Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Strengthening mental health

Counsellors work holistically to facilitate change in clients' emotional, mental, and relational difficulties. Counselling is a rewarding career choice for students who want to pursue personal growth and collaboratively transform the lives of others.

Our Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy supports the development of ethically aware, research-informed and clinically effective counsellors. You will:

• learn from academics with extensive professional counselling experience
• build hands-on skills through experiential learning
• benefit from case-based learning
• gain a core understanding of counselling theories, grief, attachment theory, trauma, and ethical practice
• develop skills in a range of therapies including CBT, Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Expressive Therapies

From second year you'll begin tailoring your studies to your personal interests, eventually choosing between a clinical or research pathway.

Graduates obtain employment across a wide range of mental health and community services. You could support young people in your community through counselling and programs in schools or youth work. Perhaps you'll be a relationship or return-to-work counsellor. You may be employed in AOD counselling, a hospital setting, or aged care.

Our clinical pathway graduates can register as a provisional member with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia or as a level 2 member with the Australian Counselling Association. After further clinical experience, graduates are eligible to apply for full registration.

Note:
This degree is only available in blended mode and on-campus attendance is required. If you are a continuing student in the degree and are unable to attend campus, please contact your program coordinator for program advice.

• 16% industry growth predicted by 2025^
• Learn from experienced counsellors
• Develop practical counselling skills

^Imip.gov.au Occupation Projection

The first year of the program follows the structure of the Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy

To qualify for second year, students will need to have met the requirements for the Graduate Diploma (which requires a satisfactory completion of a program of study consisting of 7 core courses to the value of 21 units and closed electives to the value of 3 units).

The Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy contains 3 specialisations. As part of the second year, students will choose between the Clinical Practice, Clinical Trauma Practice and Research Specialisation. Students who choose the Clinical Practice or Clinical Trauma Practice Specialisation will undertake counselling placements, while students who choose the research specialisation will complete a dissertation.

An elective in the Second Year of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is offered during the Winter School period (June - July).

As part of the accreditation for our Masters program with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), students are required to attend all classes/seminars.