Counselling for Addictions

Unit code: APT6005 | Study level: Postgraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
N/A
Overview
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Overview

This unit of study is an advanced unit designed to develop students’ knowledge when working with addictive behaviours. The unit builds on the foundation units in the first year of the Master of Counselling to further develop students’ knowledge of working with addictions. The unit will assist students to work effectively with a range of addictive behaviours, including alcohol and other drugs, gambling and internet addiction. The unit will assist students to develop skills in assessment related to addictive behaviours and relevant treatment modalities when working with this population. The unit will utilise a range of teaching methods, including didactic instruction, in class activities, counselling role play and demonstration. It is anticipated that successful completion of the unit will enable students the skills to work effectively with clients presenting with addictive/substance use disorders.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Articulate and exhibit knowledge of neurology, pharmacology and classification of psychoactive drugs;
  2. Deduce the key legal issues and ethical principles in relation to drug use;
  3. Critically review the key theories and counselling approaches to addictive behaviours;
  4. Critically examine the different types of addictive behaviours across a variety of contexts; and
  5. Apply evidence-based models of addiction in the formulation of intervention plans.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 20%
Multiple choice test on drugs and their effects, legal and ethical issues and the theories of addiction
Assessment type: Annotated Bibliography
|
Grade: 35%
Research and review 6 peer reviewed journal articles in relation to counselling of an addiction (1500 words)
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 45%
Critically analyse case study using relevant counselling theories and develop a counselling intervention plan (2500 words)

Required reading

Selected readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

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