

Assessment – Essay 2,000 words (± 10%)
Choose a developmental period (infancy, childhood, adolescence, middle or late adulthood) and a set
of developmental concepts within that stage. With reference to a relevant collection of scholarly work,
discuss the practical applications of these concepts to the practice of counselling.
• I have chosen to focus on Adolesence and the Title I have chosen is
“High Risk-taking behaviors during Adolescents”
You might give some thought to the following:
Which theory/theories might explain or clarify a particular issue with which clients in this period present?
What sorts of problems and issues are Australian counsellors likely to see in clients from this period?
Based on the issues you have identified, and the theoretical positions offered, what are the implications for
counselling practice?
To what extent does the chosen period overlap or influence other developmental periods?
To what extent can the theories presented and/or research evidence presented, be generalized to contemporary Australia?
Are there gaps in research knowledge with regard to particular developmental periods, and what needs to be done to improve knowledge to inform counselling practice in Australia?
The assignment should include a reference list of scholarly resources formatted according to current APA
guidelines.
Assessment Criteria / Marking Grind