Course Outline Code: COU751 Title: Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Counselling Faculty of Arts, Business and Law School of Social Sciences Teaching Session: Semester 1 Year: 2018 Course Coordinator: Dr Mark Pearson Email: mpearson@usc.edu.au 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description This course sets out to examine the definitions of mindfulness-based therapies and their role in counselling, psychotherapy and health care. The course will focus on empirically supported clinical interventions across a wide range of populations, a means of fostering self-care as a counselling professional and be a catalyst to move beyond the profession s focus on pathology to include positive growth and development. The course will be both knowledge-based and experiential as you will learn and apply a variety of mindfulness based practice both for yourself and for your clients. 1.2 Course content What is mindfulness and its applicability in clinical work for the well-being of clients and therapist? Models of mindful practice in counselling and psychotherapy The mindful therapist and therapist attitudes Mindfulness practices Evidence-based mindful practice research and empirical studies The energy system understanding mind-body therapies Clinical examples of mindfulness-informed therapies The role of positive psychology in mindfulness practices Mindfulness and self-compassion Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Mindfulness-based interventions for physical health Mindfulness and self-care for clinicians 2. Unit value 12 units
3. How does this course contribute to my learning? Specific Learning Outcomes Assessment Tasks Qualities On successful completion of this course you should be able to: Demonstrate critical understanding and analysis of the research-based evidence for mindfulness interventions in counselling and psychotherapy. Reflect critically on your own values, attitudes and beliefs in relation to the use of mindfulness practices for yourself and with your clients. Synthesise and evaluate the body of research on particular aspects of mindfulness practice and its use in mental health. Apply a mindfulness based intervention as self-care in your clinician role. Create a mindfulness-based intervention for a specific group of clients. Demonstrate understanding of the ethical responsibilities and professional requirements which underpin mindfulnessbased interventions. You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: 1 Knowledgeable. Creative and critical thinkers. 1 Empowered. 1 Creative and critical thinkers. Knowledgeable. 2 Empowered. 2 Engaged. 1,2 and 3 Ethical. 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Must be enrolled in the AR708 4.2 Pre-requisites 4.3 Co-requisites 4.4 Anti-requisites 4.5 Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills N/A 5. How am I going to be assessed?
5.1 Grading scale Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL) 5.2 Assessment tasks Task Assessment Tasks No. 1 Essay Literature Review 2 Mindfulness-based group intervention therapeutic plan 3 Illustrated Selfreflective journal summary Class presentation Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it? Group 30% 2500 Words Week 5 Group 40% 2500 Words Week 9 Individual 30% 1000 Words 15 minute presentation 100% Week 12 & 13 Assessment Task 1: Collaborative Literature Review Goal: Product: Format: To demonstrate a scholarly approach to your learning through critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the research-based literature of mindfulness interventions in counselling and psychotherapy. Academic essay a collaborative review of the mindfulness literature Working with one other student in COU751, complete a 2500 word literature review on one aspect of mindfulness based interventions in mental health and counselling (e.g. depression, stress, parenting, illness and pain), synthesise the results and evaluate its appropriate use for differing populations (children, adolescents, elderly, people with religious or cultural differences). See for further details. Criteria: Selection of academic literature Understanding and synthesis of the material Critique of the literature and effectiveness of use with population chosen Consistent and appropriate referencing in APA6 style Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Communication Information literacy Assessment Task 2: Mindfulness-based group intervention therapeutic plan Goal: To create a 6 or 8 week mindfulness-based intervention plan for a specific population group. Product: Written therapeutic plan Format: Your 2,500 word plan needs to include: the population group; a needs assessment of this group; a description of the intervention plan for each week you are proposing; a time frame; contents of the program and how you will implement it; and resources you will need. Working in pairs, you will create a detailed outline for the mindfulness-based intervention program for the group you have chosen. See for further details Criteria: Selection of academic literature Understanding and synthesis of the material Critique of the literature and effectiveness of use with population chosen
Consistent and appropriate referencing in APA6 style Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Problem solving Communication Information literacy Assessment Task 3: Illustrated self-reflective journal summary class presentation Goal: To develop and demonstrate your ability to critically self-reflect on your experience of applying mindfulness based interventions in your own life, providing visual evidence of reflection on your mindfulness efforts, in the form of an oral presentation. Product: Class presentation of a self-reflective journal summary illustrated with art or photography, 15 minute presentation and 1,000 word written submission Format: You will write a 1000 word self-reflective summary of your insights gained from your experience learning about and using mindfulness-based interventions. You will use the entries made into your journal as the basis for this summary, and conclude with advice for others beginning to use mindfulness. This individual task will build on the mindfulness practices that you will have learnt and practiced in class. You will accompany the summary with illustrations (hand-drawn, photographic, collage, etc.) that evidence your reflective process. See further details on. Criteria: Relevant, detailed and critical content Written and visual evidence of regular reflective thinking and of insights gained from both reading and practice A summary of advice you might offer to clients attempting mindfulness Clarity of oral presentation Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Communication 5.3 Additional assessment requirements Plagiarism In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to, are electronically checked through SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct 5.4 Submission penalties Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: 5% (of the assessment task s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 10% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the third day
20% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours On campus workshop: 3 hours per week 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 1 Sippy Downs 6.3 Course activities Teaching What key concepts/content will I Week / learn? Module What activities will I engage in to learn the concepts/content? Directed Study Independent Study Activities Activities 1 The origins and principles of 3 hour workshop Textbook Chapters 1 and 2 Mindfulness-based counselling interventions 2 The mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program 3 hour workshop See readings on 3 Teaching mindfulness in therapy 3 hour workshop Textbook chapter 7 4 Mindfulness with depression and 3 hour workshop Textbook Chapters 8 and 9 anxiety 5 Mindfulness and self-compassion in 3 hour workshop Textbook Chapter 4, and therapeutic support 6 Mindfulness and the arts therapies cultivating mindfulness through expressive arts 7 Mindfulness-based stress reduction relaxation, somatic approaches and mindful practice readings on 3 hour workshop See readings on 3 hour workshop See readings on 8 Mindfulness with children and 3 hour workshop Textbook chapter 13 adolescents 9 Neurobiology of mindfulness 3 hour workshop Textbook chapter 15 10 Mindfulness, self-criticism, and selfcare for therapists 3 hour workshop Readings provided on 11 Mindfulness, spirituality and counselling 3 hour workshop Readings from prescribed texts 12 Student presentations 3 hour workshop 13 Student presentations 3 hour workshop 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Prescribed text(s) Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below:
Author Year Title Publisher Germer, C. K., Siegel, R. D., & Fulton, P. R. 2013 Mindfulness and psychotherapy New York: The Guilford Press 7.2 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for class presentation, workshops and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. 7.3 Specific requirements 7.4 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas. 8. How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Additional assistance is provided to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 or Email: studentcentral@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching 10. General enquiries In person: Sippy Downs - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C USC SouthBank - Student Central, Building B, Ground floor (level 1) USC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie USC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Building A Tel: +61 7 5430 2890 Email: studentcentral@usc.edu.au