NZAC has developed ten competence areas for NZAC Counsellors:
Areas of Competence of Members - Awareness, Knowledge, Skills and Application
- Conceptual foundation e.g., theories of human development, cultural concepts, personality, mental unwellness, psychological distress, process of change, therapeutic models
- Self-awareness and self-examination
- Relationship – building and maintaining a therapeutic alliance
- Collaborative goal setting/ negotiating contracts with the intention to achieve improved well-being
- Areas of specialist knowledge, experience and practice
- Facilitation of change- interventions
- Evaluation of client progress and outcomes
- Cultural responsiveness- cultural concepts and application to practice
- Ethical principles and practice
- Other forms of Professional Practice e.g., supervision, group facilitation, training, teaching, management, research, service development, course design
