Certificate in Counselling

Overview

This is a 90-hour course specialising in counselling theory and skills. This course provides the foundation from which trainees wishing to pursue a profession in counselling can begin their journey. The certificate course introduces students to a way of thinking, a range of models, a place to develop their ideas on the nature of counselling and a platform to develop personal awareness and skills.

The focus of the course is skills based, in which philosophies and techniques of counselling are explored and used in practical settings.

The course encourages personal growth and development and this is encapsulated in the form of a personal journal that is kept alongside a course record throughout the year. The methods of learning will involve group work, individual sessions, information or input and practical application. There are a series of assignments that are spread across the period of the course and will be assessed at the end of the course.

Course Content

• Communication and Listening Skills
• Counselling Skills
• Stress Management Theory and Practice
• Basic Transactional Analysis
• Basic Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Student Centred Learning
• Heron's Six Category Intervention Analysis

Course Aims

1. To enable those working with people to become more effective and sensitive
2. To enable individuals to be more effective in their dealings with others
3. To develop skills in sharing information, in the broadest sense, and enable people to make themselves understood and to understand themselves
4. To develop individual counselling skills
5. To accept that in order to counsel effectively individuals must be aware of their own thoughts, feelings and values and be willing to re-evaluate some of these
6. To develop personal communication and an ability to give and receive feedback

Course Objectives

1. Being aware of one's own attitudes and values and their effects in the counselling process
2. Taking responsibility for one's own learning
3. Personal growth and development
4. Greater skills in managing relationships and in taking care of others
5. By the end of the course having developed a personal journal of learning experiences, ideas and possibilities for the future

Coursework

Book review
Learning Journal
Presentation

Award

Certificate in Counselling for 90 hours of Counselling theory, skills and practice.

Progression

Successful completion can lead to application for the Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling or the Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy Training.