PSY4140 Introduction to counselling
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
PSY4140 Introduction to counselling is a level 4, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. It isn't offered in 2026. It needs PSY4122 and PSY4111.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Other periods
- Monash Online
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before PSY4140
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After PSY4140
No unit lists PSY4140 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Corequisite: Must be enrolled in either of the GDP course codes (M5013 or 4525).
Prohibition: PSY4170
Overview
This unit covers all important introductory aspects of counselling. Themes to be covered include theories of counselling, evaluation of how personal beliefs and values influence the counselling process and legal and ethical issues in counselling psychology. You will be provided with a broad overview of the field of counselling psychology and will be expected to be able to compare and contrast different theoretical perspectives and reflect on how these perspectives would influence your (potential) counselling style and practice.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching period 1 | Monash Online | Mo |
Assessment
- Personal reflection (750 words)Written20%
- Essay (1,500 words)Written35%
- Demonstration (15 mins) and critical reflection (1,000 words)Demonstration45%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Discuss and compare the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence supporting key psychotherapy theories, highlighting their historical evolution and current application in practice.
- 2
Express the ethical considerations and cross-cultural challenges involved in psychotherapy practice.
- 3
Critically analyse specific concepts and techniques used by various approaches to counselling.
- 4
Recognise and reflect upon the influence of personal values and beliefs on the counselling process.
- 5
Demonstrate fundamental counselling skills, including micro-counselling techniques.
- 6
Engage in evaluative reflective practice.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials6 hours
- Teaching approachOnline learning
You should expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week on this unit to achieve the learning outcomes.
This time will cover:
a) video lecture materials;
b) synchronous & asynchronous discussion;
c) synchronous web-based 'class-time' for skills-based activities;
d) weekly readings;
e) weekly skills-based assessment tasks; and
f) content-based assessment, including revision and formative assessment.
Each week there will be a one hour ‘Live class’, facilitated by your instructor. This will be followed by a live office hour, where you can ask questions and chat with your classmates and instructor about anything to do with the unit or psychology in general. There is also a 1 hour live chat with the Senior Instructor that you can attend each week for additional discussion and guidance.
For full details of the teaching approach to this unit, please refer to Moodle.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Heather Soo
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Simone Thomas