Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Study Mode: On-Campus, Distance Learning
Campus Locations: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth (Distance Learning), Sydney
Attendance Mode: Full-time, Part-time
CRICOS Code: 097946C
AQF Level 5
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is your pathway to an exciting career as an early counsellor or psychotherapist. In this higher education diploma, you will study the nature of the human mind from a variety of disciplinary perspectives both within psychotherapy and counselling traditions, and outside these traditions through engagements with relevant scientific, philosophical and spiritual disciplines.
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy will prepare you to be a skilled, and transformative counsellor or psychotherapist
Key Information
Trimester 2 2022 Application Close Date: Thursday 19 May 2022
AWARD
Counselling and Psychotherapy
DURATION
INTAKES
February
May
September
CAMPUSES
Brisbane
Melbourne
Perth
Sydney
STUDY MODE
Distance Learning
COURSE FEES
Overview
Throughout the year you will be provided with the opportunity to extend and consolidate your own development as a foundation for helping to foster and guide the development of others in a therapeutic setting. You will be exposed to relevant theories, techniques, and practices of counselling and psychotherapy. You will be challenged to think and feel in a way that is adequate to the complexity of being human, and you will learn to be with others and yourself in a way that integrates individual and communal pasts, presents and futures.
As part of the course, you will also actively engage in one professional experience placement that will enrich and consolidate the learning you have undertaken in the classroom.
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy will prepare you to be a skilled, and transformative counsellor or psychotherapist.
This qualification is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework.
#FindYourWhy with Ikon
Face to face delivery is an essential part of quality learning. Ikon’s experienced teaching staff will support you during your studies and share a variety of real-life approaches and experiences to help you develop your professional skills, and feel confident and career-ready, upon completion of your course.
Smaller class sizes creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment for students
A journey that mixes theory with experiential processes to ensure students obtain a deeper understanding of what is being taught
Student support through the entire lifecycle of your learning, with our dedicated team of Student Counsellors and Academic staff
Study Sequence
The course consists of 8 subjects. You must successfully complete all subjects to graduate with the Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy (48 credit points).
Each academic year consists of three study periods called trimesters. Each trimester consists of eleven weeks of teaching plus one exam week.
A full-time study load is eight subjects per year across three trimesters.
Delivery & Workload
Course delivery for the Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is a combination of lectures, tutorials, self-directed study and workplace learning.
You should allow for 3 hours per subject for lectures and tutorials. For each subject, you should then spend approximately 9 hours per week for self-directed study to complete prescribed readings, practice skills, research, study and complete assessments.
Progression
In order for a student to progress into the next subject level, they must successfully complete 18 credits of the previous subject level or have received those credits in advanced standing. For example, students must complete 18 credits of Level 1 subjects before enrolling into any Level 2 subjects.
Pre-requisite subjects must be successfully completed in order to progress into that specific subject. Some subjects require enrolment alongside, or at the same time as another specific subject – this is referred to as a co-requisite subject.
SUBJECTS
Core Subjects
SOSC101 Foundations of Scholarly Practice
This subject explores with students the foundations of scholarly practice in higher education and its role in supporting a humanistic liberal arts education. Students will develop an understanding of how scholarly practice contributes to the development and organization of self and mind. The subject introduces, places into context, and develops skills in listening and speaking; reading and writing; reasoning, argumentation, and communication; the schematics of thought; reflective and reflexive thinking; metacognition and the development of self; communication and community; and the scientific method; and explantation of international and Australian trends to enable successful engagement in scholarly practice as a higher education student.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC102 Introduction to Integrative Psychotherapy
In this subject, students will explore the intellectual foundations of integrative approaches to Psychotherapy. This subject will develop an intellectual foundation for integrative world views exploring the ontological assumptions of various approaches to psychotherapy. This subject will demonstrate the historical development of integrative psychotherapy and its role in the current psychotherapeutic landscape. This subject will explore the problems and modes of integrative thinking in psychotherapy and develop a foundational view of integrative psychotherapy that will be used throughout the degree.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC103 Models of Therapeutic Practice 1
Students will develop a working understanding of a number of the principal paradigms that promote growth, healing and psychotherapeutic change. Students will learn to recognise major theoretical perspectives, concepts and explanatory frameworks employed within psychotherapy. There will be a central focus on how to compare therapies with respect to their conceptual and theoretical structure, evidential basis, conditions of application (problem- and client-types) and philosophical assumptions. The models studied are all contextualised within an integrative case formulation framework, and are considered as different metaphors for the organisation of mind.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC104 Case Conceptualisation 1
This subject explores case management and conceptualisation. Students will examine the foundations of the case conceptualisation process to enable them to progressively map and work with the varied elements of a client’s experience. Conceptualisation frameworks will be introduced that enable students to integrate a range of appropriate theories and techniques. An integrative approach will be developed in order to reflect contemporary developments in research, theory, and practice in an interdisciplinary framework.
Credit Points: 6
Pre Requisites: PSYC103, PSYC108
PSYC109 Integrative Systems of Health and Wellbeing 1
This subject has as its focus the knowledge and skills required to practice as a psychotherapist within the designated professional ethical, legal and professional standards as set down by the peak accrediting bodies within the field of psychotherapy/arts psychotherapy. The subject requires the student to examine their own personal values and belief systems as a foundation for the development of professional ethical practice.
The ethical, political and legal context of psychotherapeutic practice will be explored through case studies, professional situations and duty of care issues in contemporary therapy practice. There is an emphasis on the personal and professional competencies and attributes required to practice ethically and legally as a therapist including self-reflection of the practitioner’s own values. Skill development includes understanding of how to work with confidentiality, informed consent, themes of power, and practice boundaries.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC108 Integrative Psychotherapy in Practice 1
In this subject, students will be introduced to the fundamental theory and practice that underlies effective psychotherapeutic practice. Students will be encouraged to reflect on the role of psychotherapy in society. They will reflect on their own acculturation and the ways in which this might influence their practice. Students will be introduced to the notion of relationality, and explore why it is foundational to the therapeutic change process.
At a practical level, students will witness demonstrations of certain key therapeutic skills essential to effective psychotherapy, and also engage in exercises designed to develop these basic skills. In addition to a strong emphasis on skills-based learning this subject will focus on the areas such as: therapeutic relationship building, communication, empathy and transference / counter-transference issues.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
Selective Subjects
SOSC171 Ethics and Politics in Psychotherapy
This subject has as its focus the knowledge and skills required to practice as a psychotherapist within the designated professional ethical, legal and professional standards as set down by the peak accrediting bodies within the field of psychotherapy/arts psychotherapy. The subject requires the student to examine their own personal values and belief systems as a foundation for the development of professional ethical practice.
The ethical, political and legal context of psychotherapeutic practice will be explored through case studies, professional situations and duty of care issues in contemporary therapy practice. There is emphasis on the personal and professional competencies and attributes required to practice ethically and legally as a therapist including self-reflection of the practitioner’s own values. Skill development includes understanding of how to work with confidentiality, informed consent, themes of power, and practice boundaries.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
SOSC172 Foundations of Professional Competency
In this subject, students will explore their personal resources as a means to develop awareness and understanding of therapeutic practices. Students will reflect on the influence of family, culture, life experience, professional history, and other contextual influences including current role and workplace. Students will focus on both verbal and non-verbal levels of communication and conscious and non-conscious dimensions of relating. A strong focus on empathy and self-exploration will be incorporated in this subject.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC105 Models of Therapeutic Practice 2
In this subject, students will develop a working understanding of a number of other principal paradigms that promote growth, healing and psychotherapeutic change, that augment their understanding gained in the Models of Therapeutic Practice 1 subject. Students will learn to recognise major theoretical perspectives, concepts and explanatory frameworks employed within psychotherapy. There will be a central focus on how to compare therapies with respect to their conceptual and theoretical structure, evidential basis, conditions of application (problem- and client-types) and philosophical assumptions. The models studied are all contextualised within an integrative case formulation framework.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC171 Integrative Psychotherapy in Practice 2
In this subject student’s will deepen their understanding of relationality as a foundational aspect of the therapeutic change process and to skills required to facilitate effective psychotherapy and support the therapeutic change process. This subject has a strong emphasis on the practice of inter-personal psychotherapy, it draws together the content of all previous subjects in practice and application.
Introduction to Integrative Psychotherapy
Integrative Systems of Health and Wellbeing
Models of Therapeutic Practice 1
Case Conceptualisation 1
Models of Therapeutic Practice 2
Ethics and Politics in Psychotherapy
Foundations of Professional Competency
Introduction to Mental Health
Understanding Systems in Psychotherapy
Students will utilise experiential methods, including, triads and role-play to develop the basic concepts, techniques and practical skills required in psychotherapy, including conceptualisation in practice.
Credit Points: 6
Pre Requisites: PSYC108
PSYC172 Case Conceptualisation - Art Therapy
This subject explores case management and conceptualisation. Students will examine the foundations of the case conceptualisation process to enable them to progressively map and work with the varied elements of a client’s experience. Conceptualisation frameworks will be introduced that enable students to integrate a range of appropriate theories and techniques. An integrative approach will be developed in order to reflect contemporary developments in research, theory and practice in an interdisciplinary framework.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC101 Foundations in Arts Psychotherapy
In this subject, you will explore your subjective lived experience as the basis for the development of your personal arts psychotherapeutic approach. You will develop your capacity to be aware of your own experience of being in the world. The learning will be experiential and focused on your ability to notice your lived experience in the present moment and articulate this through rich description using a range of modalities.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
ARTS101 Qualities of Art Making and Media
This subject extends the focus on subjective lived experience, covered in PSYC101 Foundations of Arts Psychotherapy, to encompass an exploration of the lived experience of ‘being with’ art, art-making and art media. Within this subject, you will be introduced to the history of art in healing and will undertake research into tribal, religious and secular traditions. Through interactive lectures and experiential learning, you will explore questions such as: What is art? What are art materials/media? What happens during the art-making process?
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
ARTS102 Dimensional Modalities in Arts Therapy
In this subject students will acquire and develop a range of specific 2D and 3D visual art skills. They will come to understand art materials as a therapeutic modality and practice in assessing the inherent qualities of the media. Students will practice self-reflection when being with another person in the art-making process. They will come to understand the power of witnessing, holding space, and withholding comments and judgement, while developing metacognition in the witnessing process. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the qualities that art materials possess and learn to work with appropriate art materials in particular contexts. Students will learn relevant underpinning materials theory and explore how intersubjectivity relates to client experiences of materials in arts psychotherapy.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
ARTS103 Expressive Modalities in Arts Therapy
In this subject, students will be introduced to working with various expressive modalities including play, drama, movement, music, voice, storytelling, and sand-play. Students are encouraged to consider their experiences engaging with expressive modalities and conceptualise how they may be used to explore and achieve therapeutic goals. Students will learn relevant underpinning materials theory and explore how intersubjectivity relates to client experiences of materials in arts psychotherapy.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
ARTS104 Arts Therapy - Inter-modal Approach
This subject will introduce students to the application of an inter-modal approach to Arts Psychotherapy, including the advantages and challenges of this approach. Inter-modal arts Psychotherapy is the practice of using imagery, storytelling, dance, music, drama, poetry, movement, horticulture/nature, dreamwork, and visual arts together, in an integrated way, to foster human growth, development, and healing. Building on their knowledge of the multi-sensory body, students will learn to attune to their senses of touch, sight, taste, smell, and hearing as the foundation of an inter-modal approach in which the therapist and client move freely between different modalities. Students will be introduced to the application of a range of creative arts in an improvisational way in the form of a self-inquiry. Additionally, students will learn to apply a range of creative arts therapy techniques and processes including horizontalisation, amplification, reduction, and providing creative responses within this inter-modal approach.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: ARTS102; ARTS103
PSYC273 Altered State Techniques in Psychotherapy
This subject concerns state-specific knowledge and techniques, which derive from research on the nature of consciousness and states of consciousness. Specifically, it focuses on the ways in which human resources such as knowledge insight, health enhancement, problem-solving and self-realisation may be accessed through a range of states of consciousness, including those central to therapeutic imagery techniques, hypnosis, meditation, focusing and psycho-spiritual experience accessed in cultural medicine. The subject emphasises skill development in using Ericksonian-styles of state-change, Gendlin’s focusing and recent developments in the use of mindfulness formats in psychotherapy, medicine and psychiatry. These techniques, along with related methods, are placed in an integrative psychotherapeutic context.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC204 Treatment of Grief & Loss in Psychotherapy
This subject will enable students to develop both a sound understanding and familiarity with the techniques of case management concerning central issues around grief, loss and bereavement in the psychotherapeutic process. This will involve acquisition of skills, knowledge and an understanding of appropriate interventions for different grief and loss contexts and presentations. The subject will also focus on the cultural, sociological, and ethical aspects of working with these themes.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
PSYC271 Introduction to Mental Health: Wellbeing and Distress
In this subject, students will gain an overview of the Australian mental health system and examine the role of the active participants therein, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and others. Students will explore the varied experiences of consumers utilising mental health services in Australia and identify the current strengths and weaknesses of that system. Students will learn about how the conceptions of normal and abnormal behaviour have developed historically. Students will focus on the historical emergence of systems of diagnosis (DSM / ICD10), their justifications, and criticisms. Students will learn to identify important terms and major categories of the current classification systems in psychopathology. They will also critically evaluate the changing role of psychopharmacology within the Australian mental health system. Finally, students will gain an understanding of the roles available to Ikon Graduates working within or alongside the Australian mental health system.
Credit Points: 6
Prerequisite Subjects: None
Career Opportunities
Admission Criteria
Ikon has a range of admission pathways available to students of all circumstances and academic backgrounds:
- Australian Year 12 Secondary School Certificate with a minimum ATAR 60
- Completion of a VET qualification at Diploma level or higher
- Completion (or partial completion) of a higher education qualification
Applicants may also gain entry in recognition of their work and life experience. You must be at least 21 years of age at course commencement and provide a written admission statement of 300-500 words explaining how the knowledge, skills and personal qualities you’ve gained through your experiences will help you succeed in your studies at Ikon. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
All applicants participate in an admissions interview.
International applicants, and any applicants who did not complete their previous study in English, must evidence a minimum IELTS Overall Score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0. Further details can be found here.
You should choose the admission pathway most relevant to your academic background. To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact Admissions at 1300 000 933 or via email at admissions@ikon.edu.au.
For more information see:
Application Process
Domestic Student Admission Policy
Student Profile Table
International Student Admission Policy
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning is an assessment process used to determine the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes of a subject from earlier learning, experience or achievements. Where equivalence of prior learning can be established, the student is exempt from attending that particular subject in order to complete their course.
You may apply for course credit towards the Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy in recognition of prior learning which may result in course credit and exemption from that subject. For more information on the application process, see the Recognition of Prior Learning & Credit Policy or contact Admissions at 1300 000 933 or admissions@ikon.edu.au.
Pathways
Credit Transfer
Graduates of the higher education Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy through Ikon Institute of Australia may gain entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Eligible applicants will receive course credit via the grade of Advanced Standing.