Advanced Diploma in Counseling

Course details

This is a 12-month part-time programme covering a range of theoretical, analytical, conceptual and functional skills in counseling. It trains students to apply appropriate counseling skills in different situations while understanding their underlying theories. This programme prepares and equips students with the ability to work effectively as a counselor.

Objectives

• Have an intermediate knowledge of the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy;
• To promote personal growth and self-awareness through self-exploration.
• To assess, evaluate and implement changes by applying counseling in theory and practice.
• Recognize and respect human persity across populations, age groups, cultures and contexts;
• To be able to understand and practice within the guidelines and ethical codes of counseling.

Programme Structure

• The ADIC programme begins by introducing students to the nature of psychology and relates it to the theories and concepts of counseling. Students move on to explore themselves in order to promote personal growth and self-awareness thus acquiring the key attributes of a competent counselor. Students will then gain knowledge to the different approaches of counseling and psychotherapy and have the skills to implement and apply them to the appropriate situations.

Modules

• Introduction to Psychology
• Interpersonal Skills
• Counseling Skills
• Counseling Methods
• Counseling ethics
• Group Counseling
• Crisis Intervention
• Addiction Intervention
• Counseling Children
• Supervised Practicum

Entry Requirements

For admission to the ADIC programme:

• Candidates should possess a Diploma in Learning disorders Management & Child Psychology offered by Linguistic Council or,
• Candidates should possess at least passes in 2 'A' Level and 2 'AO' Level subjects including a pass in General Paper obtained at the GCE 'A' Level (English) Singapore-Cambridge Examination;
• Degree in any discipline.

Lesson Schedule

• The curriculum is taught over 5 terms of 10 weeks.
• Each term will comprise of 2 modules.
• Each module has contact hours of 30 hours and classes are held 2 times a week.

Assessment method

• Each module will be formally assessed by written assignments (50%) and an examination (50%). Students must attend 75% of the classes to qualify for the examination.

Synopsis of Modules:

Introduction to Psychology

• This module introduces the history and systems of Psychology. Students will have a broad overview of the perse fields of the psychological discipline. Students will also be exposed to the important theories and concepts concerning developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology and abnormal psychology.

Interpersonal Skills

• This module teaches students to understand and apply the skills of effective communication in a wide variety of contexts and situations. Students will understand subjects such as self-awareness, personal and interpersonal power, attitudes, values and perceptions in communication, verbal and non-verbal strategies.

Counseling Skills

• This module focuses on equipping students with the counseling skills necessary for a counselor. Students will acquire skills in attending, active listening, paraphrasing, summarizing, reducing resistance and promoting change through psychotherapy.

Counseling Methods

• Students will learn the different approaches to the major methods of psychotherapy. The module focuses onto the techniques, concepts, strengths and weaknesses of the perse approaches in psychoanalytic therapy, Cognitive Behaviour therapy, and Client centred therapy.

Counseling Ethics

• This module trains students to develop a keen understanding legal and ethical framework in counseling. Topics will include confidentiality, malpractice, cultural issues, multiple relationships, discrimination and organizational regulations.

Group Counseling

• This module exposes students to the benefits and disadvantages of group counseling. Students will acquire skills to facilitate group counseling, understand the dynamics of group counseling and learn to manage issues arising from group counseling.

Crisis intervention

• Students will acquire skills to identify and assess the different types of crisis such as suicide intervention and counseling dangerous clients. This module trains the students to employ the different intervention methods when counseling a person in a crisis situation.

Addiction intervention

• This module helps students gain an in-depth understanding of the different forms of addiction and the social impact they create. The module will focus on assessing the stages and cycles of addiction and train students to implement strategies to break the cycle in order to promote change. Students will also learn the techniques of relapse prevention and working with the addict's family.

Counseling Children

• This module will help students develop an understanding to the different emotional and behavioural issues children go through when dealing with grief, loss, academic issues, peer pressure and broken families. Students will acquire skills to counsel children in home and educational settings and be able to apply techniques such as Art therapy and Play therapy to help children express themselves. 

Supervised Practicum

• Students will be attached to counseling centre to observe and gain experience in counseling under the supervision of a senior counselor. They are required to submit a report at the end of this attachment.