If you become a counsellor you help people deal with their feelings, better understand themselves, make decisions and create change in their lives. The Counselling major prepares you to work with a diverse client base as a counsellor.
You become familiar with the history and theory of counselling, and the relational counselling model. AUT's counselling degree includes 200 hours of counselling practice, bicultural learning, marae visits and knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi issues. It's suitable for adult students who have appropriate life experience like a personal development course (eg Youthline), personal experience of counselling, volunteer work, peer support work, or other relevant work or experience.
To study this major in 2024, you should apply by 30 October 2023. All completed applications received before this date will be assessed and an outcome will be provided as soon as possible.
New Zealand Association of Counsellors website
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This is part of the Bachelor of Health Science.
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You develop an in-depth understanding of general healthcare, learning alongside other health science students.
You take courses from your major area(s) of study and begin your first counselling placement.
Plus one optional course
Plus three optional courses
As part of this major you complete a minimum of 200 hours of counselling practice and 20 hours of supervision, along with 10 hours of cultural supervision as required by the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Please note that there will be an additional cost for this supervision.
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
AUT counselling graduates are eligible to apply for provisional membership of New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) to begin practising as a counsellor.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.