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2 Years
Blended (on campus and online). Practical Intensive Workshops are required attendance on campus (or online for some subjects), held over weekends at the end of Weeks 6 and 12 of each trimester, running 9.00am to 6.00pm AEST.
Full time / Part time / Online / Blended · 10 hours of study per week per subject (3 hours facilitated, 7 self-directed)
To be confirmed
Course Overview
Where You Can Study
Surry Hills
Eligibility
Career & Study Pathways
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Professional Body
Australian Counselling Association (ACA) / PACFA
Accreditation Status
AccreditedSkills Assessor
ACA / PACFA
Course Content
Advanced Therapeutic Communication
Explores interpersonal communication including channels, barriers, self-perception, culture, listening, reflection, and the therapeutic responsibility of duty of care. Students demonstrate micro-skills, attending and communication process skills, verbal and non-verbal communication, and nuanced listening and reflecting skills.
Theoretical Approaches to Counselling
Introduces a variety of counselling approaches including Person-centred Therapy, CBT, DBT, Solution Focused, ACT, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness. Includes Practical Intensive Workshops (on campus).
Life Stages and Development
Introduces developmental psychology, exploring key life stages, theories of attachment, cognitive and social development, and the effects of trauma across the lifespan.
Self Care & Developing Resilience
Covers principles of social, emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing, capacity building, vicarious trauma, burnout, and development of a self-care plan.
Mental Health
Develops knowledge for working effectively with people with mental illness, covering common types of mental illness, social and psychological determinants, personality disorders, and reduction of lethal risk and domestic abuse.
Digital Counselling
Examines the impact of technology on interpersonal and intercultural experience, and how to utilise counselling theories in digital environments including apps, SMS, videoconferencing, and virtual reality.
Clinical Practice & Supervision
Students undertake 40 hours of supervised counselling at an external organisation or The Practice – The Wellbeing Centre, with 10 hours of group supervision. Covers client assessment, treatment planning, clinical notes, and risk assessment.
Advanced Counselling Skills
Introduces a variety of counselling approaches including Person-centred Therapy, CBT, DBT, ACT, Solution Focused, Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness. Includes Practical Intensive Workshops (on campus). Pre-requisite: TAC402.
Group Leadership
Introduces principles, practices and theories of working with groups in a therapeutic context, including interpersonal groups, skills development groups, and DBT groups. Pre-requisite: ACS504.
Trauma Informed Practice
Explores trauma, its neurobiology, polyvagal theory, window of tolerance, childhood adversity, domestic abuse, and trauma informed practice. Includes online Practical Intensive Workshops. Pre-requisite: ACS504.
Working with at Risk Groups and Suicidality
Covers skills and knowledge for counselling suicidal persons, including definitions, risk factors, biopsychosocial determinants, crisis intervention, and recovery approaches.
Positive Aging
Provides an overview of positive aging, emotional issues relating to aging, counselling approaches for older people, and techniques including digital technologies and telehealth.
Grief and Loss
Prepares students for working with clients through loss, grief and change, including bereavement counselling, end of life plans, and distinction between grief and complicated grief.
Coaching and Positive Psychology
Explores the relevance of coaching and positive psychology to counselling, including strengths-based approaches, goal setting, and synthesis of coaching into practice.
Social and Emotional Well-being in Australian Indigenous Populations
Critically analyses social determinants of mental health, ethics and best practice in mental health provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including connection to land, culture, spirituality, family and community.
Critical Literature Review
Develops practical planning, searching, recording, analysing and writing skills for conducting a literature review and identifying research gaps, culminating in a project statement for further scholarly research.
Critical Literature Review
Provides an overview of critical reading practices and develops practical skills for undertaking a research project, including identifying research gaps and critical analysis, culminating in a project statement.
Empowerment and Advocacy
Introduces empowerment as a multidimensional social process, developing students' understanding of their role as change agents and advocates for mental health consumers.
Common Questions
No, this course is not accepting new enrolments until 2027. The start date is to be confirmed, so prospective students should enquire with Torrens University Australia for updates.
The course requires 40 hours of work placement (supervised counselling at an external organisation or The Practice – The Wellbeing Centre) and 120 hours of experiential practical skills training through on-campus Practical Intensive Workshops spread over three subjects (for online students). The workshops run over weekends from 9.00am to 6.00pm AEST.
Yes, the Master of Counselling (Advanced) is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and it is an AQF Level 9 course delivered by Torrens University Australia Ltd.
The course comprises 11 core subjects and 5 electives. It is delivered over 2 years full time (or 4 years part time), with each subject requiring 10 hours of study per week — 3 hours facilitated and 7 hours self-directed. Assessments may include activity-based assignments or online quizzes.
Students choose five electives from options including Positive Aging, Grief and Loss, Coaching and Positive Psychology, Social and Emotional Well-being in Australian Indigenous Populations, Empowerment and Advocacy, and two versions of a Critical Literature Review (RES611 or HEP601). The research elective (Critical Literature Review) is specifically available as a pathway to further study.
Application
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Step 01
Enquire
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Step 02
Submit Documents
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Step 03
Get Enrolled
Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!
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