Application Form for Counselling Student Placements
DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehab – THAILAND
Counselling Placement
(Contact Student Placement staff for further details. Do not contact DARA)
DARA is a leading international destination for drug and alcohol rehab treatment in Asia.
Staff have helped hundreds of clients from over fifty countries stop abusing drugs and
alcohol. DARA offers professional, private, world-class treatment programs. There are 2
possible locations; the flagship location is on a tropical island paradise on the cliffs of Koh
Chang (CBT based), and our alternate location is on the mainland at Chanthaburi and is a 12
step based program, with CBT.
This student placement opportunity is available to students currently enrolled in a
counselling course at ACAP and eligible for student placement. Students must have a keen
interest in a counselling career in the area of alcohol and other drugs. Please do not apply
unless this is a genuine area of interest for you and you have already completed, or are
about to complete the unit Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Students will be thoroughly trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and also use Schema
Therapy throughout the placement.
While it sounds idyllic, this is a very challenging placement and not for everyone. As you are
on a small island, there is no social life outside the resort and there is very little to do on the
island. You need to be prepared to live in close quarters and socialise with twelve staff and
the clients for three months. This requires VERY strong boundaries and is a great challenge
to most students. It is important to be self-sufficient and able to cope with limited social
resources. Though not essential, you need to plan to try to leave the resort or the island on
your days off in order to have a break and be able to relax away from staff and clients. There
are many very cheap options for this.
You will be on call in the Centre one night per week. You will not be required to make
decisions beyond the capacity of a student and you will be supervised at all times.
NOTE: This placement runs for one term only initially (there may be an option to extend
under certain circumstances) Therefore, you must secure a second placement to begin the
term immediately before or after this one for a minimum of 14 weeks. This will allow you
to enrol into the unit Counselling Placement and Supervision 1 (clinical supervision unit),
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then follow the next term with Counselling Placement and Supervision 2 (or vice versa). You
must be in placement continuously when enrolled in these 2 consecutive units. Therefore
you need to have a second placement organised before your DARA placement will be
approved. Should you need a break between the units, please discuss this with your
placement coordinator.
Placement Requirements: (Do not contact DARA yourself. Contact the Student Placement
Manager if you have questions):
1. The unpaid placement is for 3 months or one ACAP term (see previous note re
extending and discuss with the Placement Manager)
2. Students will work 7 hours per day, 5 days a week (the same as the staff)
3. Work days and hours are on a rotating roster – scheduled 1 week in advance
4. Students will work under the supervision of senior counsellors. After a thorough
induction and training period, students will undertake CBT group therapy facilitation.
You will conduct one to one intake interviews and will have opportunities for one to
one counselling.
5. You will be assigned one client to follow through from the commencement of their
program, to completion. You will keep case notes and a journal for discussion in your
supervision sessions with DARA staff.
6. Students will be expected to participate in all aspects of life at the counselling
centre. This may include some administrative tasks at times.
7. Accommodation and food are provided. Travel to and from the resort is not provided
and is at the students own cost. Please investigate these costs for yourself. ACAP
insurance covers students should there be accident or injury while travelling for the
express purpose of attending the placement (provided total time is less than 180
days).
8. The unit Alcohol and Other Drugs is a pre requisite for this placement. We highly
recommend you also complete Groupwork Theory and Practice before commencing
placement to ensure you have the skills to facilitate a group.
9. DARA staff members are very supportive and provide excellent supervision and
feedback. If there are any issues to be addressed you will be advised as soon as
possible and given every opportunity to develop appropriate skills, attitude or
behaviours while on placement. Should the placement be cancelled for any reason
you will need to leave the resort and there is no compensation available for the costs
and expenses you have incurred.
Student Details:
ACAP Student ID:
Full Name:
Telephone:
Skype Name
Telephone 2:
Email Address:
Course Name:
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Previous Qualifications:
Institution
(e.g. Sydney University)
Course
(e.g. BCoun)
Years of study
(e.g. 2005 – 2009)
Counselling Experience:
What counselling experience have you had? When and where was it? How long was it for?
Have you had any clinical supervision as a counsellor or student counsellor? If so, please
give details;
What is your own experience of personal therapy? Please give details;
Why are you applying for this position? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
Please briefly describe your preferred therapeutic approach;
Is there any additional information or do you have other skills or experience that may be
relevant?
Commitment and Availability:
I am available for a period of 3 months to commence: (Indicate YES for start dates that suit)
February 2016
June 2016
September 2016
I am aware that I will be unpaid and working a 7 hour day / 5 day per week roster and I am
willing to commit to being available at these times.
YES / NO
I have completed the unit Alcohol and Other Drugs YES / NO
If available, what grade did you receive?
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APPLICATION CHECKLIST: (please write yes or no)
Yes / No
I am a Bachelor of Counselling, Bachelor of Counselling (Coaching), Graduate
Diploma of Counselling, or Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy student
I am in the process of securing a second placement (preferably with one to
one counselling) for the term immediately before or after this placement
Include a Video of a counselling session (30 mins max). This can be from an
assignment you have submitted previously or a DVD you make specifically for
this application.
Submit the compressed DVD to https://www.mailbigfile.com/acap and
address it to [email protected]
NOTE: This is the only method to submit your video.
A consent form signed by the client giving permission for DARA Supervisors
to view the recording (see appendix 1)
I have included a 1 page self-critique of the video session
I have received treatment or sought support for alcohol or drug issues in the
past 2 years Yes / No
Please scan or save your completed application form and forward to:
Dee Mahon
Manager Student Placement
[email protected]
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Appendix 1
‘Client’ Consent Form
DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Placement
STUDENT DETAILS
ACAP student ID number
Student Name: ___________________________ ________
Mobile: ________________________________
Course:
_______________________________________________________________
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
To protect the privacy of individuals who consent to participate in practice counselling
sessions or interviews that involve the disclosure of private information, the College
requires students to seek the informed consent of the client and/or interviewee, and to
erase or appropriately dispose of recorded material upon completion of the course of
study and receipt of a final transcript of results.
When a student undertakes an assessment that involves another student or non-student
disclosing private and personal information in an interview or practice
counselling/interpersonal session, the student must:
 Ensure the client is aged 18 years or over
 Ask the client to read and sign this Client Consent Form. Use a separate form for each
person when there is more than one client
 Provide a copy of the completed Consent Form to the client
 Attach a copy of the completed Consent Form to the respective assessment.
 Retain the original copy of the completed Consent Form in a secure location.
 Destroy or delete the content of the practice session or interview (if recorded) once you
complete your course of study and receive your final transcript of results.
INFORMED CONSENT of the ‘CLIENT’ (Please read, complete and sign the following)
I understand that (student name)___________________________________________ is a
student at the Australian College of Applied Psychology.
My name is (print) ______________________________________________ and I have
been asked to participate in a counselling session as part of an assessment of the student’s
suitability for a Student Placement at DARA Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Clinic in
Thailand. I understand this session will be recorded and sent to the DARA Supervisor for
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review. The recording will be kept private apart from placement staff at ACAP and
counselling supervisors at DARA.
I agree to partake in and record the counselling session with the above mentioned student
under the following conditions:
1. I understand that this student is applying for a student placement at DARA and
give my permission for this counselling session to be viewed by Placement Staff
and by qualified Counsellors at DARA in order to assess this student’s counselling
skill level and readiness for placement.
2. I understand that this is a role play, but it is not acting or ‘making up’ an issue, and I
am happy to discuss my real life experience
3. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I may withdraw
permission to participate and/or be recorded at any time, including during the
counselling session
4. I understand that, although the counselling session is for the assessment purposes
of the student, it nevertheless occurs in a context of confidentiality (as far as the
law allows) and respect.
5. I understand that the information recorded will be transferred electronically with
password protection to ensure confidentiality as far as is possible.
6. I understand that the recording will be erased after the supervisor has viewed it.
I give permission for the recording of my
I agree to meet the terms and conditions
Counselling session to be viewed by ACAP specified above
Placement Staff and by qualified
Counselling Staff at DARA for the purpose
of assessing the student’s skill level and
readiness for Placement.
Signature of Student Undertaking Assessment:
Signature of Client
Print name:
Date:
Date:
NB: The definition of the word “recorded,” for the purpose of this document, refers to any
counselling session that is either audio-taped, filmed and/or transcribed in part or full.
Please Note:
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Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned directly to
students
Students must retain a copy of their application and DVD for their own records
First round application assessments will be conducted by ACAP
Final round application assessments will be conducted by Supervisors at DARA
Shortlisted students will be interviewed by Skype
DARA’s decision is final.
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