop, relevant to the counselling and psychotherapy discipline, and will produce a broad literature review evaluating their findings.
Unit Code
203S
Unit Type
Core Unit
Study Period
Semester 1, Year 2
Credit Points
3.0
Unit Coordinator
Consultation Times
30 minutes before and after workshop intensives and by appointment during the semester
Pre-requisites
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate the role and the value of research in advancing counselling and psychotherapy practice
- Appreciate the significance of the ethical aspects of conducting counselling and psychotherapy research
- Appreciate and understand epistemological and methodological differences between qualitative, quantitative and practitioner research paradigms
- Understand the role of theory and research methodologies in both practitioner research and phenomenological research
- Develop and evaluate sound research questions for exploring a topic relevant to your life or your practice
- Review published literature and research journals
Graduate Attributes
| Collaboration | Our graduates will have advanced skills in collaborating respectfully with colleagues, teams and clients to enhance productive outcomes and manage conflict skilfully |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 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 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 have critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate and analyse information and make informed professional judgements |
Delivery Mode
Workshop intensives
Online delivery
1 hour Zoom discussion
Study Buddy activities
Eight hours over the semester
- Student workload
The total unit workload is equivalent to 9.75 hours per week over the semester, 156 hours in total.
- 20 hours on-campus workshop intensives
- 1 hour zoom discussion
- 8 hours study buddy work
- 128 personal study hours
Available in Courses
This unit is available in the following courses:
Specialist Training in Holistic Counselling & PsychotherapyCreated: 28 Jun 2021, 5:08 p.m. • Updated: 13 Feb 2023, 3:45 p.m.