Unit Description
Develop a deeper understanding of Process Oriented theory and skills for working with conflict, including deep democracy principles and Mindell’s four phase conflict theory
In this unit, building on the foundation provided in Core Process Oriented Skills 2 (105), students will develop a deeper understanding of process oriented theory and skills for working with conflict, including deep democracy principles and Mindell’s conflict theory. Deep democracy views inclusion of marginalised parts of self, groups and states as essential to the healthy functioning of the whole. Students will develop awareness of and sensitivity to rank, power, privilege, culture and gender, and also develop their holistic counselling skills for working with individuals, couples, groups and communities through demonstrations by academic teaching staff and participating in experiential exercises, including the use of genograms in assessment. They will learn to apply holistic counselling skills to manage inner and external conflicts, with a particular focus on polarity, primary and secondary processes and edge awareness.
Unit Code
106
Unit Type
Core Unit
Study Period
Semester 2, 2022
Credit Points
3.0
Consultation Times
30 minutes before and after workshop intensives and by appointment during the semester
Topics Covered
- Understanding process oriented theories of conflict and Deep Democracy principles, including rank, power, privilege, marginalisation and diversity.
- The three-step process: my side, your side and neutral position. Signs of conflict escalation and de-escalation
- Facilitating communication with individuals, couples, groups and communities: Recognising parallel edges and the counsellor’s edge
- The mythic nature of relationships, and high and low dreaming
- Covert and overt influences of rank, power and privilege on life aspects and conflicts, including work, for self and others
- Cross cultural sensitivity and communication skills
- Gender dynamics and power and privilege
- Managing inner and external conflict
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Effectively apply process oriented theories of conflict management to analyse internal and external conflicts
- Critically analyse the influence and impact of rank, power and privilege in a range of relationships and cultural contexts, including their own cultural background
- Demonstrate a sensitivity to gender dynamics and power differentials in their professional relationships
- Implement principles for working with diverse client groups, and competently demonstrate cross cultural communication skills in practice
- Competently apply concepts of field theory, roles, ghost roles and deep democracy in process oriented work
Graduate Attributes
Delivery Mode
Workshop intensives
On-campus workshop intensive 2:
9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Seven hours of teaching and learning
On-campus workshop intensive 3:
9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Five hours of teaching and learning
Online delivery
1.5 hour Zoom discussion
Study Buddy activities
Eight hours over the semester
Student Workload
The total unit workload is equivalent to 7.3 hours per week over the semester, 117.5 hours in total.
- 12 hours on-campus workshop intensives
- 1.5 hours Zoom discussion
- 8 hours study buddy work
- 96 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: April 27, 2021, 4:11 p.m. • Updated: Oct. 20, 2021, 10:04 a.m.