Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy

The Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP University College) is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to work as counsellors and psychotherapists. You study how people think, feel and behave, and how to help them work through distress, relationship problems, grief, trauma and mental health concerns. The curriculum covers counselling and psychotherapy theories, human development across the lifespan, mental health and psychopathology, assessment and case formulation, professional ethics and legal responsibilities, and research methods. You'll practise core skills such as active listening, therapeutic questioning, reflecting feeling, and working with resistance. Later units build on these with approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy, person-centred therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and family or couples work. The degree is delivered across trimesters, with units of study each carrying credit points towards the 192 credit points typically required for a two-year master's. You can usually choose elective units to focus on areas such as trauma, addictions, children and adolescents, or grief and loss.

Work-integrated learning is a major part of the qualification. You complete supervised clinical placement hours in a community counselling service, mental health organisation, school, hospital, or private practice, seeing real clients under the guidance of a qualified supervisor. You also take part in skills practice sessions and group supervision, where you review recorded sessions and get feedback from peers and staff. Many courses finish with a capstone project or research thesis. That might be a small empirical study, a systematic literature review, or a practice-based inquiry into an area of counselling you care about. It's your chance to dig into a question that matters to you and produce something you can show employers or use as a stepping stone to further research.

To be accepted, you normally need a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Some applicants come from psychology, social work, nursing or education; others come from completely different fields and are changing careers. If your first degree is in an unrelated area, you may need to complete some preparatory units or show relevant work experience. International applicants must provide evidence of English proficiency. For this course, ACAP publishes an IELTS Academic requirement of 6.0–6.5 overall, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. If you're applying from overseas, check both requirements carefully. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register under course code 114474G, and you should confirm the current amount and intake dates on the official ACAP page or the CRICOS listing before you apply.

Once you graduate, you may be eligible to apply for registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), depending on the placement hours and supervision you complete. Registration matters because many employers and private health funds look for it. International graduates can also apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia after your degree. While you're studying, a student visa generally allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the trimester and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. The course suits people who are patient, curious about other people's inner lives, and willing to look at their own reactions as part of the work. It's demanding emotionally, and you'll spend a lot of time reflecting on your own practice. If you want a career where you sit with people in difficulty and help them find a way through, this is a solid path.

• Registered counsellor or psychotherapist in private practice, community health centres, or mental health organisations, many graduates apply for PACFA or ACA registration after completing supervised placement hours.
• School counsellor or student wellbeing officer in primary and secondary schools, helping students with anxiety, bullying, family breakdown, and academic stress.
• Drug and alcohol counsellor in addiction services, working with clients on harm reduction, relapse prevention, and recovery planning.
• Family and relationships counsellor in organisations like Relationships Australia, supporting couples, parents, and children through separation, conflict, and communication difficulties.
• Trauma counsellor in sexual assault services, refugee support agencies, or domestic violence services, using trauma-informed approaches.
• Mental health support worker or case manager in community mental health teams, NDIS services, or housing and homelessness services.
• Grief and loss counsellor in palliative care, hospitals, or bereavement services.
• Rehabilitation counsellor in workers' compensation, insurance, or disability employment services, helping clients adjust to injury or illness.
• Telehealth counsellor with online mental health platforms, providing remote sessions to clients across Australia.
• Researcher or further study, some graduates continue to a PhD or research roles in counselling and psychotherapy, using the capstone project as a foundation.