Welcome to Edition 96 of Institute Inbrief.

In this edition we explore the theme of group counselling. First, we look at the role of therapeutic groups, depicting five benefits of using groups to facilitate change. Then we provide you with examples of "Ice-Breaker" tools that can be used to engage participants at the start of a group session.

We also have a Case Study on Stress; a range of training opportunities; and news and updates from Counselling Connection, our official Blog that currently has over 330 posts.

Enjoy your reading!

Editor

Higher Standard, Lower Investment

The Institute's Diploma of Professional Counselling is the country's most reasonably-priced counselling qualification. As Australia's largest and longest established provider of counsellor training, we're able to amortise our costs across a large number of students. Thus, we deliver a high standard of counselling education and study support, for a lower investment.

AIPC has specialised in external education for over 16 years and has a highly qualified Education Team who will support you throughout your studies. Help is only ever a phone call or email away and you have access to:

• An Education Team of over 65 degree qualified counselling professionals, all with extensive industry experience and teaching qualifications.

• An online Knowledge Base available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that contains over 4,000 specific questions and answers relating to your course.

• Unlimited FREE phone support 9am to 5pm (EST) on the 1300 Study Assistance Line where you can discuss any study questions you may have with Education Team members.

• Unlimited email support. Send a question any time and have your enquiry replied to within the next working day.

And you have the support of your local Student Support Centre who will link you into a local student support network (if you wish to stay in touch with other students); help you complete your practical assessments; and co-ordinate your In-Class or tutorial activities.

In a survey of several thousand students (Yes, we regularly ask students and graduates how we are performing so we can continually improve our level of service!), 86% of responders indicated that our level of student support was "Beyond their expectation".

AND, prospective students of the Institute can benefit from a variety of course investment methods, so your enrolment into the Diploma of Professional Counselling is not delayed due to financial considerations.

There are two payment options for students enrolling into the Diploma of Professional Counselling, each of them with specific advantages:

Upfront Payment Option

Students who decide to pay their course fee upfront will enjoy a substantial discount on the normal price of the Diploma. Students can concentrate on their future studies without having to worry about further payments.

Regular Payment Plan

Those students who do not want to pay their course fees upfront, can take advantage of making regular monthly payments over 21 or 24 months. Further savings apply if these monthly payments are made by credit card or direct debit. The Institute endeavours to keep the monthly repayments as affordable as possible.

Become a Counsellor or Expand Your Qualifications with Australia's Most Cost Effective and Flexible Bachelor of Counselling

The Bachelor of Counselling is a careful blend of theory and practical application. Theory is learnt through user-friendly learning materials that have been carefully designed to make your studies as accessible and conducive to learning as possible.

The course and its subjects are structured to progressively develop your knowledge and skills from foundational, theoretical concepts through to more complex concepts and advanced skills and applications.

On completion, you will have...

• The capacity to apply counselling theory and skills in an intentional and mindful manner.

• The ability to evaluate and apply a variety of counselling models according to the needs of your client.

• The ability to analyse counselling issues with consideration to broader social and cultural perspectives and will be equipped to make a natural transition into the role of Counsellor.

To learn more - visit www.aipc.net.au/degree or click to download a full course prospectus.

Article: Respect for the Client

Published: Edition 76

If not the most important feature of professional counselling, "respect for the client" is definitely high up on the priority list. Geldard and Geldard (2005) explain that regardless of who the client is, and regardless of their behaviour, the client has come to the counsellor for assistance and deserves to be treated as a person of worth and value.

Many counsellors believe that there is good in each of us, and for the potential of that to surface, individuals need to feel appreciated and valued. Counsellors therefore have a responsibility to assist clients to feel good about themselves, and to increase the client's sense of self-worth.

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Counselling Academy's Unlimited Access Account gives you access to over 50 courses; over 560 hours of quality training; as well as video workshops and other educational resources!

What do you normally pay for a professional development workshop? $150? $350? Well now, with CA's Unlimited Access Account you have access to over 50 training programs (plus a new course per week being developed) for under $1 a day!

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If you want access to continuous training the Unlimited Access account is YOUR tailored solution.

To find out more and register, visit www.counsellingacademy.com.au/courses.  

Endorsed Professional Development:

• All CA courses and Video Workshops are approved for OPD points by the Australian Counselling Association and its local chapters.

• CA Video Workshops are approved for 30 PD points by the Australian Psychological Society (CCOUN, Generalist).

URL: www.counsellingacademy.com.au

Many students of the Diploma of Professional Counselling attend seminars to complete the practical requirements of their course. Seminars provide an ideal opportunity to network with other students and liaise with qualified counselling professionals in conjunction with completing compulsory coursework.

Below are some of the seminars available in 2009. To register for a seminar, please contact your Student Support Centre.

BRISBANE

Communication Skills I - 06/06/09, 08/08/09, 05/12/09

Communication Skills II - 11/07/09, 19/09/09, 14/11/09

The Counselling Process - 20/06/09, 22/08/09, 24/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 18 & 19/07/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 15 & 16/08/09, 12 & 13/12/09

Case Management - 27 & 28/06/09, 17 & 18/10/09

Counselling Applications - 25/07/09, 28/11/09

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Communication Skills I - 04/07/09, 17/10/09

Communication Skills II - 22/08/09, 14/11/09

The Counselling Process - 13/06/09, 26/09/09

Counselling Therapies I - 10 & 11/10/09

Counselling Therapies II - 23 & 24/05/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Case Management - 27 & 28/06/09, 05 & 06/12/09

Counselling Applications - 07/11/09

TASMANIA

Communication Skills I - 16/05/09, 15/08/09, 14/11/09

Communication Skills II - 20/06/09, 19/09/09, 05/12/09

The Counselling Process - 18/07/09, 17/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 01 & 02/08/09, 12 & 13/12/09

Counselling Therapies II - 13 & 14/06/09, 10 & 11/10/09

Case Management - 11 & 12/08/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Counselling Applications - 08/08/09, 28/11/09

SYDNEY

Communication Skills I - 14/05/09, 04/06/09, 22/06/09, 25/07/09, 10/09/09

Communication Skills II - 15/05/09, 05/06/09, 23/06/09, 27/07/09, 11/09/09

The Counselling Process - 23/05/09, 27/06/09, 28/07/09, 22/08/09

Counselling Therapies I - 28 & 29/05/09, 10 & 11/08/09, 29 & 30/10/09

Counselling Therapies II - 18 & 19/06/09, 28 & 29/08/09, 16 & 17/11/09

Case Management - 29 & 30/06/09, 24 & 25/09/09, 26 & 27/11/09

Counselling Applications - 18/07/09, 30/10/09, 12/12/09

MELBOURNE

Communication Skills I - 30/05/09, 27/06/09, 23/07/09, 15/08/09, 03/09/09

Communication Skills II - 31/05/09, 19/06/09, 28/06/09, 24/07/09, 16/08/09

The Counselling Process - 09/05/09, 13/06/09, 16/07/09 25/07/09

Counselling Therapies I - 11 & 12/06/09, 11 & 12/07/09

Counselling Therapies II - 06 & 07/06/09, 09 & 10/07/09, 01 & 02/08/09

Case Management - 31/05 & 01/06/09, 05 & 06/07/09, 09 & 10/08/09

Counselling Applications - 14/06/09, 17/07/09, 26/07/09, 12/09/09, 18/09/09

ADELAIDE

Communication Skills I - 30/05/09, 01/08/09, 17/10/09, 05/12/09

Communication Skills II - 31/05/09, 02/08/09, 18/10/09, 06/12/09

The Counselling Process - 25/07/09, 12/09/09, 28/11/09

Counselling Therapies I - 16 & 17/05/09, 15 & 16/08/09, 07 & 08/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 13 & 14/06/09, 19 & 20/09/09

Case Management - 13 & 14/06/09, 19 & 20/09/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Counselling Applications - 26/07/09, 29/11/09

PERTH

Communication Skills I - 18/07/09, 05/09/09, 07/11/09

Communication Skills II - 19/07/09, 06/09/09, 08/11/09

The Counselling Process - 23/05/09, 01/08/09, 17/10/09, 05/12/09

Counselling Therapies I - 06 & 07/06/09, 12 & 13/09/09

Counselling Therapies II - 20 & 21/06/09, 15 & 16/08/09

Case Management - 28 & 29/06/09, 11 & 12/10/09

Counselling Applications - 02/08/09, 28/11/09

SUNSHINE COAST

Communication Skills I - 30/05/09, 26/09/09

Communication Skills II - 11/07/09, 31/10/09

The Counselling Process - 22/08/09, 28/11/09

Counselling Therapies I - 12 & 13/09/09

Counselling Therapies II - 16 & 17/05/09, 24 & 25/10/09

Case Management - 08 & 09/08/09, 14 & 15/11/09

Counselling Applications - 20/06/09, 12/02/09

GOLD COAST

Communication Skills I - 16/05/09, 29/08/09, 21/11/09

Communication Skills II - 27/06/09, 19/09/09

The Counselling Process - 25/07/09, 24/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 31/10 & 01/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 02 & 03/05/09, 28 & 29/11/09

Case Management - 04 & 05/07/09

Counselling Applications - 26/10/09

*Advertising of the seminar dates above does not guarantee availability of places in the seminar. Please check availability with the respective Student Support Centre.