Master of Counselling & Psychotherapy
The Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy integrates the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma, offering students an opportunity to study the art and science of therapy in an integrated, highly personal and experiential way. Students in the program are provided with a philosophically aligned and cohesive program which supports their ability to relate to themselves, their clients and their work with genuine caring presence and respectful engagement.
The aim of the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is to provide high-level training in the skills required to work effectively with a wide variety of clients. The program provides a deep immersion into the theory and practice of an integrative, humanistic, process-oriented, relational psychotherapy that incorporates contributions from the psychodynamic, cognitive and existential approaches. There is a strong experiential focus in order to provide a hands-on, practice-oriented training and learning experience. The course adheres to solid evidence-informed principles of the common factors that characterise effective counselling and psychotherapeutic work, also providing a firm grounding in the professional, ethical, and legal issues associated with counselling and psychotherapy practice. Students in the program are trained in research methods and participate in a process-oriented research case study, in order to give them a unique opportunity to contribute to learning in the field.
It is the only course of its kind to provide students with a fully supported placement experience, including sourcing placement opportunities through established industry partnerships and providing intensive in-house individual and group supervision in order to fully prepare students for the workplace.
Fully accredited by both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is taught exclusively by respected therapist academics practicing in the field, who work as a team to support each student’s learning.
| Location: Hawthorn East | Intake: Semester 1 each year |
| Delivery: Full Time and Part Time | Fees: Fee information can be found here |
| Duration: 2 Years Full Time or 4 Years Part Time | FEE-HELP: Yes |
| CRICOS Course Code: 092969C | Course Code: CP091 |
Course Duration and Structure
This two-year full time, or four-year part-time program, consists of 200 credit points. Students undertake a total of 16 units of study consisting of twelve coursework units, two placement units and two research relevant units.
| Year One | |
| CPc1 | Psychotherapeutic Theories and Models |
| CPc2 | Person-Centred Counselling |
| CPc4 | Facilitating Therapeutic Change |
| CPc5 | Cognitive Behavioural Therapies |
| DPc7 | Assessment Process in Counselling and Psychotherapy |
| DPc2 | Ethics and Professional Development |
| DPc3 | Counselling Placement 1 |
| DPc4 | Treatment Planning |
| Year Two | |
| MPc4 | Counselling Placement 2 |
| MPc5 | Exploring Process-Experiential Emotion-Focused Therapy |
| MPc6 | Existential Psychotherapy and the Group Process |
| MPc7 | Key Competencies in Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy |
| MPc1 | Research Project |
| MPc9 | Relationship and Marital Therapy |
| MPc10 | Trauma Therapy – Loss and Grief |
| MPc11 | Interpersonal Processes in Psychotherapy |
For unit descriptions, please click here.
Admission Criteria
Entrance into the Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy requires:
- An Australian Bachelor degree (AQF 7) in a related discipline (teaching, social work, social sciences, psychology, counselling or similar) with at least a 70% average marks.
- Prospective students wishing to enrol into the Master course who have an Australian Bachelor degree in a non-relevant discipline are encouraged to enrol in the Graduate Diploma level to assess their suitability. They may be required to undertake The Cairnmillar Institute’s Introduction to Counselling Skills and Advanced Counselling Skills short courses prior to the enrolment.
To apply:
Prospective students are required to submit an application through the Apply Now page, with certified copies of the following supporting documentation:
- Most recent academic transcripts
- A current curriculum vitae
- A 500 word personal statement outlining the reasons for wanting to undertake the course
- Proof of residency/citizenship (e.g. passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate)
- Two references, preferably with at least one academic, using the online HODSPA reference system. A guide on how to use the system is available here.
Prospective students who are short-listed will be invited to attend an interview with members of the School Teaching Faculty. This provides the applicant with the opportunity to discuss any questions they have about the course of study.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Students may only be given credit for any coursework if it is from a successfully completed approved course at the appropriate Australian AQF postgraduate level.
Graduate Learning Outcomes
Students who satisfactorily complete the course will have achieved advanced knowledge and skills in the following areas of study:
- The ability to facilitate the therapeutic process according to established the client’s focused goals.
- The skills to conduct risks assessment and apply crisis intervention skills and management.
- Understanding of relational dynamics and capacity for effective human relatedness that facilitates change.
- An awareness of the impact of the self on others and the development of relational intelligence, sensitivity, resilience and respect.
- The ability to understand and practice within the PACFA Code of Ethics and Professional Guidelines.
- Developed the relevant research and data analysis skills with the ability to critically review research studies.
- Developed capacity to be self-reflective and learn from experience.
- Acquired knowledge of applying alternative modes of working with clients, including the use of real-time internet platforms within ethical guidelines.
- Awareness and understanding of the range of human diversity and social, cultural, economic and psychological contextual influences.
- Understanding the impact of gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, class, religion, race and ethnicity on therapy.
- Respect and acknowledgment of indigenous history and culture.
- Acquisition of a high level of verbal and professional communication skills.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may find employment in a variety of settings including community health and community services organisations, the health professions, rehabilitation providers, human resource management, child protection, family support counselling services, allied clinics and services, and private practice.
Professional Recognition
The course is fully accredited by both the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) and by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).