Reclassify to
Master Clinician Membership

Master Clinician members are full members of the Association who have satisfied the following:
• Are clinical members in good standing and;
• Have demonstrated their clinical skills as set out below.

Master clinician membership is assessed on the applicant’s demonstrated ability to:
• work effectively face to face with couples and/or families and
• integrate theory and practice;
Evidence of these is demonstrated through the submission of:
• A tape recording (video or audio) or DVD of a third or subsequent, but not final interview of a couple or family. See criteria below and in the downloaded booklet. Because of variations in audio equipment, when an audiotape is provided, a full, accurate, typed transcript of the recorded session is required;
• A consent form signed by the clients in the recorded medium.
• A paper describing and explaining the applicant’s theoretical position as it relates to the work presented (approximately 250 words describing the previous counselling sessions and 750 words addressing the clinical criteria);
• Provision of three referees including current clinical supervisor who can attest to your professional standing and clinical work.
• A completed application form signed in the presence of an appropriate witness.


Checklist for reclassifying:

If you are not a clinical member of AARC:
• Firstly apply for clinical membership;

If you are a clinical member:
• Download Master Clinician Application Booklet.pdf
• Complete the Application Form;
• Include the tape or DVD of a couple or family interview and the written evaluation. Review The Accreditation of Master Clinicians below and in the downloaded booklet;
• Include the signed client consent form;
• Include a self-addressed pre-paid Express Post satchel for the return of your tape;
• Forward all application material by Express Post to:

AARC MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
P O Box 493
LEEDERVILLE WA 6903

Further information:

• Your State Branch Committee will request references from your referees and upon receipt, process the application.
• The tape will then be reviewed by the Clinical Practices Sub-Committee, which usually meets in April and October each year. You will be further notified of the outcome of this process.

• New members welcomed after 1st April in any year pay half the membership fee for that financial year. Our financial year ends on 30th September. For reclassifications, the higher membership fee does not apply until the following financial year beginning 1st October.

The Accreditation of Master Clinicians:
Applications for master clinician membership are to be made on the downloaded application form and will include a tape (video or audio) or DVD and a written evaluation of a couple or family interview.
General Criteria for Preparation of Tapes:
1. The taped interview must :
• Be a one hour couple or family counselling session (video tape or DVD is preferred.)
• Be a third or subsequent, but not final, interview.
• Be of a technical quality that allows ease of viewing and listening.
• Focus on the counsellor but also include some view of the clients.
• When an audiotape is used, have a fully typed and accurate transcript of the recorded session .

2. The tape must be accompanied by a written evaluation of the interview:
• with approximately 250 words to describe the previous counselling sessions,
• with approximately 750 words addressing the clinical criteria,
• With consistency between what is demonstrated in the tape and in the written review.
3. If necessary, a role-play may be substituted for an actual interview, consistent with the above guidelines.
4. A copy of the clients’ written consent is required with the application.

Clinical Criteria for Evaluation of Tapes:

The tape and the written evaluation presented must demonstrate the applicant’s ability to work with two or more people, in relationship, where the focus is a relationship issue or process.

N.B. Accreditation at Master Clinician level will be determined primarily by the applicant’s ability to focus on and work with the relationship and the interactive processesevident in the session.

Within the taped session the applicant must also demonstrate the ability to:

1. Form an empathic and respectful relationship with the clients.
2. Exercise appropriate responsibility for the direction of the interview.
3. Identify and respond to clients’ presenting concerns.
4. Understand and work with the underlying issues .
5. Be active in facilitating change in the session.
6. Identify and describe the nature of the couple dynamics .
7. Work appropriately with silence and spaces in the session.
8. Differentiate between relationship and individual dynamics , while maintaining a focus on the relationship issues.
9. Identify and work with obstacles to progress.
10. Work in a way that is consistent with an identified theoretical perspective.

In addition, the written analysis must demonstrate the ability to:
1. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses demonstrated in the taped session.
2. Reflect on the clients’ or one’s own projections evident within the session.
3. Describe the applicant’s theoretical perspective.

Guidelines for submission of Clinical Tapes and Written Material

(i)       Your supervisor;

(ii)     State Representative or Membership Secretary;

(iii)    An AARC Master Clinician who is familiar with the criteria.

It is highly recommended that you have an AARC Master Clinician support you through this process.

       Consider this tape and the written material an assessment of your ability to meet the criteria. Not primarily a demonstration of your preferred model or theory of counselling.

       Selection of an appropriate tape is an important element of assessment. The Clinical Practices Sub-Committee (CPSC) assesses your tape against the Clinical Criteria. You do not necessarily need to use a complex case.

       Applicants must demonstrate their ability to work with the relationship between two or more people present in the session. If this is not demonstrated, applicants will be asked to re-submit another tape.