Updating Results

Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

  • Masters (Coursework)

ACAP's Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is a comprehensive course designed to enhance clinical expertise and career prospects in counselling. It includes practical training, workplace supervision, and covers topics like trauma-informed counselling and neuroscience. Accredited by PACFA and ACA, it prepares graduates for advanced roles in the field.

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Duration
2 trimesters full-time, 12 trimesters part-time
Course Code
114474G
Study Mode
In person, Online
Intake Months
Feb, May, Sep
Domestic Fees
$24,872 per year
International Fees
$32,952 per year

About this course

Overview

ACAP's Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy is a comprehensive course designed to equip students with strategies for effective and ethical practice. Building upon the knowledge and skills developed during your undergraduate degree, this course will enhance not only your clinical expertise but also your career prospects as a counsellor. Our Master of Counselling features engaging, relevant core units, covering topics such as trauma-informed counselling, neuroscience, mental health, and contemporary counselling approaches. Emerge from this course with the advanced knowledge, strategies and interventions required to make a lasting difference in the lives of your clients.

As with all ACAP courses, this course has a strong focus on building practical, in-demand skills that you can readily apply in the real world. By conducting staged counselling sessions and practising alternative modes of working with clients (such as video and telephone conferencing), you'll develop an extensive toolkit to improve therapeutic effectiveness. You'll also complete 240 hours of workplace training and supervision, ensuring you graduate from ACAP with a renewed sense of confidence as a practitioner, ready to take on more complex cases and senior positions.

With a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy online^, you'll be well-equipped to support vulnerable clients across a range of therapeutic areas including mental health, crisis counselling, grief and loss, addiction, and families and relationships.

This study program is accredited by PACFA, the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, and the Australian Counselling Association (ACA). Graduates who undertake ongoing professional development and clinical supervision requirements are eligible to be listed on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP), an independent national register of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists.

This course has also been accredited by ACAP under its self-accrediting authority.

Entry requirements

Domestic entry requirements

  • Have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in a cognate field of study (counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, social work, pastoral care, social welfare, mental health or palliative care nursing, medicine, occupational therapy); and
  • Complete an Inherent Requirements Checklist and Personal Statement; and
  • Provide contact information for two (2) referees (professional within a helping profession) who can comment on your suitability to enter into counselling. Referees will be required to complete reference report on your behalf.

It is a condition of progression in this course that students complete a national police record check in their first trimester of enrolment.

International entry requirements

  • Completed a Bachelor degree in any field from an accredited institute of higher education; or
  • Successfully completed ACAP's Graduate Certificate of Counselling; and
  • Completed an Inherent Requirements Checklist and Personal Statement; and
  • Provide contact information for two (2) referees (professional or personal) who can comment on your suitability to enter counselling.

It is a condition of this course that students complete a National Criminal History Record check prior to enrolment into the second unit of study.

Minimum English Language Requirements

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic IELTS minimum overall band of 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0 (completed in the past two years); or
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic PTE score of 59 (completed in the past two years).
  • If an alternative to IELTS or PTE is being supplied as part of the application, please read more information on English Language Test Equivalency.
  • Overseas qualifications must be deemed by ACAP as equivalent to Australian qualifications.
  • The accrediting body may have additional requirements, including minimum English language, to meet professional accreditation standards. For more information on meeting those requirements visit pacfa.org.au.

Study locations

Online

What you will learn

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

ACAP's Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy online^ offers practical learning experiences, enabling you to apply knowledge in real-world settings and effectively contribute to the fields of counselling and psychotherapy. Among the core units of this postgraduate course are:

  • Person and Practice of the Therapist: Advance your understanding of self, building awareness and critical reflexivity as you develop your professional identity as a counsellor or psychotherapist.
  • Counselling in Multicultural Populations: Gain a conceptual framework for developing cultural awareness, sensitivity and responsiveness when working with multicultural individuals, groups and communities.
  • Ethical Decision Making: Understand and apply ethical principles and standards in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, ensuring the highest level of professional conduct.
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing Practices: Develop comprehensive mental health literacy and learn evidence-based strategies for promoting wellbeing and providing effective support to clients.
  • Neuroscience in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Through critical reflection and analysis of the counselling process in relation to neuroscience, develop an ethically cohesive model of counselling shaped by contemporary scientific evidence.
  • Trauma-Informed Counselling Practice: Working within an evidence-based framework, you will assess client presentations of trauma across the lifespan, from physical, cognitive, behavioural, cultural, spiritual and philosophical perspectives.

_^Please note that all students are required to complete 240 hours of practical placement regardless of their chosen delivery mode (online, on-campus, or blended)._

Career pathways

Once you graduate from the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, you will open doors to a range of possible career opportunities. Listed below are a few typical roles you could consider:

  • Crisis Counsellor
  • Trauma-Informed Specialist
  • Mental Health Practitioner
  • Grief Counsellor
  • Family Violence Counsellor

Course structure

Course structure

The Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy course is comprised of 16 units, which are level 600 units. To find out unit delivery information view the relevant Yearly Planner.

The course duration is 2 years full time or up to 6 years part time. For more information on the recommended course sequence click here.

Credit for prior study or work

Recognition of Prior Learning is available for some units in the Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy qualification. It is not available for the following units:
  • COUN6221 Advanced Placement and Supervision 1
  • COUN6231 Advanced Placement and Supervision 2
  • COUN5171 Ethical Decision Making

Applicants who can demonstrate that they have completed an equivalent unit at a postgraduate level within the last 12 months can request to have these qualifications assessed for credit.