EDF5065 Counselling couples, families and groups
Faculty of Education
EDF5065 Counselling couples, families and groups is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2025 in Summer A and Semester 1 at Hong Kong, Singapore and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Summer A, Semester 1
- Hong Kong, Singapore, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review EDF5065.
Requisites
Before EDF5065
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EDF5065
No unit lists EDF5065 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite
Must be enrolled in course owned by Faculty of Education.
Overview
This unit aims to develop conceptual understandings of contemporary theories when working with couples, groups and families in counselling. The unit also focuses on building and integrating reflective practice skills when formulating and supporting couples, groups and families. Topics that will be covered include, attachment theory and intergenerational patterns of relating and coping (adaptive and maladaptive), family systems theory, and the role of transference and countertransference in couples, groups, and families counselling. In discussing patterns of interactions between couples, families and groups, you will learn skills to reflect on your own role and practice in managing therapeutic relationships with multiple clients.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester A | Hong Kong | Online |
| Summer semester A | Singapore | Online |
| First semester | Clayton | Flx blk |
Assessment
- Reflective essay: counselling with more than one client (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
- Case study (2000 words or equivalent)Written50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
implement and evaluate theories relating to couples, groups, and families
- 2
apply an understanding of the dynamics present in counselling couples, groups, and families
- 3
develop comprehensive case formulations using evidence-based counselling frameworks
- 4
examine and reflect on your own emerging counselling practice when supporting couples, groups and families
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials12 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.
Usually, you can expect to engage with:
Clayton campus
- 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
OR - 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^
^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode.
Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Kaplan off-shore
- 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via synchronous activities and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
You will be provided with the opportunity to engage with relevant literature and resources. Further, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of topic areas through, collegial discussion and debate, and by participating in activities designed to extend your understanding.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Levita D'Souza
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Levita D'Souza
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EDF5065?
EDF5065 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is EDF5065 offered?
In 2025, EDF5065 runs in Summer A and Semester 1 at Hong Kong, Singapore and Clayton, with an online option.
How much work is EDF5065?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EDF5065 have an exam?
No. EDF5065 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.