This unit of study will examine the social and ethical factors relevant to counselling. Factors to be considered include gender, ethnicity, class, occupation, and age. Implications of social context for counselling practice such as the assumptions that client and counsellor bring to counselling as a function of their social background, power relationships in the counsellor-client dyad, blaming the victim versus empowerment will also be addressed. The unit will also address ethical issues in counselling, ethical principles and ethical dilemmas: the philosophical basis of ethical principles; client rights and responsibilities, counsellor rights and responsibilities and referrals from an ethical perspective.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Students will be directed to current texts and journal articles in the relevant areas by the Unit Convenor.
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.