Psychology Of Counselling (Diploma/Certificate)

Course details

This part-time programme aims to provide a good, basic grounding in the psychology of lifespan development and major psychological theories of personality and their application to counselling. The practical aspects of the course include basic counselling skills and group facilitation of personal development. Students who successfully complete the first year of the programme are awarded a Certificate and have the option of proceeding to the second year of the programme to obtain a Diploma.

Who is the course for?

It is designed for Individuals who are involved in a helping or advice giving role. In particular, it caters for members of self-help groups, volunteers in befriending and support organizations, Individuals engaged in personnel work and staff of educational, youth and health services. The course enables participants to gain a better understanding of the processes in which they are involved and to develop their counselling skills. The course is also suitable for persons who would like subsequently to pursue a professional counselling course as the programme is a foundation in the theory and basic skills of counselling.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

No special educational qualifications are required. Successful applicants should have acceptable standards in written and oral aspects of the course. Involvement, either voluntary or professional for which the contents of this programme have relevance, will be taken into consideration. The programme selection panel reserves the right to select candidates. Students must complete a personal statement as part of the application process for this course.

Course Outline

The programme includes lectures and workshops. Participants are introduced to perse counselling theories and to the practices derived from them in a variety of settings. The two-year course integrates three dimensions of counselling psychology:

• Personality theory and theories of counselling
• Lifespan development and theories of counselling
• Counselling skills and practice, including ethical and professional issues

In the second year of the course students will have an opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge of:

• diverse approaches to counselling - Gestalt Counselling; Person-centred Counselling; Behavioural / Cognitive-Behavioural Counselling; Reality Therapy; Family / Couples Counselling; Applied Behavioural Analysis
• Working with groups including various groups such as adolescents, children as wellas addiction groups etc.
• Self Awareness and Personal Development

Requirements And Assessment

Programme lectures take place one evening per week. In addition, there are three weekend workshops (Saturdays, 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.) throughout the year. Reading and writing assignments will be in addition to the above time requirements.

Assessment

Submission of written work, participation in skills training sessions, group work and discussion work form the basis of assessment.

On successful completion of Year 1, participants will be eligible for the award of Certificate or may progress to the Diploma cycle of the course. On successful completion of Year 2, participants will be awarded a Diploma in Psychology of Counselling.

The Diploma is not a professional qualification in counselling. The Certificate / Diploma programme is recognised and approved under the accreditation scheme of the National University of Ireland. The programme merits 15 ECTS credits in each academic year under this scheme.