MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL MANAGER
JOB OPPORTUNITY
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
IT WITH ANGELA
CONFERENCES
WORKSHOPS
GENERAL INFORMATION
EDITOR'S NOTE

 
MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL MANAGER

ACA continues to grow with 56 new members for the month of April making 255 new members this year with a projected 300 new members by the end of May.  ACA’s growth reflects the need for counsellors to join a membership body that is pro-active and setting the pace for the profession.  This growth is also a good indication that counsellors and therapists feel ACA meets their needs.  The greatest compliment that can be paid to an organisation is duplication.  Since ACA has introduced its essay competition for the International Conference on Counselling this idea has been taken up by another organisation as well some other ACA initiatives.

 

 It is insurance time again and ACA will be tendering to providers for the best deal for counsellors and hypnotherapists.  ACA did approach another major organisation to join us in the tendering process to enable the power of numbers to have a greater influence.  However, our offer was declined or at least we assume it was as there was no official answer and soon after the offer was made they started to negotiate their own independent deal.  Obviously the integrity of some is not as important as getting in first.  ACA will now negotiate on behalf our members and affiliates to ensure we get the best possible deal.  It is wise to remember that particularly with insurance the devil is in the writing and the cheapest policy is not necessarily the best.

 

ACA is currently investigating a restructure of its governance to ensure the association maintains transparency and evolves with the needs of members and the industry.  The restructure will also involve the development of colleges for specific disciplines and committees to deal with specific issues. The management committee will also be restructured to include representatives of the committees and colleges.  ACA will also be raising a separate research arm. Although ACA has conducted more research in the last few years than any equivalent body in counselling it has become apparent that the projected growth in research cannot be met within the current structure.  Members will be kept abreast of the changes as they are addressed.

 

An article on ACA has been published in the June issues of the International Journal of Psychology.  I was privileged to be asked to write an article on the association by the publishers.  The June edition is a special edition and covers Counselling in Australia and discusses several associations, credentialing in Australia and the preparation of counsellors in Australia.  The special edition is edited by Dr Nadine Pelling a Fellow of ACA.

 

For further information on this special edition go to customer.service@macmillan.com.au or www.psypress.co.uk.

 

 

Jerry Moe

 

ACA are also proud to be involved with Jerry Moe from the Betty Ford Clinic (USA) and bringing him out to Australia to present for anyone who has an interest in youth and alcohol and drug issues. ACA was very lucky to talk Jerry into extending his visit to run workshops.  Jerry was only initially coming out to be a keynote speaker at the International Conference on Counselling.  ACA have been able to convince Jerry to visit Melbourne and Sydney to run a one day workshop in those cities. I would encourage any reader to consider attending this workshop. It is not every day a person of this calibre makes them self available.  ACA has also been able to ensure the cost of attending the workshop is reachable by most. The cost of the workshop $150 is extremely low when compared to similar workshops offered by other organisations (in excess of $300) with speakers of equivalent experience and profile.  To receive an information brochure email admin@theaca.net.au.

 

 

Discussion of Training Standards for Membership to ACA

Minimum Standards for Practice and Registration Survey

 

All student and full members of ACA should have received a copy of the above survey in the mail.  If you have not received a copy, please email us immediately for a copy.  This survey will be used as the basis for determining the future direction of ACA in regard to standards and entry requirements.  It is imperative that all full members and student members return the survey in the supplied return paid envelope ASAP.  The survey will not carry any weight if the majority are not returned.  If you have any questions or concerns in regard to any of the questions or meanings in the survey please call us on the toll free 1300 784 333 and we will answer your questions.
JOB OPPORTUNITY

Fantastic Job Opportunity

 

The Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Australia's largest provider of counsellor education, is seeking a National Training Manager.  If you have a tertiary qualification in counselling, psychology, behavioural science (or similar); and have experience in developing vocational training programs, then you should check this position out further at www.counsellorjobs.com.au!  Located at AIPC's Head Office in Brisbane, this full time role is challenging, rewarding and exciting.
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Members,

 

Caryl and I have been busy working in the office over the last few months, getting familiar with policy and procedures. It has been great meeting so many members over the phone and finding out the broad backgrounds you all come from. We are looking forward to meeting you at the international conference.  The international conference will be quite exciting as there have been lots of interest from participants from overseas.

 

Members will be interested to know that Rachael has given birth to a beautiful baby girl, she has named her baby “Georgina”. Mother and baby are doing well.

 

If you have any information that you would like to include in the email of the month please let us know - write to me at naima@theaca.net.au.

 

Naima.
IT WITH ANGELA

Taking Control of Cursor Movement in Excel

Sometimes it can be a hassle to move your hands off the keyboard and click the mouse to change position in a document, so here are some keyboard ways of moving around Excel...

 

Tab key – one cell forwards

Enter key – one cell down

Home Key – beginning of the line your cursor is in

Ctrl & Home Key – cell A1

Ctrl & Page Down – to the next sheet

Ctrl + Page Up – back to previous sheet.

 

Entering Computer Serial Numbers

Generally when you purchase a software program you are required to type in a serial number. When you get to the point where you are prompted to enter the serial number, make sure you're using the conventional number keys that are located above the letter keys. The numbers on the keypad on the right of your keyboard are sometimes interpreted as different (e.g. home, end) and may not be accepted by the computer.

 

And this brings to me to a related issue, what if your number keypad (on the right) mysteriously stops working?  If this has happened to you, then you need to turn your Num Lock key on (if you have a laptop, you don't have to worry about this, it is just an issue for conventional keyboards).

 

New keyboards have an ‘F’ lock

The newer Microsoft and Logitech keyboards now have an "F Lock" key, located just above the number keypad on the right side of the keyboard.  If you wish to use your F keys (e.g. F1, F2), then you need to turn the F Lock key is off, otherwise you do not have the ability to use your Function keys.

 

Hoax Email Update

There is a hoax email going around saying that a child has died from eating contaminated food from a take-away venue.  It is a bogus warning and should not be forwarded onto others. (This information comes from the HoaxSlayer Website (www.hoax-slayer.com).  Every time you get a begging letter for money for a lost child or advice that if you forward an email you might get some money sent to you from Bill Gates (I mean do we really think this is true??), take a moment to check the hoax-slayer website before you send it onto 50 people in your address book.  People receive so much email now days, it can become annoying to have continual hoaxes and scams forwarded by well-meaning friends J.

 

Best regards and to all of you who live in the more wintry states (like Melbourne and Adelaide) stay warm!

 

AngelaLewis@optusnet.com.au.
CONFERENCES

Chapter Annual Conference - 2006

 

Date: Sunday, June 25th, 2006

Location: 6-10 Adelphi Tce, Comfort Inn Haven Marina Glenelg

 

Registration is at 8.45

 

Guest Speakers Include:

Greg Ireland – Crisis & Trauma Management.

Jeff Vuglar – Mood Disorders.

Maggie Adkins – Emotional Freedom Technique, Industry Skills Council.

 

Fees:

$ 85 Students (copy of student id required with payment)

$110 Members of ACA

$120 Non ACA participants (other Association members and general public, most welcome)

 

If you are interested in attending this conference and would like an application form please email Rachael at rachael@theaca.net.au or phone on 1300 784 333.

 

 

International Conference on Counselling 2006

 

Hosted by AGCA, QGCA, ACA & FPCQ

 

Creating

Connecting

Celebrating

 

Date: Wednesday 5 July – Saturday 8 July 2006

Location: Rydges South Bank Hotel - Brisbane, Queensland

 

This conference is approved for Ongoing Professional Development for members of Australian Counselling Association; Federation of Psychotherapists and Counsellors of Queensland Inc. Clinical Counselling Association.

 

For further information please contact Australian Counselling Association on: 1300 784 333.
WORKSHOPS

Australian Counselling Association

Presents

 

Jerry Moe

National Director of Children’s Programs at the Betty Ford Centre.

 

Kids’ Power: Healing for Children from Addicted Families

 

Melbourne: 26th & 27th June

Venue:       Horticulture Centre, 82 Jolimont Rd, Forrest Hill.

 

Sydney:      29th June

Venue:       Mary Mackillop Place, 9 Mount Street, Sydney

 

Brisbane:    30th June 1st & 3rd July.

Venue:        The Fox Hotel, South Brisbane.

 

Fees: $150

 

ACA Approved for 12 OPD points

 

For registration please contact Australian Counselling Association by email admin@theaca.net.au or phone number: 1300 784 333.

 

 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workshop Invitation

 

http://www.actaus.com.au

 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the third wave of Cognitive Behavior Therapy

(CBT) is a new model of behavioral treatment that emphasizes acceptance of internal experience while maintaining a focus on positive behavior change and psychological flexibility. This approach is designed to address maladaptive avoidance of internal experiences associated with many problems in functioning while also focusing on making and keeping commitments.

 

ACT uses a variety of verbal, experiential and homework techniques to help patients make experiential contact with previously avoided private events (thoughts, feelings, sensations and to make powerful life enhancing choices.

 

ACT Training Australia invites you to consider attending one of the following two activities.

 

Get ACTive with the Internationally Acclaimed Robyn Walser WORKSHOPS

 

Location: Sydney, Australia

Date: 23rd - 26th June 2006

 

Dr Robyn Walser is a fantastic presenter known for her compassionate sensitive style. She is internationally recognized as a leading clinician, researcher, writer and trainer of ACT. She is closely tied to the ACT community in the USA having presented many workshops there and co-organizing the 2005 ACT Summer Institute at La Salle University Philadelphia, and has facilitated introductory ACT workshops in Australia in 2003 and 2005.

 

Robyn’s two Australian 2006 workshops will discuss and demonstrate beginning and advanced ACT techniques.

 

The workshop will provide clinicians with a workable set of ACT skills, and with personal experiences that will allow further development of these skills based on their application.

 

Material will include:

 

  • Trauma and its related disorders
  • Co-morbidities including substance abuse
  • Compassion training
  • Forgiveness and issues of control
  • Discussing each of the stages of ACT and where therapists get stuck
  • New self-as-context content
  • New values-lived exercises and the boldness exercise

***FREE Information Session on ACT***

 

If you would like to know more about ACT before deciding on workshop attendance or would like more FREE information about ACT, please book your place for our free information sessions. (limit of 8 participants per night). To reserve your place please email marysawyer@actaus.com.au or call Mary Sawyer: 02 9386 5636.

 

 

The Strengths-Based Practice Conference will be held

at the Brisbane Powerhouse

 

"Weaving the Threads"

 

Building on themes of strengths-based gatherings in both New Zealand and Australia, this conference will:

 

  • enable community members to share their stories and experiences of strengths based practice
  • further develop the application of strengths-based values and principles in an organisational context
  • provide opportunities for workers to explore the relevance of strengths-based practice in work with individuals, families and communities

Program

The program includes a mix of keynote speakers, community member presentations, interactive workshops, live demonstrations, presentation of papers, performance/screening, static displays, practitioners chatting; practice issues/interest groups, along with socialising opportunities.

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Ben Furman - Helsinki Brief Therapy Institute, Finland
Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese - Coordinator of the Pacific Section of the Family Centre (NZ)

Di O’Neil and Wayne McCashen - St Luke’s Innovative Resources, Bendigo, Australia

 

Conference Enquiries:

Organising Committee Strengths 2006 Conference

PO Box 1103 - Sunnybank Hills

QLD 4109 Australia

Phone: 07 33739499

Fax: (07) 33739444

Email: info@lighthouseresources.com.au

Website: www.strengths2006.com.au

 

Registration Details:

 

Earlybird Registration by 20 August 2006

 

Standard Earlybird:        3 days $550 incl GST

Student Earlybird:          3 days $440 incl GST

 

Standard Registration after 21st August 2006

 

Standard Registration:    3 days $605 incl GST

Student Registration:      3 days $495 incl GST

Standard Single Day:      1 day $330 incl GST

 

 

Advanced Training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

with Dr Leslie Sokol

 

Leslie Sokol, Ph.D., is the Education Coordinator and one of the principal instructors with the internationally acclaimed Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia.

 

She has taught cognitive therapy to professional groups, nationally and internationally, on such topics as: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality disorders, and couples’ problems. In addition to her roles at the Beck Institute, she maintains two private practices in suburban Philadelphia. She is also on the teaching faculty of Suburban Mercy Hospital where she has trained family medicine residents for the past 15 years and also serves as the staff psychologist in the cardiac rehab and physical rehabilitation departments.

 

Leslie Sokol is the past President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, as well as serving as Chairman of its Credentials Committee.  In these roles, she was intricately involved in the provision and development of training protocols to insure competency in Cognitive Therapy, and in the testing and utilization of tools to evaluate this competency.  To further her mission of spreading accurate knowledge of cognitive therapy worldwide, she was Representative at Large for the International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy.

 

Dr Sokol is a dynamic and engaging presenter. This is her first visit to Australia. She will be using a variety of teaching styles including didactic teaching, interactive dialogue and demonstrations of skills.  There will be ample opportunity for participants to ask questions regarding how they can help clients that they find particularly difficult.

 

Dr Sokol’s presentations will focus on advanced skills in cognitive behaviour therapy that will be relevant to any practitioner wishing to work on their skill development, both beginners and more experienced. The techniques discussed and demonstrated will be of assistance to a range of clients with diverse problems such as panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, anger, severe depression, guilt and eating disorders.  Difficult clinical issues such as challenging rigid beliefs, enhancing homework compliance, maintaining the therapeutic alliance and dealing with relapsed will be addressed. The first day of the workshop will also include cognitive behaviour therapy approaches to effectively challenge and change core beliefs such as in individuals with personality disorders.  The second day will also include cognitive behaviour therapy approaches to address symptoms of schizophrenia including delusions, hallucinations and thinking disorders as well as strategies to help clients with bipolar disorder recognize and reduce symptom severity and duration.

 

ONE AND TWO-DAY ADVANCED TRAINING WORKSHOPS WITH DR SOKOL

 

Melbourne: Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 June.

Sydney: Thursday 15 & Friday 16 June.

Brisbane: Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 June.

 

Cost:                       

$400 for two days 

$220 for one day (GST inclusive)

 

For further information and to register, please contact www.cbtaustralia.com.au or phone 03 9796 9300.

 

Monica O’Kelly & Associates Pty Ltd, trading as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Australia

 

 

Mackwood Life - Workshops for 2006

 

Counselling Children using Paint and Sandtray

 

This workshop is designed for professional counsellors, pastoral care workers, guidance and counselling officers, social workers and psychologists who work with children.

 

Date:    26th June – 27th June 2006

Time:    9.30 am – 3.30 pm

Cost:    $180.00

 

Teaching Children about Friendship

 

This is a programme written by Kathleen Mooney RSJ for teaching children concepts and skills for making and maintaining friendship. How better to manage bullying in a classroom or a school than to teach all children how to be assertive.

 

Date:    21st July 2006

Time:   9.30 am – 3.30 pm

Cost:    Each level of the program costs $30.00, the CD of the whole programme is $88.00 the workshop is $80.00

 

Advanced Sandtray

 

This workshop is a follow up from the Counselling Children using Paint and Sandtray Workshop. It will show directed and symbol work in the sandtray.

 

Date:    28th July 2006

Time:   9.30 am – 3.30 pm

Cost:    $90.00

 

Ring, fax, email or write to MacKwood Life for registration or more information.

 

Presenter of Workshops – Sr. Kathleen Mooney

 

MacKwood Life, 8 Dutton St., Dutton Park, Brisbane

P.O. Box 59, Moorooka Qld 4105

Phone: (07) 3844 8715, Fax: (07) 3846 1329

Email:  mackwoodlife@bigpond.com.

 

 

Clinical Counselling Centre

Presents

 

How to Build a Successful Private Practice Workshop

By Philip Armstrong

 

Date: 30/6/06

Location: Carers Victoria, Level 1, 37 Albert St Footscray, VIC

Fees: $140

 

For further information contact: Clinical Counselling Centre.

Ph: (07) 3356 4937 or admin@counsellingcentre.com.au.

 

 

Effectiveness Training for Counsellors E-learning Course

 

Improve your effectiveness and produce better outcomes through this course, delivered over 10 weeks, straight to your in-box.

 

Written in an entertaining, concise and easily-read format, this course by Clinical Counsellor and Trainer, Ken Warren, translates the research on what works into everyday practice for counsellors and therapists.

 

What are the advantages of this course?

 

·         The course topics are emailed each week so you are not required to travel or have time away from work

·         Learning can be digested and applied in small parts - each topic takes only 20 minutes to read

·         The strategies taught can be used collaboratively with your current approaches

·         The topics are supplemented by exercises which will help you apply what you learn.

·         Ken Warren provides on-line support for the duration of the course

·         Participants who conclude the course are eligible for a Certificate of Completion.

·         As a course approved by the Australian Counselling Association, it qualifies for 14 professional development points

 

“Bloody marvellous!” Philip Armstrong, Australian Counselling Association

 

Here is what you will learn:

 

1.       People are not machines: What the research says about the factors that produce change;

2.       "It's the client stupid!" Tapping into client strengths, motivation and resources;

3.       Finding a good dance partner: Connecting and collaborating with your clients;

4.       More than just placebo: Building client hopes and expectation of change;

5.       How would you like your therapy? Ensuring your approach is a good fit for the client;

6.       Ready, set go! Assessing the client's level of readiness for change;

7.       Two steps forward, one step back: Helping people move through the process of change;

8.       Carrot or the stick: Smarter ways to work with resistance;

9.       You ain't perfect: Adjusting your approach based on client feedback;

10.   You can't run on empty: Making sure you have something to give.

 

100% money-back guarantee

 

Ken Warren guarantees that if you put into practice, over a 12 month period, the strategies taught in this course and do not achieve significantly greater effectiveness with better outcomes for your clients, he will happily refund you money. You can't be fairer than that!

 

How much does the course cost?

 

Here is the answer - $50 per person. That's right - $50 for the entire course. You will find it is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial counselling courses you can undertake.

 

To enrol, simply visit http://kenwarren.com.au/effectiveness.html or telephone (07) 5443 7626.

 

 

Clinical Counselling Centre

GENERAL INFORMATION

St Mark’s National Theological Centre

 

St Mark’s National Theological Centre offers Nationally Recognised Training with a Cert IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills and an Advanced Diploma of Christian Counselling. As of next year we are hoping to expand our operations and offer these courses in Canberra (we already run them in Sydney, on the Central Coast and in Darwin). To do this we are seeking appropriately accredited trainers and hope that some of your memberships may be interested in undertaking a training position with us. We are hoping to interview candidates in July.

 

St Mark’s is currently seeking Counselling trainers to teach the following nationally recognised training courses based in Canberra beginning in 2007:

 

1.    Certificate IV in Christian Counselling and Communication Skills (Code 80713A)

2.    Advanced Diploma of Christian Counselling (Code 80714A)

 

Further information can be found on St Mark’s website at www.stmarksntc.org.au/nrt or call Frances on (02) 6273 1572.

 

Internship

 

Natasha Perry is a student, who is currently completing honours in Psychology and is looking for a position as in intern psychologist in a counselling role. If there is a suitable position available please contact Natasha.

Natasha’s email address is: Natasha.Perry@studentmail.newscastle.edu.au.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Did you find this newsletter useful?

 

Feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to colleagues, friends or family interested in the Australian Counselling industry! To provide information about events and developments of the ACA and counselling, simply click HERE and enter the recipient addresses you would like to inform...

 

It’s all about sharing, isn’t it?!

 

See you next month...

 

Naima.