Reference no: EM132391171

COUN2931 Family and Relationship Counselling - Trimester 3 2019

Course(s) - Bachelor of Counselling (BCouns), Bachelor of Applied Social Science (BAppSocSci)

Australian College of Applied Psychology, Australia

Unit learning outcomes - On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

a) Construct a genogram in the context of a relationship counselling session.

b) Utilise information collected in the assessment stage to hypothesise about relationship dynamics, drawing on systems theory, and identify potential interventions.

c) Assess clients' suitability for family counseling.

d) Identify and discuss family issues, and apply models of family therapy to assessment and intervention.

e) Develop and apply counselling skills for working with families and couples.

Assignment 1: Relationship Counselling Case Study (1500 words)

Purpose: An important aspect of family and relationship counselling is that rather than the intrapersonal, it focuses upon the interpersonal. It considers circular concepts of causality rather than lineal. Therefore, the purpose of this assignment is to encourage students to deliberate upon multi-generational patterns of behaviour rather than focusing on individual pathology. This assignment aims to give students the opportunity to be better placed to conceptualise and practice systemically when working with their own clients in the future.

Process: From the information provided in the case study, and in the role of relationship counsellor:

• construct a genogram for the couple.
• create hypotheses about the couple's dynamics using concepts from systems theory.
• identify their strengths and challenges.
• develop questions to test the hypotheses.
• develop a summary to be provided as feedback to the couple.

Sarah and John - Case Study

Consider the Sarah and John Case Study and address the following:

1. Construct a genogram based upon the information provided.

2. Create hypotheses about the couple's dynamics using concepts from systems theory.

3. Identify the couple's strengths and challenges.

4. Develop questions to test the hypotheses.

5. Develop a summary to be provided as feedback to the couple.

6. Reference to relevant literature, linking your ideas to theory discussed in the unit.

7. Proper structure, referencing, and so on, as per the Learning support website.

8. The actual word count.

Please note that in the writing of this assignment there will be a combination of a diagram (genogram- point 1) and an essay form for points 2-7 above.

Assignment 2: Practice Session and Reflective Essay

Purpose: Working as a therapist with couples and families requires a solid foundation of theory, as well as the ability to case conceptualise, apply skills and techniques and then to reflect upon the therapeutic experience. This assignment offers the student the opportunity to fulfil all of these requirements. Not only is it an assessment but a simulated experience of working clinically with a family.

Process:

2a. Practice session:

Choose one of the case study scenarios below as a basis for a family counselling session and find 3 people to play the part of your clients while you demonstrate the application of family counselling skills you have learned in this unit.

The reason for the requirement for 3 people is to establish a "family" therapy environment with a dynamic that is different to couples counselling. The requirement for 3 family members is also to facilitate the logistics of the exercise online as finding 4 or more role players might be an onerous task.

Please note that in reality, families are obviously not restricted to 3 members and that it is optimum for all members of the family to attend at least the first session. Therefore, you are not limited to 3 family members if more are possible and the case studies may be adjusted accordingly. In the case where only three members attend, it would be useful to reflect upon the reason for the family only bringing the "identified" client to the counselling session, and to consider how you metaphorically speaking might bring other members into the room e.g. by asking other-oriented questions or by having chairs for each family member, present or absent, in the room. It is, of course, very important that all family members are considered when conceptualising the case, and reflected in the work that is done.

You are expected to demonstrate:

• joining with each family member
• listening to each member's view of the problem
• responding with empathy
• being neutral
• providing a summary at the end of the session

The session should be approximately 20 minutes in length.

You will need to record the practice session.

State your name, the unit, the term, year, and the name of your educator at the beginning.

Please ensure that you seek informed consent from your practice partners/interviewees by using Client/Interviewee Consent Forms, which can be found in A-Z forms at the 'Current Students' part of the ACAP website. This form must be handed in to your educator along with your assignment. All 'clients/interviewees' must be 18 years or older. We highly recommend that you do not role play with your own child (no matter what their age) as we have found that there are usually boundary issues which tend to make the role play unsuccessful.

Practice Session Scenarios (attached) -

• Sue, Dan, James and Craig
• Jackie, Pete, Laura and Kim
• Mick, Anna and Jason
• Jen, Max, Jacob, Lily, Sienna, Milo and Ruby

Your 20 minute practice session should include a demonstration of your ability to:

• Join with each family member
• Listen to each member's view of the problem
• Respond with empathy
• Be neutral

2b. Reflective essay: Write a reflective essay critically evaluating the session with reference to relevant family therapy literature. (1000 words)

Your reflective essay will need to include:

• an overview of the session
• a brief analysis of the issues raised in light of relevant theory
• identification of the skills you used
• evaluation of your application of the skills including verbatim examples
• suggestions for improvement in your application of the skills, including verbatim examples of what you could have said
• reference to relevant literature, linking your ideas to theory discussed in the unit
• proper structure, referencing, and so on, as per the Learning support website
• the actual word count.

Attachment:- Family and Relationship Counselling Assignment File.rar