Details for Interpersonal Communication Skills

Please note: This subject will replace 'SSC112 Counselling Practice I' from Semester 2 (2023) onwards (new code and name only).

On successfully completing this subject, you will be able to use practical skills for more effective interpersonal communication as well as basic counselling skills. This subject has been designed to comply with PACFA training requirement: Students must have completed a course of which at least 100 hours is experiential. Experiential activities refer to clinical training methods, such as modelling by clinicians, counsellor-client practice, clinical placements, role-plays, and concrete and specific feedback.

Awards offering Interpersonal Communication Skills

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Bachelor of Applied Social Science
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Applied Social Science
• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Diploma of Arts
• Diploma of Chaplaincy
• Undergraduate Certificate in Arts
• Undergraduate Certificate in Ministry

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Integrate the principles for effective communication, active listening, observation and conflict management into your relational style;
2. Practice skills for effective expression and appropriate assertiveness from a range of styles;
3. Generate skills useful for managing counselling conversations including those that may not proceed as anticipated;
4. Apply cultural sensitivity to counselling practice and develop a methodology for continued professional development and effective self-monitoring.

Subject Content

• Principles of communication
• Blocks to communication
• Active listening
• Attending behaviours
• Micro-skills of silence, minimal encouragers, paraphrasing and summarising
• Self-awareness and self-disclosure
• Assertiveness
• Reflection of content, meaning, reflection of feeling, questioning, confrontation
• Cultural contexts of counselling and cross-cultural communication

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Onsite (face-to-face)
• Online (eLearning)
• Intensives
• Extensives

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Skill Demonstration (Video) and Analysis (50%)
• Reflective Journal (30%)
• Individual Presentation and Forum Discussions (20%)

Prescribed Text

• Geldard, D., Geldard K. & Foo, R. (2021). Basic personal counselling (9th ed). Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning Australia.