Master of Social Science in Counselling Psychology

Purpose

The qualification designed to train Counselling Psychologists in accordance with HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) specifications and to prepare leaners for advanced and Specialised Counselling Psychology professional employment. The qualification strives to maintain a balance between equipping counselling leaners with core competencies required by the Professional Board of Psychology in South Africa and promoting indigenous knowledge systems by responding to the local context. While African Psychology is infused throughout the modules, through the community interventions module in particular, counselling leaners are exposed to culturally and contextually appropriate evidence-based models of care and mental health promotion and prevention.

This qualification exposes leaners to the mental health challenges that confront South Africa and the urgent need to expand access to psychological services through context-sensitive approaches, as well as the provision of culturally congruent care that is in in line with peoples' belief systems. To meet this aim, the qualification exposes learners to counselling psychological assessments, interventions and theories that are informed largely by African research in the field. This is in alignment with the draft mental health policy of South Africa, as well as the recent approval of the World Health Organisation's Mental Health Action Plan by the 66th World Health Assembly (May, 2013).

Rationale

The qualifying learner will be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as a Counselling Psychologist to render psychological and psycho-educational services in a variety of community settings, assessing, counselling, advocating and intervening with people with psychological, developmental, family, school and life choices challenges, as well as promoting optimum mental health and positive psychological and interpersonal functioning, as defined according to the Health Professions Act no 56 of 1974 and subsequent amendments.

South Africa has a traumatic past which has affected the psychological wellbeing of the nation. This is compounded by on-going trauma as a result of the high prevalence of violence, crime, and accidental injury. In addition, poverty is widespread, as is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other chronic non-communicable diseases. All of these are risk factors for poor mental health and the development of common mental disorders. The need for psychological services to help people with common mental disorders as well as to those at risk is thrown into sharp relief. Counselling Psychologists can play an important role in meeting this need given their positioning in the community and their scope of practice regulated by the Professional Board of Psychology under the auspices of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

In addition, the qualification is also focused on meeting the needs for training in counselling psychology on the African continent.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology, Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9 totalling 208 Credits.

• Short Dissertation: Counselling Psychology, 96 Credits.
• Theory and Practice of Counselling Psychology, 32 Credits.
• Psychological Interventions: African and Global, 16 Credits.
• Psychology of Personality and Abnormal Behaviour, 16 Credits.
• Assessment in Psychological Practice, 16 Credits.
• Community Interventions in Professional Psychology, 16 Credits.
• Research Methods in Psychology, 16 Credits.

1. Conduct professional clinical interviews and clinical assessments while demonstrating the ability for independent practice.
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in report writing and case formulation.
3. Critique, evidence-based therapeutic interventions related to clinical psychology (particularly interventions for psychiatric disorders in a hospital setting).
4. Provide task shifted interventions at the primary health care and community levels of care.
5. Develop contextually and culturally appropriate evidence-based manualised psychosocial and mental health promotion/prevention interventions that can be delivered by general Health Care Workers (HCWs) and lay counsellors such as training, supervision and support of general HCWs and lay counsellor.
6. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in core diagnostic and assessment skills by independently conducting psychological assessments and diagnoses.
7. Reflect critically on theory and application of theories related to psychopathology, assessment, mental health promotion and preventative approaches, developmental psychopathology, ethics and psychopharmacology across a range of contexts.
8. Carry out research into a chosen field of psychology.
9. Present research findings and recommendations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Engage in preparatory reading.
• Conduct assessments and interventions on clients.
• Complete case reports, presenting cases, attending supervision, and completing a case study.

Integrated Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment methods are used, encompassing: Case studies, Case presentations, Counselling and assessment skills, Self-Assessment, Take Home Assignments, Test/Written Examination, and Submission of a satisfactory research project and the achievement of learning outcomes will be assessed through internal and external examination of the dissertation.